Moments · Learning Norwegian
Romjul: Meaning and Norwegian Christmas vocabulary
Your friend suggests meeting in romjula. You know Christmas and New Year, but this part of the calendar has a new name.
Making Christmas plans
You are trying to find a day for coffee after Christmas. Your friend suggests romjula.
You picture the stretch after Christmas Day. Your friend points to 28 December, then asks when your family opens presents.
Soon you are comparing dates, family habits and what “Christmas” includes for each of you.
The same moment, a little more language
What would you say?
Start with the Christmas names, then explore the conversation at A1, B1 and C1.
Learn all 15 cards
Six Christmas names, followed by nine phrases across A1 → B1 → C1. New cards are introduced gradually and earlier cards return for review. A free account is needed.
Vocabulary · Six Christmas names
Norwegian names for the Christmas days
Add the six names to your learning, with Norwegian on the front and the English meaning on the back.
Vocabulary includes these 6 names.
English
The day before Christmas Eve
Norwegian
lille julaften
English
Christmas Eve
Norwegian
julaften
English
Christmas Day
Norwegian
første juledag
English
The second day of Christmas; Boxing Day in Britain
Norwegian
andre juledag
English
The days between Christmas and New Year
Norwegian
romjul
English
New Year's Eve
Norwegian
nyttårsaften
A small thing to try
Say the Norwegian name for Christmas Eve, then the day before it. Which name would you use for the days between Christmas and New Year?
A1 · The essentials
Say it simply
Ask about the unfamiliar word and find a day to meet.
A1 includes these 3 phrases.
English
What does “romjul” mean?
Norwegian
Hva betyr «romjul»?
English
When shall we meet?
Norwegian
Når skal vi møtes?
English
Would the twenty-eighth work?
Norwegian
Passer den tjueåttende?
A small thing to try
Ask what romjul means. Then suggest the twenty-eighth, or another date that would work for you.
B1 · A little more language
Explain a little more
Ask about traditions and explain what your own family does.
B1 includes these 3 phrases.
English
What do you usually do on Christmas Eve?
Norwegian
Hva pleier dere å gjøre på julaften?
English
In our family, we open the presents on Christmas Day.
Norwegian
Hos oss åpner vi gavene første juledag.
English
We can meet between Christmas and New Year, if you have time.
Norwegian
Vi kan møtes i romjula, hvis du har tid.
A small thing to try
Ask what someone usually does on julaften. Describe one custom from your own family, or say that you do not celebrate Christmas.
C1 · Tone and nuance
Make it sound like you
Describe what matters to you while leaving room for other ways of celebrating.
Read the scene in English
You discover that what each of you associates with Christmas does not follow quite the same calendar. For one of you, the presents are open before Christmas Day has begun. For the other, the wrapping paper belongs to the following morning. Then you find a day that suits you both, without either of you needing to celebrate the other's way.
C1 includes these 3 phrases.
English
It varies from family to family, so I usually ask.
Norwegian
Det varierer fra familie til familie, så jeg pleier å spørre.
English
For me, the days between Christmas and New Year are a chance to unwind.
Norwegian
For meg er romjula en anledning til å senke skuldrene.
English
In our family, it doesn't matter that much which day we get together, as long as everyone can come.
Norwegian
Hos oss er det ikke så nøye hvilken dag vi samles, så lenge alle kan komme.
A small thing to try
Say which part of a holiday matters to you and where you are flexible. You can adapt the sentences to another celebration or a few ordinary days off.
Dates and traditions for reference
Lille julaften is 23 December, julaften is 24 December, første juledag is 25 December and andre juledag is 26 December.
NAOB and Store norske leksikon define romjul as 27-31 December. The final day is also nyttårsaften, New Year's Eve. For an invitation, agree an actual date.
Many families in Norway have their main Christmas meal and open presents on julaften. That is a common pattern, not everyone's arrangement. Asking “Hva pleier dere å gjøre?” gives the person room to tell you about theirs.
The twenty-eighth works. You put the coffee in your calendar.
Another moment: getting ready for visitorsA note on levels, traditions and sources
A1, B1 and C1 describe the focus of each section, not a test of your ability. You may recognise phrases at any level. The CEFR descriptions guide the progression; they are not official ratings of these sentences. The Norwegian uses Bokmål. The scene and family arrangements are imagined.
Calendar and cultural references: Store norske leksikon on lille julaften, julaften, første juledag, andre juledag, romjul and nyttårsaften; NAOB: romjul. For the expression about relaxing, see Bokmålsordboka: skulder.