Murder, Mystery, and... Easter? Norway’s Unusual Holiday Tradition

When you think of Easter, you probably picture chocolate eggs, pastel decorations, and family gatherings. But in Norway, Easter comes with a side of murder—fictional, of course! Every year, as the holiday approaches, Norwegians rush to bookstores, stock up on crime thrillers, and retreat to cozy mountain cabins to indulge in Påskekrim—or “Easter Crime.” But how did a holiday about renewal and rebirth become Norway’s most suspenseful season?

A Crime That Fooled a Nation (And Created a Tradition)

It all started in 1923 with a clever marketing stunt. Two young Norwegian authors, Nordahl Grieg and Nils Lie, had written a crime novel titled Bergen Train Looted in the Night. To promote it, their publisher ran a fake front-page newspaper article with the book’s title in bold letters. The story was so convincing that many readers thought an actual train robbery had occurred!

The reaction was immediate—people were gripped by the thrilling headline and rushed to buy the book. The stunt was so successful that publishers quickly realized something: Norwegians loved a good crime story. The timing, just before Easter, was perfect. Over the years, bookstores and TV stations embraced the tradition, flooding shelves and screens with crime thrillers every spring.

A National Obsession with Crime

Unlike anywhere else in the world, Norway’s Easter isn’t just about bunnies and eggs—it’s about mystery and murder. Newspapers publish serialized crime stories, TV stations air detective dramas, and publishers release dozens of crime novels just in time for the holiday. Even milk cartons in Norway get in on the fun, sometimes featuring mini-mysteries for readers to solve while sipping their morning coffee.

Why crime fiction? Some say it's the long Easter break, with many Norwegians heading to their hytter (cabins) for a quiet getaway—perfect for getting lost in a thrilling novel. Others point to Norway’s love of dark, atmospheric storytelling, a key feature of Nordic Noir, the globally popular crime fiction genre known for its gritty realism.

From Local Tradition to Global Phenomenon

While Påskekrim started in Norway, the country’s love for crime fiction has had a worldwide impact. Norwegian crime writers like Jo Nesbø (The Snowman) have become international bestsellers, and Scandinavian crime dramas have taken over streaming platforms, drawing in audiences who love a good mystery.

So, if you want to celebrate Easter the Norwegian way, forget the chocolate—grab a crime novel, curl up in a cozy spot, and let the mystery unfold. Just don’t look over your shoulder… you never know who might be watching. 

Best sellers as of March 2025 (translated into English on Amazon) include:

Into Thin Air by Ørjan Karlsson

Snow Fall by Jørn Lier Horst

Stigma by Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger

The Girl by the Bridge by Arnaldur Indriðason

The Sins of Our Fathers by Åsa Larsson