In the coming weeks, Norwegians will send you letters
With the word "Vår-dugnad"
A dugnad is a voluntary contribution to the community usually in form of manual labour
But really it is not voluntary
If you do not participate you risk to be socially excluded from your community over a long period
Instead of employing a firm to clean the garden or paint the outer walls of the apartment block where you live
Or the street where your house is
A group of motivated Norwegians will send you letters to invite you to the Dugnad
It is socially unacceptable to even propose to pay professionals to do the work instead
Never refuse to attend a Norwegian Dugnad
Very few Norwegians like to go on a Dugnad, yet everyone feels that they need to
It is somehow understandable
In a place where one needs a reason to talk with the neighbours
Where social contact is much more comfortable around an organised activity
A Dugnad provides such frame for socialization
just like a sport group or a forening
In its most aggressive form
Dugnads can also be organised at work
You assemble new furniture, reorganize the workspace or change the decoration
Everyone participates including the top leadership
It can be seen as a way to flatten social classes
In addition to providing a unique opportunity for employees to speak together without the usual awkwardness
You have a reason to speak to others at the Dugnad
So when The Dugnad leader asks you to clean the street and the park nearby
Or paint the apartment block
Do it
Your neighbors or colleagues who avoided
Eye contact
And never stopped to greet you since you moved in
May suddenly smile and invite you for dinner after the dugnad
They have a reason to invite you
You did practical work together
In Norway one often needs to "suffer" before enjoying something
It is much easier to invite for dinner if you worked hard together first
Then just inviting for dinner because you are curious about someone
Or because you want to enjoy a great time around food
This being said
Many Norwegians do not like the Dugnad
And will not attend
The two acceptable excuses are
1. to go to the hytte or
2. to go abroad
Some will plan their travels many months in advance to be sure not to be there for the Dugnad
But everyone who cannot go abroad or to a hytte do the Dugnad
So just do it
Norwegians will love you
And you may make friends with them
GENERAL TIPS: Take part in activities with a purpose and you will be successful socially in Norway.
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