What animals live in Norway?

Norway is home to some truly remarkable animals! Reindeer roam across the far northern region called Lapland, and you can spot moose — the largest member of the deer family — lumbering through the forests. Along the rugged coastline, puffins nest in cliff burrows and Atlantic puffins dive deep underwater to catch fish. In the cold Norwegian waters, you might find harbor seals and even orca whales hunting in the fjords — those long, deep inlets carved between steep mountains. Brown bears and Arctic foxes live in the wilder northern areas too. Norway has a lot of wild land, and these creatures are woven into the everyday backdrop of life for the Norwegian people who live alongside them.

What do kids eat in Norway?

Norwegian kids love a classic lunch called 'matpakke' — that's a packed meal from home, usually open-faced sandwiches on dark rye bread topped with cheese, salami, or a boiled egg. They wrap it up and bring it to school almost every single day. It is simple, hearty food that keeps you going through cold Norwegian winters. For dinner, many Norwegian families eat 'fiskekaker,' which are fish cakes made from fresh cod or salmon — Norway is surrounded by sea, so fish shows up in lots of meals. A favorite treat is 'brunost,' a brown cheese that tastes slightly sweet, almost like caramel. Norwegians slice it thin with a special cheese slicer and lay it right on their bread. It sounds unusual, but kids there grow up loving it.

How do people say hello in Norway?

In Norway, the most common way to say hello is 'Hei' — and it sounds almost exactly like the English word 'hey'! Norwegians also say 'Hallo,' which you can probably already guess. Pretty easy to remember on your first day of exploring! If you want to sound a little more formal, like greeting a teacher or an elder, you might say 'God dag,' which means 'Good day.' And when you meet a new friend in Norway, you could say 'Hyggelig å møte deg' — that means 'Nice to meet you.' Norwegian is part of the same language family as English, so some words feel surprisingly familiar once you start listening closely.

What sports or games do kids play in Norway?

Norwegian kids love being outdoors, and skiing is probably the sport they are most known for. Cross-country skiing is huge — some children learn to ski before they can ride a bike! Football (what we call soccer) is also very popular, especially in the warmer months. In winter, you might also find kids skating on frozen lakes or playing a game called 'spark,' which is a kick-sled you push across the ice with your foot. In summer, hiking in the mountains and fishing in clear rivers are things many Norwegian families do together. Sports and outdoor life are just a big part of growing up in Norway.

What's the weather like in Norway?

Norway has some of the most dramatic weather in the world! In the north, winters are long and dark — the sun disappears for weeks at a time, which is called the Polar Night. But summers bring the Midnight Sun, when the sky stays bright even at midnight. In the south, winters are cold and snowy, while summers are mild and pleasant. Because Norway has tall mountains, deep fjords, and a long coastline, the weather can change a lot depending on where you stand. The western coast gets huge amounts of rain and snow because storm clouds roll in from the sea. Meanwhile, some inland valleys stay much drier. Norwegians have a saying that goes something like, 'There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!' They are very used to bundling up and heading outside no matter what the sky is doing.

Tell me a fun fact about Norway.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Norway is one of the few places on Earth where the sun never fully sets during summer. In the far north, you can have a midnight soccer game outside in broad daylight — that's called the 'Midnight Sun,' and it happens because of how tilted Earth is as it travels around the sun. Rusty wants to add this: Norway also has some of the deepest and longest fjords in the world. A fjord is a narrow strip of sea that cut deep into the land thousands of years ago, leaving behind steep cliff walls that tower over the water. Norwegian fishermen have sailed those dark, cold waters for generations — and many of them have heard the story of Jesus because faithful missionaries made the long journey to reach them.

What is school like for kids in Norway?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Norway start school at age six, and they stay with the same class group for many years — almost like a little team. School days are not super long, and there is a lot of time for outdoor learning, even in the snow and cold. Norwegians have a saying: 'There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!' Rusty wants you to know that most kids in Norway learn English starting in first grade, so many Norwegian children can speak two languages by the time they are quite young. The schools are free for everyone, and children study subjects like math, science, and Norwegian history. Here is something worth thinking about: Norway has churches and a long Christian history, but today many Norwegian children grow up without hearing much about Jesus. That is a good reason to pray that kids there would meet faithful Christians who can share the good news with them.

