Exactly 100 years ago, Norwegian Christiania was renamed Oslo – Earth – Science and Technology

In the 17th century, after a devastating fire, Oslo was rebuilt in honor of the then king Christian IV. it was also named after him and became Christiania. This name was over 300 years old.

Today, Oslo is a modern city with over 700,000 inhabitants.

Today we commemorate the centenary of one of the biggest changes in the history of the Norwegian capital – the renaming of Christiania to Oslo. This moment was not just a simple name change, but symbolized a deep alliance with the national identity and historical roots of Norway.

The history of the city dates back to the Viking era, when Oslo was founded around 1040. In the 17th century, after a fire, Oslo was completely destroyed and rebuilt on the other side of the bay in honor of the then king Christian IV. it was also named after him and became Christiania. This name was over 300 years old.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the effort to restore national identity and search for a connection with one’s own history deepened more and more in Norway. After a long period of Danish and later Swedish domination, the restoration of one’s own culture and traditions was an important part of national awareness. In 1905, Norway gained its independence, and soon after the discussion began about returning to the original name of the capital.

In 1924, this proposal was approved, and from January 1, 1925, Christiania was officially renamed Oslo. This decision was made not only with enthusiasm, but also with a certain nostalgia for the old name.

The very origin and meaning of the name Oslo is also interesting. There are several theories about its etymology. The word Oslo is most often said to come from the Old Norse “Ás-lo”, meaning “Meadow of the Gods” or “Divine Meadow”. This name refers to the original place where ceremonies and rituals associated with Norse deities could take place. Another theory claims that Oslo means “Meadow under the slope”, as the word “lo” translates as meadow and “os” can refer to a mountain or a slope.

The symbolic value of this change was enormous. For many Norwegians, returning to their original roots was an act of pride and an increase in national self-confidence. Since then, Oslo has become the center of Norwegian culture, politics and economy. It currently has more than 700,000 inhabitants, if we take into account the wider urban agglomeration, there are almost 1.1 million of them.