Norway is the home of several famous playwrights and novelists, among others Baron Ludvig Holdberg, Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and more recently, Jon Fosse, and Georg Johannesen, The playwright/novelists Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset, have both won the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1903 and 1920 respectively. Norway is the homeland of expressionist painter Edvard Munch and the sculptor Gustav Vigeland and romanticist composer Edvard Grieg. Many Norwegians have explored the farthest corners of the world, i.e. Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, and Thor Heyerdahl.

Composers Edvard Grieg, Ole Bull, Christian Sinding and Arne Nordheim are recognized contributors to the Music of Norway. Among the contributors to pop music are A-ha, Röyksopp, Motorpsycho and Turbonegro. Norway is known for its large contributions to music, particularly in the black metal scene. Where such bands as Dimmu Borgir, Darkthrone, Enslaved, Burzum, Satyricon, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Immortal, and Emperor have all made a name for themselves.

Norwegians celebrate their national day on May 17, the Norwegian Constitution Day. Many people wear bunad (which are traditional costumes or modern costumes, based on traditional designs) and a majority of the nation (especially children and the Russ) watch or participate in the town parades taking place all over the country, a tradition founded by the poet Henrik Wergeland. The day was originally a celebration of national independence by the middle and upper class, while the working class celebrated 1 May. However, during the social democratic rule after World War II it became a major public feast, celebrated by all social classes. Attempts to make the day more political - especially in the 70's - have not had much effect.

Languages
The Norwegian language has two official written forms: bokmål and nynorsk, but no official spoken norm; this situation is a subject of heavy discussion.

Religion
Religion in Norway is overwhelmingly Protestant (Evangelical-Lutheran). Much due to a strong tradition of baptism, 89% of the population belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway which is the established religion. The Norwegians, like all of the peoples of Scandinavia, were pagans believing in Norse mythology; the Sámi having a shamanistic religion. Due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, Norway was gradually Christianized in a process starting at approximately 1000 AD and which was substantially finished by 1150AD. Prior to the Reformation, Norwegians were part of the Catholic Church with the conversion to Protestantism occurring in 1536. Islam is now the second largest religion due to recent migration trends although the census shows that there are more people with no religious beliefs.

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( Brudeferden i Hardanger by Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude, 1848 )