Going to bed with a viking
>> Wednesday, March 16, 2011
There's one thing I particularly like about going to bed with my Norwegian--not worrying about someone hogging the covers!
In the U.S., bedding typically consists of one big bedspread\comforter\duvet\whateveryouwanttocallit that covers the entire bed. Traditionally there are also two sheets--a fitted sheet that hugs the mattress and a top sheet over that. Depending on the temperature outside, sometimes my family also added a blanket or two over the top sheet and under the comforter. With me so far? Fascinating topic, I know.
The interesting part is that it's actually fairly different here. In Norway, the usual is the two dyner (Norwegian for bedspread) set-up seen below:
Not all beds are made exactly like ours above. Some people definitely make it look nicer by adding a crocheted blanket or thin bedspread over the down comforters. Top sheets don't really make an appearance however.
According to me, that's no big loss either. I have never been a big fan of a top sheet (or sharing blankets for that matter!) so basically I have wholeheartedly embraced this Norwegian habit. I have always liked using just one blanket when I sleep and I love having my own space; Norway and I were basically meant to be.
Sometimes I feel like I generalize too much, both in regards to American and Norwegian lifestyles. It's probably a bit unfair for me to speculate on 300 million Americans' sleeping habits and to assume that what I have seen done in Norwegian homes in Eastern Norway is the same all over the country. Remember this is just my personal experience.
Norway definitely gets a gold star in my book for this one. Heia Norge!
10 comments:
I think I learned from you that no flat/top sheet is the WAY TO GO. I much prefer it, though sometimes I try to put it on the bed in the hopes of preserving our comforter a little longer, but Justin never sleeps under it anyway. I'd have to pin the sheet to the comforter, and by then, I might as well just buy a duvet cover!
Also, we totally sleep with two comforters as well (one for each), but for some reason I still make the bed standard style and drape the second comforter across the foot of the bed.
ooh thats interesting! stian and i (in stavanger) share one duvet...but i kinda like the idea of not having to battle the sheet hog in the night!! hahah
Belissima!
So, the first time I saw this separated bedding stuff was on july/2008, when I came to Germany for the first time. I found really interesting and yeah, I loved! The first impression I got was "it is a clever way to keep the individuality of the partners in the couple".
Here in Germany is the same thing in 99% of bed: two separated comfort/blakets/bedspread/etc.
Some "extreme"cases we have also two separated matresses in one double-bed. This requires also two sets of sheets, cover for matress, etc. And the explanation couldn't be more german (practical application of engineering): two matresses prevent that the one who rolls/moves more during the sleep wakes up the other one by little "earthquakes" in the matress, were it the matress a classical big-one.
And next week, Spring!
Hug!
Girl, all my bedding in Norway is straight up Target. (Using the "French" pronunciation, of course. >:))Queen size duvet and covers and all, except we don't use a top sheet either (I think this caused my mom a bit of distress when they visited, but she was a champion to keep it (mostly) to herself). I prefer having one duvet in winter as it lets the Scandihooligan Space Heater perform his function, and in the summer I tend to kick off any covers anyway.
Oh man, that's the way to do it. I'm a have to remember that. You know, next time I sleep with an actual person and not just my old snuggle pillow.
The first time I went to Norway, decades ago (yes, I'm a geezer)I wasn't sure how to deal with this type of bedding. I adapted quickly, though, and always look forward to sleeping that way. I get tired of fighting my wife for covers, maybe I should get HER to adapt!
I am a "no-top-sheeter" too! Glad to know that is normal somewhere! :)
Ha Ha. This is a sore spot in our household. I refuse to make beds the Norwegian way. We have been arguing about which is correct for 7 years now. :D
We do the same in Denmark and I love it - I did "try" to do one comforter, once, but that's not a thing to introduce to a man who has had his own his entire life!!
Ahahahhaha! I LOVE THIS POST! :) I was surprised too the first time I saw this at Mr.Polarbear's parents house! But I must say it is a very good habit to adopt, specially when you're in a rush in the morning! I do it once in a while too now! :) But just because I don't have nice beddings so far!
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