Norwegian expression of the day: Nattbad

It's a traditional Norwegian summer activity packed with cultural quirks.
What does it mean?
Nattbad, 'night bath', is what Norwegians say when referring to the activity of going for a nightly swim.
Why do I need to know it?
Although it there is an English term for ‘night swim’, nattbad is, to Norwegians, a concept packed with cultural lessons.
Tid for nattbad! - 'Time for a night bath!'
With time, nattbad has even turned into a verb:
Skal vi nattbade? - 'Shall we go for a night swim?'
A sign of true integration
If you’re ever invited to a nattbad by a sober Norwegian, you will know that they genuinely like you. You are in.
And that’s not an easy feat, as Norwegians tend to be picky when choosing friends and can sometimes act practically clan-like, shying away from people they don’t know.
If however, the Norwegian who invited you was not sober, I cannot guarantee that it was you and not the alcohol that warmed their hearts.
Oops!
Just FYI, nattbad is not the same as nakenbad (also a concept). While nattbad just refers to having a swim at night time, the nakenbad means 'naked bath', in other words you're going skinny dipping.
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.