Traditions of Christmas by Adolph Tidemand 1846

Artist: Adolph Tidemand (1814–1876)

Title: Norwegian Christmas Tradition

Date: 1846

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: height: 69 cm (27.1 in)

Collection: Trondheim art museum

Inscriptions: Signature and date bottom right: A. Tidemand 46. Df.

What I love about this painting:

Adolph Tideman shows us a community gathering in front of a traditional Norwegian store house, a stabbur. Everyone is having fun, enjoying traditional winter activities. For me, the stabbur is the most interesting part of this painting. I love the architecture, the way it is constructed to protect the foods and items stored within it.

I also love the birds who circle above and roost on it. They are partaking of the feast offered by the sheaf of grain, apparently enjoying the festivities happening in the street below.

In Norway, the hoisting of a sheaf into the air during Christmas is a tradition known as Julenek or Kornband. They hang a sheaf of oats or grain on a pole near homes and barns to attract birds for an avian Christmas dinner. According to the article, Julenek – Christmas Sheaf A Norwegian Tradition | Norway with Pål, “It symbolizes good luck and is believed to bring prosperity for the coming year. Historically, it was thought to be an offering to the gods or a way to protect against evil forces. The sheaf is typically hung on Christmas Eve and is a common sight during the holiday season in Norway.” [1]

About the stabbur, via the Scandinavian Heritage Association website:

“Trunks with clothing and valuables were stored on the upper floor. Food and commodities were stored on the ground floor. Water and rodents were the biggest enemies in a storehouse. Stilts raised the floor level, the wooden steps did not come into contact with the building to reduce the possibility of rodent infestation and meat/cheese was hung from the ceiling.” [2]

About this painting, via the Trondheim Kunstmuseum:

” In this painting of modest size the pictorial space is packed with people who perform different tasks, all dressed in Norwegian national costumes. The store house is the centre of attention, and on the roof a sheaf is hoisted into the air, a Norwegian Christmas custom.” [3]

About the Artist, via Wikipedia:

Adolph Tidemand (14 August 1814 – 8 August 1876) was a noted Norwegian romantic nationalism painter. Among his best known paintings are Haugianerne (The Haugeans; 1852) and Brudeferd i Hardanger (The Bridal Procession in Hardanger; 1848), painted in collaboration with Hans Gude. [4]

To read more about this extraordinary artist’s life, go to Adolph Tidemand – Wikipedia

Credits and Attributions:

IMAGE: Wikimedia Commons contributors, “File:Adolph Tidemand – Norwegian Christmas Tradition – Norsk juleskik – TKM-1-1867 – Trondheim kunstmuseum (cropped).jpg,” Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Adolph_Tidemand_-_Norwegian_Christmas_Tradition_-_Norsk_juleskik_-_TKM-1-1867_-_Trondheim_kunstmuseum_(cropped).jpg&oldid=1030315615 (accessed December 11, 2025).

[4] Wikipedia contributors, “Adolph Tidemand,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adolph_Tidemand&oldid=1325534158 (accessed December 11, 2025).