Thank Fathom it’s Friday

Luck of the Norwegian

Elisabeth Werenskiold10 May 2024|

“Its typically Norwegian to be good” is the somewhat awkward direct translation of a quote from Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Norwegian prime minister. ‘Good’ in this case should be read in the same way as ‘being good at something’ rather than being especially moral.[1] Brundtland originally made this remark in her 1992 New Year’s Eve speech, when comparing Norwegian international sporting achievements with her ambitions for Norwegian businesses struggling with the ongoing recession. It has since become a piece of folk wisdom, half self-deprecating, half boastful, that we Norwegians say on warranted occasions — which can be anything from Norway winning the most medals in the Winter Olympics, to when we get beyond drunk while on holiday in Spain, to the horror of everyone except the British who are probably even drunker.