Who are the unreached people in Norway?

Great question! Norway is a country most people think of as already Christian, and many Norwegians do know Bible stories. But there are people groups living in Norway who have very little chance of hearing the real gospel of Jesus. One of the biggest groups is Somali immigrants — tens of thousands of them live in Norway, and most are Muslim. Many have never had a real conversation about who Jesus truly is. There are also Pakistani and Iraqi communities in Norway, plus people from many other Muslim-majority countries who came seeking safety or a better life. And even among Norwegians themselves, church attendance has dropped a lot — many families have drifted away from faith and treat Christianity as just an old tradition, not a living relationship with Jesus. So Norway needs missionaries and bold local Christians just like any other place in the world.

How can I pray for the people of Norway?

Norway is a country with beautiful fjords and a long history connected to Christianity — there are old stone churches there that are hundreds of years old! But today, many Norwegians have drifted away from trusting Jesus personally, even if they grew up hearing about Him. You can pray that the good news about Jesus would reach their hearts in a real and lasting way. Pray for the Norwegian Christians and local churches that are working hard to share the gospel with their neighbors and families. Ask God to raise up bold Norwegian leaders who will tell their own people about Jesus. Pray also for children and young people in Norway — that they would not just know stories about Jesus, but would come to trust Him as their Savior and follow Him all their lives.

What is a holiday or celebration in Norway?

One of Norway's biggest celebrations is Syttende Mai — that means 'the Seventeenth of May' in Norwegian! It's Norway's Constitution Day, when Norwegians celebrate their country's founding document from 1814. Children march in parades through towns and cities wearing traditional outfits called bunads, and people wave Norwegian flags everywhere. What makes Syttende Mai special is that children lead the parades — not soldiers or politicians! In the capital city of Oslo, thousands of kids march past the royal palace while the king and queen wave from the balcony. Norwegian Christians also celebrate Christmas, called Jul, with church services, candles, and the story of Jesus coming into the world — which is truly the best news Norway, or any country, has ever heard.

What language do people speak in Norway?

People in Norway speak Norwegian! It is a North Germanic language, which means it is related to Swedish and Danish. If you know one of those languages, you can often understand a good chunk of the others — like cousins that sound similar but not identical. Norwegian actually has two official written forms called Bokmål and Nynorsk. Most people use Bokmål in schools and newspapers, while Nynorsk is used more in rural and western parts of the country. There is also a small group of people in the far north of Norway called the Sámi, and they have their own distinct languages that have been spoken in that icy region for thousands of years.

What's a famous place to visit in Norway?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder! One of the most famous places in Norway is the fjords — long, deep channels of water carved between towering cliffs and mountains. The Geirangerfjord is one of the most visited, where waterfalls spill down rocky walls straight into the cold, blue-green water below. Rusty wants to add that Norway also has the city of Bergen, a harbor town with colorful wooden buildings called the Bryggen that are hundreds of years old. People have been trading, fishing, and living along these shores for a very long time — and through all those years, God has been at work bringing the gospel to the Norwegian people, who today have the Bible in their own language and many churches of their own.

Norway — Kids Missions Explorer

Atlantic Puffin

Puffins nest in burrows along Norway's rocky coastal cliffs and can carry dozens of small fish crosswise in their brightly colored beaks at once.

Arctic Fox

The Arctic fox grows a thick white coat in winter that acts as nearly perfect camouflage against the snow-covered Norwegian tundra.

Moose

Norway has one of the highest moose populations in Europe, and these massive animals can stand taller than two meters at the shoulder.

Lefse

Lefse is a soft, thin flatbread made from potatoes and rolled out on special grooved boards — Norwegians often spread it with butter and fold it into a warm, slightly sweet wrap.

Rakfisk

Rakfisk is trout that has been salted and fermented for several months, giving it a sharp, tangy flavor that is very much an acquired taste even for many Norwegians.

Brunost

Brunost is a caramel-brown whey cheese with a sweet, slightly tangy flavor unlike any other cheese in the world, and Norwegians shave thin slices of it onto bread for breakfast.

Norway

Things you should know about Norway

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Norway

Missions in Norway

Pray for Norway