While most of us like a beer with our Christmas meal, in Norway and Denmark, they REALLY like their Christmas suds.

Long before Christianity made its way to the north, Norwegians celebrated the winter solstice by brewing and drinking beer to honor their Norse gods, reports VinePair.

To celebrate “Jul,” a Norwegian word that in modern vernacular refers to the Christmas season, Vikings brewed and consumed strong, barley-based beer while in the throes of winter’s coldest and dreariest months. They also used the ale to make offerings in hopes to entice the gods to bring back the summer sun.

According to “The Geography of Beer,” King Haakon the Good, who ruled from 934 to 961, later used the ancient Jul celebration to push a Christian agenda. As part of his efforts to introduce Christianity to the Norwegian people, King Haakon the Good implemented a pagan-meets-Christian mash-up, making it a law to celebrate Christmas with beer. Those who didn’t have beer at their Christmas feast were issued a fine.

Today, nearly all Norwegian brewers follow the same custom as do Danish brewers (for years Denmark ruled Norway and took some of their customs). As back then as today, it’s considered a mark of status for brewers to pull all tricks out of their hats in using unique ingredients.