god sankthans
The Norwegian phrase for "happy midsummer" is god sankthans.
god sankthans is a greeting used to wish someone a pleasant Midsummer celebration.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Trøndelag region, you can also say Ha ein god Sankthansaften! to mean "Have a good Midsummer's Eve!"
Did you know?
- In Norway, it is a traditional custom to light massive bonfires on the coast to celebrate sankthans.
- While the phrase contains the name 'Hans', it refers to John the Baptist, not the common Norwegian name 'Hans'. The name 'Sankthans' is actually a clipped version of 'Sankt Johannes'.
- Although the name refers to a saint, 'Sankthans' is used as a secular cultural marker for the height of summer in Norway, much like the Fourth of July in the United States.
Examples in context
- God sankthans til dere alle!Happy midsummer to you all!
- Jeg vil si god sankthans til deg.I want to say happy midsummer to you.
- Vi ønsket ham en god sankthans.We wished him a happy midsummer.
Example conversation
Sofie and Magnus are meeting at a summer party.
- SofieHei Magnus, god sankthans!Hi Magnus, happy midsummer!
- MagnusTakk, god sankthans til deg også, Sofie.Thanks, happy midsummer to you too, Sofie.
- SofieHar du noen planer for kvelden?Do you have any plans for the evening?
- MagnusJeg skal bare nyte bålet.I am just going to enjoy the bonfire.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries god, sankthans, CC BY-SA 4.0.
