A Finnish public figure has ignited a social media debate after publicly criticizing customary Norwegian Christmas cuisine, calling dishes like pinnekjøtt adn fårikål “absolutely awful.” Sanna Sarromaa’s comments, made to Nettavisen, quickly went viral and drew a swift backlash from many Norwegians who take pride in their holiday food traditions. The controversy highlights the cultural significance of food and the passionate reactions it can evoke, even across national borders.
Sanna Sarromaa:
Finnish Commentator Sparks Outrage After Criticizing Traditional Norwegian Christmas Cuisine
Finnish public figure Sanna Sarromaa, 46, ignited a social media firestorm in the lead-up to the holidays by calling traditional Norwegian Christmas dishes “absolutely awful.”
“Pinnekjøtt is absolutely awful. It’s the worst pieces of meat that get stuck between your teeth. Fårikål is exactly the same. It’s not good at all,” she told Nettavisen. The comments quickly went viral, prompting a fierce backlash from many Norwegians.
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<h3 class="headline">- I Can’t Handle This</h3>
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</a>As of this writing, the Facebook post accompanying the Nettavisen article has garnered over 1,200 comments. The controversy highlights the strong cultural attachment Norwegians have to their traditional holiday foods.
“I’m starting to get really tired of that woman,” read one comment.
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<figcaption itemprop="caption" class="">TV FACE: Sanna Sarromaa appeared in this year’s season of “71 Degrees North.” Photo: Matti Bernitz/Warner Bros. Discovery</figcaption>
</p>Facing Criticism
After Sarromaa appeared on NRK’s Dagsnytt 18 to discuss the issue further, even more critics came forward. She subsequently took to Facebook to address the situation.
“A comment section under an article about Tommy Robinson in Minerva is a children’s ski race compared to the inbox I woke up to today! I am ‘the biggest and dumbest Finnish pussy in Norway’ who ‘just needs to go back to Finland when everything is so awful here in Norway’,” she wrote in the post.
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Sanna Sarromaa lashes out at Knowledge Minister Tonje Brenna. Now she is backing down. VIDEO: Wolfgang Wee Uncut
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</p>“Norwegians Are Self-Righteous”
When reached for comment, Sarromaa laughed off the situation.
– There’s no news value in the fact that I don’t like Norwegian Christmas food. What *is* very interesting is the strong reactions it creates in some people,
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<figcaption itemprop="caption" class="">SELF-IMPORTANT: Sanna Sarromaa points out that Norwegians have become too self-righteous and take themselves too seriously. Here from the presentation of the participants in “71 Degrees North” which she participated in this fall. Photo: Andreas Fadum / Se og Hør</figcaption>
</p>She continued:
– I think many Norwegians are very self-righteous. And then, sort of, the reflex in people is that I have to go back to Finland.
She also strongly reacted to what people allow themselves to write to her:
– I am amused that some people have such strong opinions about me. But I demand evidence here. That I am ‘the biggest and dumbest Finnish pussy in Norway’ I doubt is based on empirical research. Has the person measured all the Finnish pussies in Norway?
She concluded:
– That person has not been near my pussy, and never will be. But this doesn’t bother me. I find it entertaining.
