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Have you ever wanted to know what goes into a Viking magazine photo shoot? Here’s your chance! The Viking team photographed the December cover story in late September 2021. But planning for it started months in advance. Read on for a look into the process.

Although Halloween has come and gone, there is still time to participate in the Scandinavian Christmas version of trick-or-treating known as julebukking. Julebukk translates to “Yule goat” and was brought to the United States by Norwegian and German immigrants.

Have you ever made a batch of rolled cookies, and wished you could avoid the waste or extra work created by using dough from the spaces between cookie cut-outs? Martin Lersch, a scientist living in Norway, considered the possibilities. Lersch decided to come up with a new way to make rolled cookies. He designed a cookie cutter to create a tessellated sheet of dough, meaning there is no space between each shape.

Meet Jesperpus (“yes-per-poose”), Norway’s famous adventure cat! This large, fluffy tabby bunks with his human family in the municipality of Løten, in Innlandet county in eastern Norway. He spends his days riding on one of his many horse friends, or out on the hunt with his younger cat brother, Kasper. He also loves to hike in the mountains and go swimming. However, his primary passion is snørekjøring.

Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies are spiced, snappy cookies that make your house smell divine when they bake. They are perfect for kids and adults to decorate, and you can shape them into whatever you please!

In August, Norway’s crown prince pair celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. The couple decided to delay their celebration due to coronavirus concerns. On the date of their anniversary, Princess Ingrid Alexandra was quarantined due to a Covid diagnosis and has since recovered.

Innlandet county is a sweeping expanse of rich farmland, thriving wilderness and mythical mountain ranges, stretching across middle and southeastern Norway. It is the only landlocked county in Norway, and is second in size only to Troms og Finnmark in the north.

The Sons of Norway Foundation has been proudly supporting accomplished and innovative students since our founding in 1966. We are pleased to share their stories with the donors and members who make our scholarships happen. Here is one such message from 2021 King Olav V Norwegian-American Heritage Scholarship recipient Amalia Waiter Lewis.

Søtsuppe (sweet soup) is a traditional Norwegian food that is great for family celebrations. It can be eaten hold or cold and is delicious for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

At one point or another, you may have heard the Norwegian and Danish term hygge, pronounced “hue-guh.” Over the last several years, the endearing word has become more widespread in the U.S. and was named one of the top words of the year in 2016. The translation of “coziness” doesn’t fully capture the meaning of the hygge, as it encompasses the broader idea of appreciating and savoring the truly rich moments in life. In a similar vein, the Norwegian word kos emphasizes the warmth of togetherness and being with loved ones.

Fall is officially here, and it’s the perfect time to plan a Nordic-themed movie night. Whether you’re looking for an inspiring documentary, heartwarming comedy or adventure film that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you have plenty of options to choose from.

To celebrate the first annual Leif Erikson Day in the U.S., in 1964, Minnesota Governor Rolvaag asked Sons of Norway and the Minnesota press to find a young man with the same name. Fifteen Minnesotans responded, but not all were of Norwegian descent. Gradually, the number was narrowed to two - a boy of 11 from Austin and Leif, age 17, from Moorhead. Since the Leif Eriksen coming to the ceremony from Norway was 16 years old, the 17-year-old Minnesotan was deemed a better choice. 

Halloween is an American holiday which didn’t catch on in the rest of the world until recently. However, it has increasingly become a phenomenon in various parts of the globe. One country that has grown well-acquainted with Halloween is Norway. The traditions of Halloween were “imported” to Norway in the late 90’s and are now quite common, at least in the larger cities.

Spanning across the southeast region of Østfold in Viken county, the 7th edition of the Ladies Tour of Norway was held this year from August 12-15. The athletes in this world-class bicycle race compete as teams of up to 6 cyclists, often riding close to each other to take advantage of drafting, and use a variety of other tactics to reduce drag and increase speed. This year’s race featured 18 teams, crewed by top competitors from all over the world.

The perfect soup to make as the temperatures get colder, Norwegian Betasuppe!

In the October issue of Viking, we explored how Norway has been taking sustainable steps forward by using electric ferries. The country currently has 31 fully-electric ferries in operation, and that number is expected to grow substantially.

Norway has a vibrant brewery culture and an interesting wine history to match. In the September issue of Viking magazine, we explored the wine culture found throughout Scandinavia.

Situated at a small bay at the head of the Oslofjord, Oslo City Hall brims with color, charm and history.

Sometimes called “The Norwegian Riviera” for its temperate climate and abundance of “must experience” attractions, the county of Agder rests on the southernmost end of Norway. Idyllic, tree- dotted valleys are draped between rugged mountains and wooded heathland. They follow the rivers as they bend south through the hill country, emptying into the sea. The name Agder itself is mysterious. It predates the Norwegian language and is thought to be derived from Old Norse terms meaning either “the land that juts out to the sea” or “the land by the troubled sea.” Both would be appropriate.

Norway’s national dog, the Norsk elghund (Norwegian Elkhound or more accurately “moose dog”) is a medium-sized dog that has hunted, herded and played guard dog since Viking times. This ancient Spitz is one of the oldest dog breeds, having originated as early as 5,000 B.C. Elkhounds have been found buried at Viking grave sites such as the Svarthola in Jæren, Norway. According to DNA research, the elkhound is descended from an extinct type of gray wolf originating in western Russia and central Europe.

In a recent analysis conducted by French travel agency Voyage Avec Nous, and data firm Flashs, Norway has topped the chart as the safest holiday destination in Europe. This analysis was structured using five criteria: health, security, road deaths, robberies, and intentional homicides. The data for these criteria came from the EuroHealth Consumer Index, Global Peace Index 2021, and Eurostat. The areas that tipped the scales to Norway were Norway’s security, as well as low levels of road deaths and murders.

Named after King Olav II, a renowned Viking leader buried in Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral, St. Olav Ways is a group of historical pilgrim pathways with a variety of destinations for travelers to explore today.

Haakon Magnus was just 17 when his grandfather died and his father became King. At that time, it was tradition for the first-born son to succeed the throne. Despite his sister Märtha Louise being 2 years his senior, Haakon Magnus was given the title Crown Prince and became heir to the throne.

The original home of most of the founders of Sons of Norway, Trøndelag county spreads across the central section of the country. Its 16,000 square miles are dominated by mountains, with slips of green valley tucked along its coasts, fjords and rivers. Its most notable natural feature is the Trondheim Fjord, which slices about 80 miles inland; first southward to Trondheim, then jagging northeast up to the town of Steinkjer.

Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer born in 1872, is known as one of the greatest figures in the field of polar exploration. In fact, he was the first person to reach the South Pole and the first to cross the Arctic by air.