Dugnadseksperten

Dugnadseksperten assists sporting teams and schools throughout Norway with organizing fundraising activities. This concept is called Dugnad. We have actually written an extensive article with all you require to know.

 

The Norwegian Dugnad– What is this vital communal event?

 

Spend time considering and reading about any type of culture, and there will always be oddities that turn up from time to time. Every nation has its own culture and history, and this will involve many moments where things, frankly, seem a little strange. To an outsider, these cultural events can seem out of place or ill-fitting due to not fitting in with their own national structure.

 

If you intend to locate an example of a nationwide communal event that really helps to describe the national spirit, though, you should look no further than the Dugnad. For Norwegians, this community event is an incredible example of their spirit and their community.

 

What is Dugnad?

 

Dugnad is a term used in Norway to describe a period of voluntary work that is carried out alongside others. It is a vital kind of community job and togetherness, bringing people together to help make things better in their own constituency. For many Norwegians, this is a core part of their identity; the Dugnad is something to be celebrated, to be excited for.

 

Undoubtedly, it was voted the Norwegian word of the year as far back as 2004 by popular Norwegian television platform Typisk Norsk. Those who take part in Dugnad are helping to make their own community, and by extension the wider nation, a better place. Basically, it is the bringing together of the community to work together for the betterment of all.

 

At the end of Dugnad, it is common for those who take part to enjoy a meal together. The meal is often made-up of dishes that are brought to the event by the numerous Dugnad participants. As such, the meal itself fits the communal message and theme of the event itself.

 

How did Dugnad come to be?

 

The event itself can be traced back all the way back to the era of the Vikings. Being a seafaring group, the Vikings would return home in embattled ships and communities would certainly work together to correct problems. The communities knew that without the ships they can not enjoy the plenty that they had. Therefore, everyone worked together to ensure that ships were strong and capable of withstanding the elements further.

 

The very same effort was put into building homes for each and every Viking, building the Great Halls of the era, and for building various other parts of the community. The tradition, after that, grew from that right into the centuries to come. The tough winters and harsh weather of Norway also play a part, with communities needing to work together to ensure that all could survive the harsh weather conditions.

 

Today, the event still holds the exact same spirit and ethics of its past. Community-led activities and working together for the betterment of the whole community have remained a key part of Norwegian life ever since.

 

When does Dugnad take place?

 

Most of the time, Dugnad will be something that happens throughout the changing of the season. This is most common as we move from autumn to get ready for winter, and as we prepare to move from spring to summer. Winter is a time when Norwegians require to ensure their homes and communities are ready to face off against the winter. By contrast, though, the summer is a time when people spend missed time outdoors and thus want to spend time in vibrant, fresh, and clean communities.

 

One of the most common time for Dugnad to take place would be Might 17th, which is the National Day of Norway itself. This is the anniversary of the signing of the Norwegian constitution, which took place in 1814. Various other days in the autumn, though, do tend to pop up though there is probably a less uniform contract as to when it should take place.

 

As we move from one key season to the following, it makes sense to take pride in our community and prepare for the months ahead. The truth that Dugnad is a communal event means that it can take place on a smaller sized scale throughout the year, though; if something requires to be done, that community spirit will often see that it is taken care of as soon as is possible.

 

Sometimes, a Dugnad event will take place twice per year. This can help to keep the place fresh, and there will often be a planning board that seeks to try and prepare a list of priorities for each and every community. For example, maybe something as simple as obtaining the bushes trimmed and the leaves removed after a busy autumn. Or it could be painting the winter-impacted properties and community areas in fresh, summer-suitable color schemes.

 

Does everyone take part in Dugnad?

 

More or less! If you are a Norwegian or a resident of Norway, you will be expected to chip in and do your component. This is a time of year when everyone lifts a little of the load so that a community can make huge changes. It really is about making sure that you can get to know those around you, and that you can do your little bit to make the nation a much more appealing place.

 

People that live in Norway take immense pride in the top quality of the nation. Therefore, everyone that is present will take part in this event. Also the rich and the famous will, when in Norway, take part in these events. This is an event where everyone mores than happy to oblige and assist, from star soccer players to the average individual on the street. It is a humbling experience, and given everyone’s benefits, it would be hard to refuse time and effort to take part in the Dugnad.

 

There is one means to sum up Dugnad that makes sense: duty. Norway is a nation that has seen considerable immigration in recent years. This is a net positive for the nation, bringing new concepts and cultures to the nation. That being said, there belong to Norwegian social living that everyone, no matter nationality, is expected to take part in. For many, the symbol of a true Norwegian– ethnic or otherwise– is their dedication to taking part in Dugnad.

