TV 2 Profiles Share Their Easter Traditions

How we choose to celebrate Easter varies from person to person, and from year to year. Nevertheless, there are some traditions that most people take with them into Easter, regardless of whether they are in the mountains, in the city, or abroad.

The TV 2 profiles tell about which Easter traditions are closest to their hearts – whether they prefer a cold or warm Easter, and what they do to get in the Easter mood.

One of them is considering giving up alcohol, another will celebrate Easter with a famous Norwegian artist, and one will pick up plastic in the Oslo Fjord.

Been invited to the cabin for the viewers

TV 2’s weather anchor Eli Kari Gjengedal (52) will traditionally celebrate Easter at Geilo together with her husband Tom Saxegaard and the rest of the family. For Gjengedal, it is a cold Easter.

– The snow will fall, so I can ski and enjoy myself. And preferably nice weather, so I can sunbathe. But I must be in the Norwegian mountain home – never to the South!

However, it won’t just be Easter treats for Gjengedal. She will also report the weather to the Norwegian people, both from Geilo and Ustaoset.

– Being out among people in the mountains and reporting the weather is so rewarding. Everyone is so positive and happy, and smiles widely when they see me setting up the photo equipment on the mountain.

The Norwegian people have also got involved in where the weather anchor should be placed up in the mountain:

– I spoke on the radio that I was going to report the weather from Geilo, and then messages poured in with invitations from people who want me to come to their cabins to do it there! It’s very fun.

Another tradition Gjengedal is faithful to is Easter eggs, for both young and old. In addition, she always makes Easter lamb, this despite not eating it herself. In her youth, she had a bad experience with lamb.

– I don’t eat lamb myself, so the rest of the family gets it. I got food poisoning from a lamb kebab in Ankara, Turkey, and passed out right after. I haven’t been able to eat lamb since, with the exception of pork chops, says the 52-year-old, laughing.

Going to pick up plastic in the Oslo fjord

For Farmen celebrity profile Ørnulf Høyer (58), Easter is celebrated a little further south in the country. Høyer and his family will spend the holidays at the cottage on Nøtterøy.

– We have a paradise down by the water. We are often there at Easter, as well as throughout the summer.

Although Høyer and the family are not guaranteed snow, there will be no shortage of Easter activities for that reason.

– We are going to organize an Easter ski race, even if it is on the ground! We strap on our skis and have it in the garden. Then we have après ski with ski equipment, says the 58-year-old.

Another tradition that is never broken is that Høyer dresses up as the Easter Bunny:

– More than once I have dressed up as the Easter bunny and run around to hide Easter eggs. It’s always a tradition on Easter Eve, he says, laughing.

Høyer is also aware that Easter is family time. Therefore, the family puts their mobile phones away, plays games, has quizzes and watches crime series.

Høyer also has a more non-traditional tradition that they deal with when they are at the cabin on Nøtterøy. When they celebrate Easter there, they launch the boat and go to a small bay where they pick plastic.

– Even though we are there almost every year, there is always new plastic that appears. And there’s plastic that looks like it’s been there for years. It’s absolutely awesome. So this year the Høyer chain and the organization will «Keep Norway clean», have a day where we all go out and pick up plastic. It is important for us to contribute to keeping the Oslofjord and Norway’s seas clean.

Going to celebrate Easter with a well-known Norwegian artist

TV 2’s sports commentator Christian Paasche is very happy about Easter. This year, as in previous years, the plans are clear:

– For me, Easter is Ustaoset, that’s how it’s always been. Long walks, short walks, a trip on the slalom slopes at Geilo, and if the weather permits; a trip up Hallingskarvet. And, of course, having fun and spending time with cabin neighbors and family.

There has also been a bit of work between the ski trips and the cabin coziness.

– There will be cycling commentary on TV 2 on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, but apart from that you can find me at Ustaoset!

For Paasche, there is no doubt that Easter should be cold, but not too cold. Last year, the family also started a new tradition, with the help of former Kompani Lauritzen participant Daniel Kvammen (34):

– Last year we organized an Easter concert at Prestholtseter on Good Friday. It was magical with lots of people, good music and atmosphere, brilliant weather and the beautiful Hallingskarvet as a backdrop. Now we are looking forward to Daniel Kvammen hauling up the sound system with a sled to Prestholtseter again this year, he tells TV 2.

Paasche also has an important tip to give to the Norwegian people.

– Relax! Stress down. Those who want to go skiing go skiing, those who want to sit in the sun wall can do so. It works whether you’re in the mountains or having Easter in the city, but it’s important to get out! Then you can get a little red on the nose.

Considering giving up alcohol

Farm celebrity participant Aleksander Sæterstøl (27) is considering giving up alcohol and partying on après ski this year.

– The plan was all along to be in the mountains, either Geilo or Hemsedal, but I’m so sick of alcohol now, so I think I’ll just stay at home with the family. I really think that I should just relax and not be in places where you have to drink alcohol. It’s good to relax and do nothing, says Sæterstøl to TV 2.

There is still the possibility that there will be a slight change in the plans.

– Suddenly I find out that I want to go to the mountains, and then I go to the mountains. But right now I just want to relax.

For Sæterstøl, Easter does not necessarily have to be cold:

– I used to be abroad a lot at Easter, Gran Canaria and the like. But due to corona, there hasn’t been much of it in recent years.

– Do you have any Easter tips for the Norwegian people?

– If the weather holds, all you have to do is get hold of some wood, go out into the shed and light a fire. Try to be social! I think it’s nice to go for a walk and grill sausages, says the sausage-happy man.

Have a bet

Actor, gamer and “Farm celebrity” profile Aslak Maurstad has a number of plans for Easter. He and his family used to go to Gålå and this year he also gets a visit from his girlfriend from Copenhagen.

There will also be a dear reunion with a computer meeting: “The Gathering”.

– I’m at work there as a streamer. I haven’t been there in fifteen years. There I get to meet a lot of people I otherwise meet online, so it’s very nice.

– I was twelve or thirteen the first time I was there. It was the happiest I had been in my life until then, I remember, says Maurstad.

In addition, he has one specific mission at Easter, which is a bet. This involves him playing through all the levels of Super Mario 64. If he manages this by April 7, he wins the bet and the opponent must sit in an empty snake cage for 24 hours.

– If I can’t do it, then he will shave off all my hair. I have contacted a Norwegian who is number seven in the world, and he will coach me. I will try my absolute best, he says.

Despite the fact that Maurstad’s Easter will not be quite as traditional, he has a lot on the block for the holiday. The typical things we associate with Easter have also not been his favourite.

– I hated lamb when I was younger. We used to celebrate Easter by eating lamb, and then I didn’t know how to politely avoid eating the food. Crimea and lamb are what I associate with Easter, and I am not a big consumer of Crimea. I don’t really eat that much candy either, so maybe Easter isn’t made for me, he laughs.