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.

A look at Norway’s coffee culture

In a recent list of the top ten coffee-consuming countries reported by WorldAtlas, half were Nordic countries. In fact, Norway claimed second place right behind Finland. Although it is very apparent from this list that Norwegians love their coffee, that has not always been the case.

March 7th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Viking longship excavation yields unexpected findings

Norway’s first Viking longship excavation in over a century is nearing its final stages, with work expected to conclude in early 2021 following an extension of the project. It has been a source of fascination among academics and casual enthusiasts alike, with findings that may shed new light on early Viking society.

February 16th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |

A joik renaissance

This month, on February 6, we celebrate National Sámi Day. For the indigenous people of the Sápmi region, which spans the northernmost parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, storytelling through song has been part of their culture for centuries.

February 1st, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |

Coming Home to the Fjords

The January 2021 edition of Viking featured member David Ellingson’s kayak adventures through the fjords of Norway. The self-described “water spirit” tackled epic mileage while receiving help from “fjord angels,” communing with the spirits of his ancestors, and learning some life lessons along the way.

January 28th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |

February = 14 days of friluftsliv

As a fervent hiker, Henrik Ibsen gave name to a concept already deeply rooted in the Norwegian psyche: friluftsliv (free-loofts-leave). Roughly translated as “life in the free air,” the idea is to immerse yourself in nature, resulting in benefits to mind, body and spirit.

January 14th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: , , |

In Norway, it’s Taco Friday

In the United States, many people take part in a fun custom known as “Taco Tuesday.” It’s a day where people come together to enjoy all kinds of tacos, as well as the discounts many restaurants offer on Tuesdays.

January 13th, 2021|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Favorite Viking magazine articles from 2020

As 2020 comes to a close, so does another year of Viking magazine. What a year it has been! Our 12 issues from 2020 include 37 feature stories that span topics such as Scandinavian food, travel, history, modern culture, genealogy and more. Here’s a look back at some of this year’s must-read articles.

December 28th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

Norsk winterwear—more than just warm

Norwegian wool sweaters are something we associate with tradition, cozy warmth and, if we’re lucky, the people who knitted them. But did you know that they were made to protect us not only from cold, but also to ward off malicious spirits?

December 11th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

For the birds, and good fortune

The tradition of putting up a julenek (Christmas sheaf) at Christmastime goes back a few centuries. It was supposed to be a large cut of a farmer’s best grain, and the last thing to be harvested in the autumn.

December 10th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |

Princess Märtha risks it all to defend Norway in new drama

Norway’s royal family thought that neutrality would protect their nation from hostile takeover, but they were caught unawares when the Germans invaded in 1940. A new historical dramatization, Atlantic Crossing, recently debuted on NRK, Norway’s National Broadcasting Corporation.

November 16th, 2020|Categories: Blog|

Surviving winter like a Norwegian

As much of the United States and Europe brace for a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us worry we’re facing our darkest time yet and wonder how we’ll cope with the long winter nights. Our answer might be to look at the Norwegian lifestyle.

November 13th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: , |

With demand skyrocketing, Norway expands citizenship processing

Ever since Norway began allowing dual citizenship in January 2020, applications have been pouring in from people seeking to become Norwegian citizens. The influx of applications has far outpaced expectations, prompting lawmakers to propose expanding Norway’s citizenship processing capacity by NOK 61.5 million in 2021.

November 12th, 2020|Categories: Blog|Tags: |
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