 

There is a “community contract” within Norway which the Dugnad epitomizes in the most effective way.

 

Are you paid for Dugnad?

 

No, there is no financial benefit to taking part in Dugnad. However, there is something a lot more important than cash in your pocket: pride. Pride in where you live, and pride in the people whom you live there alongside. Pride in the need and the capability to help out where you can. Pride in making sure that the community you reside in is taken care of, and remains in a good enough condition for future generations.

 

By working together, we can conquer the demand to spend for everything. In many other countries, there is a culture of merely buying what we require. This develops a more individualistic approach, though, which is often a negative for communities in the long-term. Though only a bi-annual event most years, the Dugnad does a great job of making sure that people make up for ‘losing’ time without being paid by getting a community.

 

You will fulfill people, you will improve where you live, and you will see first-hand the really immense power of a community coming together as one. In the long-term, that is far more valuable than any kind of amount of money that you could be given.

 

Earning money is one point, but the entire concept of Dugnad is about making greater than yourself. You are making for the community, for the right to live in a refuge where there is treatment and consideration for all. Many nations have actually lost the importance of knowing each other and being part of a wider community, such is the rapid pace and the transitional nature of modern living. For many, though, the Dugnad is the best antidote to this.

 

In many nations, the activities and events carried out throughout Dugnad are entrusted to council workers and state-sponsored programs. As opposed to waiting on someone else to do the job, though, Dugnad simply asks: why can’t we solve the issue as a community instead?

 

Do you need to be a professional to take part in Dugnad?

 

Considered that most of the tasks that take part in Dugnad are manual labor jobs, some worry they may not be cut out for the task. Physical fitness, disabilities, and so on make it hard for everyone to seem like they can contribute. Yet, all you require to do is grab a paintbrush, clean up some litter, do away with some graffiti, trim some bushes, etc– there is nothing that you will be doing that would certainly be expected to be of a professional standard.

 

Really, Dugnad is built around the kind of tasks that we would certainly have no qualms concerning carrying out in our own homes. We do not constantly expect a professional painter to help us paint our homes. Nor do we call a landscape garden enthusiast whenever we require to trim some bushes or take care of a bush. Because of that, lots of people see Dugnad as an opportunity to merely do their ideal. If you try your hardest and you put in an effort as much as you can, nobody expects perfection!

 

The charm of Dugnad is additionally that if you do make a mistake, somebody will be along to help. You all work together to handle each task as a wider whole; you are not expected to hit a job-level fulfillment with every task you carry out. You are, though, expected to do as long as you can to make your community a better place.

 

Does Dugnad differ in city areas?

 

You might not be shocked to learn that the way that Dugnad operates in rural and metropolitan areas can differ somewhat. In the extra metropolitan parts of Norway, Dugnad often contains people working together in a little spring cleaning. This can include things like handling the local area, helping to beautify the local area, and removing things like debris, graffiti, and other eye sores.

 

It prevails for maintenance and painting to take place throughout this period as well, cheering up everything from community areas and facilities to people’s homes and gardens. In more rural areas, though, the Dugnad tends to be built around the concept of working together on their homes. Many will assist with things like building or improving homes and garages.

 

Typically, schools additionally have a common yearly dugnader event whereby they function to make the school and its surrounding areas also better. This is common, and many Dugnad events are in fact arranged and organized by a school or local community.

 

So, while there are some differences in what will be done depending upon geography, the spirit of Dugnad lives on no matter whether you live in a major city or a rural small town.

 

Dugnad in the era of COVID

 

Naturally, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 (and beyond) had a huge influence on communities. Lots of people brought themselves together to much better understand the importance of keeping an eye out for those around us whatsoever times. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Dugnad became a lot more important during the COVID pandemic.

 

It was in fact used differently, though; Dugnad was made use of to help unite people and maintain morale and spirits from afar. However, it was actually primarily made use of to shut down activities and to stop events taking place that could potentially create a spike in COVID infections. While many associate Dugnad with productivity and community-led improvement, this was an additional example of a community looking out for itself. It may not have included the exact same togetherness of productivity, but there was a clear spirit of watching out for each other and keeping infection rates as reduced as could be.

 

The Dugnad spirit played a huge role in helping communities to come together and keep an eye out for each other without needing to be straight present. Because of that, Dugnad was vital to Norwegians seeing out the pandemic.

 

So, throughout the centuries, Norway has maintained the idea of making sure that everyone works together for the betterment of society. There is no ‘I’ during Dugnad; there is only ‘we.’ Whether you are from Norway, you get on vacation there, or you have actually moved there as a naturalized citizen, you will take part in Dugnad. And while it could sound like busywork, the experience is something that, once you take part, you will be unlikely to forget anytime soon!