Norway Confirmation (Konfirmasjon)

Pre-Reformation
In the Catholic times confirmation was a sacrament which could only be performed by a Bishop. Confirmation was not necessary and usually took place during the visitation of the Bishop. The usual age of confirmation varied from six to 12 years of age. Not a lot is known about this practice in the middle ages.

Reformation
At the Reformation Confirmation became a sacrament. Now even though every priest could perform confirmations they became more rare than they were earlier. The practice evolved to include the youth’s Christian schooling. A royal resolution in 1736 introduced the practice of confirmation as a necessity. A by-product of this practice was the creation of the school for the common people. In 1759 it was decreed that everyone should be confirmed by the age of nineteen.