This tradition has grown so deep into the culture of modern Norway that in 2004 the "Dugnad" was declared here the word of the year. Why is free work for the benefit of society so popular? The answer to this question was found to find BBC Capital.

It was the eve of the national holiday - the Day of the Constitution of Norway, and people across the country rolled up their sleeves to properly clean up and then celebrate May 17 as expected.

The schoolyard in the town of Sogndal was attended by parents of students - it was necessary to cook everything for tomorrow.

Six mothers took over the leadership of this important operation. Two fathers, one of whom was a refugee from Eritrea, took out of the school building tables and chairs. A group of parents decorated the yard with birch branches and flags. Others took out trash cans.

Several parents were interested in the organizers of tomorrow's holiday, in which games it will be necessary to play with children. "Just try to make everyone feel good," they replied..

In front of you is a typical Dugnad. This Norwegian word literally means "help" or "support".

The custom of working together for the benefit of society has its roots in the history of Norway, but in one form or another it once existed in most of the agrarian communities around the world.

In Norway, dugnad has traditionally been used for such serious works as stubbing stumps, hay making and building houses - and everything ended with a feast for the whole village.

For the nation of peasants and fishermen, dugnad was a kind of public insurance program. People disinterestedly helped each other, and as a result, everyone knew - if you need to, you will always help.

Today, dugnad means unpaid voluntary work carried out together with a group of other volunteers - both for the benefit of the local community and for the benefit of the whole country.

Tradition is so ingrained in the culture of modern Norway that in 2004 the "dugnad" was declared the word of the year.

"Last week I had four snowballs - my children play football for four different teams," said Hanne Hoff, one of the organizers of the school holiday. "Next week, at my work, the garden dugnad".

She does not see a problem in bothering for free. "It unites parents, and this is a wonderful feeling - we are doing something together for our children".

In urban areas, dugnad is usually the cleaning of the territory and the care of trees in housing cooperatives.

Dugnady is a common practice in kindergartens and primary schools, where minor repairs are often necessary.

In the countryside, neighbors often help each other to repair houses or garages.

As for sporting events, it is a matter of honor for every parent to support his child - both by his own appearance and by a concrete deed.

Sports Dugnads often help small, low-income teams to save on transport, drinks, judges and medical staff. For them, this is an important resource, among other things, strengthening the community, team spirit.

But the sports dugnad can take even more impressive dimensions. Yes, in Norway there are only about 5.3 million inhabitants, but this nation is famous for its athletes and world records.

The spirit of Dugnad is something that moves Norwegians and during the international football tournament for children and youth, the biggest in the world, and during the grandiose charitable telethon.

Youth teams from all over the world come to the "Cup of Norway". And its participants often say that it is absolutely impossible to understand who actually work and from what stratum of society do volunteers serve.

The driver of the bus or the general director of a large company - this week they are all dressed in uniform uniforms, carry bags to the team to which they are attached, entertained and encouraged by children and sleep on mattresses in the school gymnasium.

The national telethon, collecting money for charity, also relies on the spirit of the Dugnad. Every year on a Sunday in October, 100,000 Norwegians knock 2.3 million houses in the door, substituting donations for donations.

This year, the telethon will be dedicated to helping lonely people from all walks of life.

"Dugnad allows you to feel like a good person, he makes the world better," says Vibeke Ostbi, the telethon's leader.. - Of course, the amount of collected money is important, but more importantly - to attract Norwegians to work on a case that is greater than your ego ".

The influence of the dugnad is also attributed to the way the organization of working life in Norway looks: the authorities are few, there is almost no hierarchy, informal communication.

It is sometimes very difficult for a foreigner to understand who is a boss in Norway and who is an ordinary employee.

Polls show that the number of volunteers and the amount of time that they spend on public works, in some areas even increases.

For example, in 2014, 61% of Norwegians engaged in a dugnad for at least one organization.

For the economy this is also very useful. In the non-governmental sector of the country, voluntary assistance contributes about $ 8.8 billion, more than the work of paid employees ($ 6.435 billion) of this sector, which in 2014 was about 5% of the GDP of continental Norway.

Research Professor Karl Henrik Sivevind of the Institute for Social Research in Oslo has been studying dugnad for almost two decades. He notes that those who earn more and are better educated are usually more willing to participate in the provision of voluntary assistance.

"This is a paradox: people who could get the most benefit from participation in the Dugnada, do it much less often," he says..

According to him, the dugnad is a good opportunity to establish new ties in the community, which is extremely important for refugees, immigrants, for the unemployed or for those who do not have the necessary contacts in the community.

The main reason for participation in a dugnada is a contribution to a useful work, the professor continues, but it also increases self-esteem and can even help to acquire new skills or useful links in the labor market.

"I remember when I was first asked to help, I had no idea what a dugnad was, but I immediately answered" yes "- I was so glad that they asked me!" - says Yvonne Nshimirimana from Burundi, the mother of two children who came 11 years ago to Norway as a refugee.

Participation in the Dungada helped her to make new friends and become an active member of the local community. By the holiday she was instructed to bake three chocolate cakes - a small school in a small town means a serious duty for everyone.

Tsegay Alem Jebretsdak from Eritrea says that in his new homeland he wants to fulfill all social obligations: "Of course, I want to support my children and will do everything that is expected of me. In Eritrea, we also help each other, but usually only within the family or neighbors ".

Parents told me that social networks greatly facilitate the organization of the dugnada - no one else can say that they did not know or that the child lost a note from the school.

Professor Siverskind says that most people want to participate, because the lives of those who ignore the dugnad become uncomfortable in small communities.

"If you do not come, you should understand that you will meet all these people in shops, at school, at work - everywhere," he says.. "You'd better take part in a dugnada, otherwise you risk being known as a lazy and indifferent person".

The next day was a holiday.

When it was over, the team of volunteers quickly removed everything from the schoolyard. There were no traces of debris, all the chairs and tables were brought back to school.

Parents are happy - everything went fine, the weather was good, ice cream sold a lot. The collected money will help to pay for the next year a trip for children - they all can go.

"All the parents came, although we were asked to send at least one," smiles one of the mothers. "After a dugnad there is always a very warm feeling".