Find religion at Christmas
Norwegians flock to church at Christmas time, but for the rest of the year religious attendance is low.Christmas Eve, the high point of Norwegian Christmas celebrations, is the day of highest church attendance of the year. In 2006 627,000 Norwegians took a pew on Christmas Even, and the number is rising every year.
Christmas Day used to be the busiest day in terms of church attendance, but the emphasis has now clearly shifted to the day before, local newspaper Gjengangeren reports.
About 13.4 percent of the population visited a church on Christmas Eve last year, up from 12.8 percent the year before, and equivalent to about an extra 35,000 visitors.
But church attendance is far more modest the rest of the year. Norwegians visited church an average of 1.4 times a year in 2006, including christenings, weddings, and funerals.
The younger generation show the least interest. A survey by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD) found that half of those under the age of 30 say they never go to church, compared to 25 percent of those over 60.
1 comment:
Interesting article...shows how important it is for younger people like yourselves to live out your passion for God and church! It shows how much you have to offer to that country and community!
Have a very merry Christmas! I ordered you presents and they shipped, but I don't think they'll get there in time. Sorry! And they're not wrapped, which sucks, but it should be pretty obvious who they are for. I have a couple other things that aren't ready, so I'll either mail them soon or give them to you when you come in February-so excited!! Love you and miss you both!
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