D.C. is home to a few interesting holiday traditions, but the Eighth Annual Norwegian Christmas is certainly one of the most unique.

Occupying the main hall of Union Station during the holiday season, a traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree and an authentic Sámi Lammu (similar to a Native American teepee) serve as the centerpieces of this month-long celebration. Various events throughout December seek to bring a bit of Norway to Chocolate City. This Sunday, you can taste Christmas the Norwegian way at the Taste of Norway. Norwegians dressed in “bunad”, their national costume, serve free food from noon until 2 PM. If you can’t make it then, Union Station’s Center Cafe will be serving traditional Norwegian food all month. Also not to be missed is the Norwegian Bazaar, Dec. 10-11, where you can buy that hard-to-shop-for loved one his or her own traditionally made Norlender sweater.

Though DCist realizes that D.C. is a city of diversity, we’re curious as to how the Norwegian Christmas tradition at Union Station got started. Does anyone have any insights?

(Image of Julenissen, Norway’s own version of Santa Claus)