1. EachPod

4: Stranded Thought: Swearing in Church - and a bit of chocolate trouble

Author
Anne Fjeld
Published
Fri 04 Jul 2025
Episode Link
https://www.annesnorwegianknitting.com/podcasts/anne-s-norwegian-knitting/episodes/2149051104

This week, Anne shares a story that starts with chocolate and ends with a classic Norwegian expression – one that might just surprise you.


You’ll meet the iconic Kvikk Lunsj (Norway’s beloved hiking chocolate), learn why it's definitely not a Kit Kat, and discover the deeper meaning behind the phrase:


"To swear in church" (å banne i kirka)


Because, really – some things are sacred. Like Kvikk Lunsj.


 


In this episode:




  • What Kvikk Lunsj is – and why Norwegians treasure it




  • The cultural importance of food, tradition, and language




  • Why calling Kvikk Lunsj a “Norwegian Kit Kat” is practically a scandal




  • A peek into the Norwegian phrase “å banne i kirka”




  • And a question for you: Have you ever sworn in church? (Not literally, of course…)




 


Norwegian phrase of the week:


Banne i kirka – “To swear in church”
Used when someone says or does something so wildly inappropriate (in context) that it feels like a cultural faux pas

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