Blog

The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to our members.

50 Years of Oil and Gas

This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the first commercial oil and gas field, Ekofisk, in the Norwegian part of the North Sea. Growing up in Oslo in the 1960s and ’70s, I saw how oil and gas transformed Norway.

June 27th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Rhythm Among the Roses

Moldejazz, which also goes by Molde International Jazz Festival, was founded in 1961 and is the second-oldest jazz festival in Europe. The festival is held during the 29th week of the year.

June 24th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

CEO Eivind Heiberg Supports “Viking” WWII Memorial

Sons of Norway CEO Eivind Heiberg, acting in his dual capacity as Honorary Consulate General for the Kingdom of Norway, made an appearance at Fort Snelling on May 21, 2019, in support of an effort to memorialize the 99th Infantry Battalion, an elite unit of Norwegian-speaking soldiers who fought for the U.S. Army in World War II.

June 11th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

“The Farm” Puts Celebrities to Work

Imagine a competition where you have to milk a cow, wrestle, or build and start a bonfire for a chance to win big. Norwegian reality TV series Farmen Kjendis (Celebrity Farmer) is the celebrity spin-off of another Norwegian reality TV series, Farmen (The Farm).

June 10th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Reduce Your Tax Liability With This Easy Fix

If you have assets like a CD, money market account, stocks or bonds that you have been planning to transfer to the next generation as a legacy, here is something you should know: These types of assets often pass to your beneficiaries with either tax or probate consequences.

June 7th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Rye & Banana Bread

In the June issue of Viking, entrepreneur and author Brontë Aurell shared recipes from her book, “ScandiKitchen Summer.” And while banana bread might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of traditional Scandinavian eats, Aurell has a cooking mind of her own. Check out her banana recipe with a special Scandi twist.

June 3rd, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Pride—Human Rights for All

Last year we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While most people probably have a vague idea of what fundamental human rights are, we live in a part of the world where many—myself included—probably take them more or less for granted.

May 28th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Day Trip: Oslo to Lillehammer

Ahh, day trips. A time to recharge and discover a town’s cultural allure, heritage and quaint quirks. In the May issue of Viking, we took readers on quick day getaways from Oslo and Bergen...

May 20th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Norwegian-Sami Music Group on the Rise

In the International Year of Indigenous Languages, Sami-influenced music group KEiiNO has been selected to represent Norway at the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest this month. The group, consisting of Sami songwriter and rapper Fred Buljo and Norwegian singers Alexandra Rotan and Tom Hugo...

May 14th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Prison Prizes Respect

Halden Fengsel, Norway’s second-largest prison, is a facility that emphasizes respect and focuses on the rehabilitation of its inmates. The prison opened in 2010 and although considered a high-security prison, it has no conventional security devices.

May 13th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Summer Travel Notes

If your travels take you to Norway this summer, be ready to experience all the drama and beauty the country has to offer: Intricacies of a vast coastline. Mesmerizing waterfalls. Diverse species of native birds. Hiking trails. Glorious beaches.

May 12th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Make that Surplus Tax Refund Work for You

Sure, treat yourself to a new pair of shoes or see that award-winning film before the month is out. Then, jump in and consider the best way to use your tax refund. Here are some ideas. 1. Pay off debt - Don't let those credit cards get the best of you...

May 11th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Timeless Ideas Guide Norway’s Foreign Policy

Every May, Norwegians all over the world celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day. Signed 205 years ago, Norway’s is the second-oldest written constitution in the world that is still in use. The oldest, which in many ways served as a model for Norway’s founding fathers, is the American Constitution.

May 7th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Admired Leader

Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, has championed many facets since her 2013 election, from sustainability to global solutions, all while leading the “land of the midnight sun.” Not only that, but as mentioned in the May issue of Viking...

May 1st, 2019|Categories: Blog|

The Anniversaries of a Lifetime

This year marks a very special year for the beloved churches of Årdal, Norway. It’s not only the 100th anniversary of the “new” church in Årdal, but also the incredible and historical 400th anniversary of the old church.

April 13th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Norway’s Wacky Winter Sport

From Sobetsu, Japan to Vardø, Norway, people around the world take part in the latest—and arguably strangest—winter sport dubbed Yukigassen.

April 12th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

A Mysterious Fortress on the Oslo Fjord

A woman named Mantelgeisten appears out of the darkness in a long robe. Prison chains rattle. Screams of horror and torture linger from the dungeons. Known to be the most haunted castle in Norway, Akershus Fortress attracts more than three million visitors every year...

April 11th, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Norway in International Politics

Over the past couple of years, I’ve published a blog on various topics pertaining to international diplomacy, first on HuffingtonPost.com and then on WashingtonDiplomat.com. While I enjoyed the opportunity to get my thoughts out there, I was never sure I was reaching quite the right audience.

April 7th, 2019|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Out of this World: Solobservatoriet

Imagine wandering into a glowing planetary system nestled deep within a forest. No, your eyes are not tricking you. Celebrated architecture and design firm Snøhetta is designing a new planetarium and visitor center for Norway’s largest astronomical facility.

April 3rd, 2019|Categories: Blog|

Star Chef

In the March issue of Viking magazine, we catch up with Scandinavian celebrity chef Tina Nordström. From her cookbooks, television shows, kitchen items and wine, there are few areas of the food industry she has left untouched.

March 22nd, 2019|Categories: Blog|
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