Sons of Norway Blog

To celebrate 100 years of the Norwegian cheese slice, grab some hearty wheat or rye bread and try out some of these open-faced sandwich toppings featuring Norwegian cheeses.

The Christmas season is upon us! For many, this time of year is full of traditions. Some traditions may have been passed down to us, while others we create along the way. Those of us from Scandinavian heritage may share some of the same traditions.

Around the holidays, it is no surprise that food tends to be top of mind for many. What will I make for Christmas dinner? How many Christmas cookies should I make? What will be served at the lodge julebord?

A holiday tradition.

Most, if not all of you have seen – and hopefully purchased – this year’s Sons of Norway Christmas ornament. Continuing in the tradition that started in 2009, our annual ornament is designed by a talented rosemaler in the style of their artistic training. The ornament this year was painted by Karen Van Loan of Apple Valley, Minnesota. 

While Norwegian and English certainly share many words in common, there are plenty of examples where their vocabulary diverges. Take for example, words such as ski, cat/katt and fjord, which need little translation.

On the mountain called Venabygdsfjellet in Ringebu, Norway, a small animal has won the hearts of locals and tourists alike. This animal is an adorable gray cat named Ida, who lives in the nearby area.

Ingredients: 2/3 c butter or margarine   16.9 oz milk   2 packets active dry yeast   1/2 tsp. salt   1/2 - 2/3 cup sugar 2 tsp. cardamom   1 egg   approx. 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour   Brushing and Garnishing:   1 egg   granulated sugar   Directions:   Melt the butter, add the milk and heat it to 98.6ºF. Stir the yeast into the liquid. Add [...]

Bernt Balchen was born just outside of Kristiansand, Norway on October 23, 1899. He was known as a navigator, mechanical engineer, polar aviator and distinguished military leader in the course of his life.

A South Dakotan TikToker and her sisters were visiting Gjerdrum, a small town on the northwestern outskirts of Oslo, where their ancestors had once lived. They toured Gjerdrum kirke, the church where their grandfather had been baptized, but could not have been prepared for what happened next.

Bernt Balchen was born just outside of Kristiansand, Norway on October 23, 1899. He was known as a navigator, mechanical engineer, polar aviator and distinguished military leader in the course of his life.

This delicious bread recipe would be a great pairing with soup during the upcoming cold months or as a tasty side with a little honey.

In Norwegian culture, there are several unwritten social laws that guide the way people conduct themselves and act towards each other.

If you said the word Hardanger to someone, they might follow up with the question, “Hardanger, what?” The word is associated with various things well-known and loved by Norwegians. One of its most well-known associations is with embroidery.

In downtown Oslo, sandwiched between the Majorstua and St. Hanshaugen neighborhoods, you'll find Margrethe Munthes Plass, a small plaza named for one of Oslo’s former residents.