Sons of Norway Blog

Use the celebration of Norwegian name days as a cultural activity! First, a little background: Each day of the Norwegian calendar year has a name or multiple names assigned to it. This tradition was created by the early Christian church and continued in the Catholic tradition of honoring saints. In Scandinavia, the creation of an almanac occurred in Sweden in 1757, and official name days were assigned. After this [...]

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.

This simple, healthy wrap is a take on the traditional Norwegian matpakke. Matpakke is a lunch you take to school or work and most commonly includes an open-faced sandwich wrapped in parchment paper. This wrap is a great option for children to make as they head back to school or a tasty snack for a fall hike.

As you soak up the remaining weeks of summer, now is the perfect time to relax with a good book. In our August issue of Viking, we shared 13 new Nordic books covering a range of genres that offer a glimpse into Scandinavian literature through captivating stories. Here are five more wonderful books from Norwegian authors to add to your list.

With famously snowy winters, it’s no surprise that Norway is home to many cozy saunas—one of which was featured in the July issue of Viking. The Telemark Canal’s stunning Soria Moria Sauna is one of six art installations in “Tales of the Waterway,” with design elements reflecting the surrounding natural beauty. Here are three more unique sauna experiences only found in Norway.

Every spring, Vikings who wintered in settlements along the Otta River in south central Norway would gather together their livestock, pack up their sledges, and traverse snow-covered mountain passes through the Jotunheimen mountains to their summer farms at Neto, heading down again in the fall. Along the way, items would inevitably be lost or discarded.

The construction of the Oslo Opera house in 2008 was a significant moment in Norway’s architectural history. The building, which was designed by Snøhetta, features the roof of the building angling to ground level so that pedestrians can walk up and enjoy the city’s panoramic view.

On the eve of the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics Viking magazine interviewed Gunn-Rita Dahle about how she became a pro mountain biker. She mentioned her favorite racing fuel (grilled salmon with rice and vegetables) and discussed her goals for the season. A few weeks later, she took the gold in Athens as well as in the World Championship. In the years that followed, she became world champ six more times, for a total of 10 years on top.

Known for his unique depictions of western Norway’s lush landscapes and traditional ways of life, Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928) was one of the country’s most innovative painters, printmakers and horticulturalists.

Last month the Norwegian flag turned 200 and a historical installation was erected on Storting Square in Oslo. President of the Storting Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen and historian Marthe Hommerstad spoke at the opening of the exhibit, commemorating the beloved emblem and celebrating the democratic process that led to its choosing.

Today, beautiful woolen sweaters are emblematic of Norwegian culture. However, the art of knitting is relatively new to Norway. Sweaters were originally a luxury imported from Europe until the early 1800s.  When faced with shortages precipitated by the Napoleonic wars, Norwegians embraced the challenge, grabbed some needles, and began entwining their own traditions into this formerly exotic art form.

Whether you will be a first-time traveler to the Nordic countries or are eager to continue exploring, here are a few unusual destinations for you to consider visiting.