Sons of Norway Blog

Release your inner explorer and join us Thursday, June 14, to learn about our 2019 Signature Journey: Water, Wildlife & the Wonders of Antarctica. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and Borton Overseas’ featured lecturer on this Antarctic journey. Peter is a renowned expert in maritime history, art, exploration, and marine environmental issues. Sunniva Sorby will also join us June 14 [...]

While growing up in Norway, Lise Lunge-Larsen loved listening to her parents read folktales. Her passion for children’s literature grew when she moved to the United States. Today, she’s written eight books, including her latest “Seven Ways to Trick a Troll.” Check out her interview in the May issue of Viking magazine, and see more below. What inspired you to become a children’s book author?   I studied folklore at [...]

Looking to liven up your breakfast routine with healthy ingredients? In the April issue of Viking magazine, chef and photographer Simon Bajada shares four recipes from his latest cookbook, “Nordic Light.” Another one of his favorites in Nordic granola. “There is so much satisfaction to be had in making home-made granola,” Bajada says. First of all, the kitchen smells incredible for a couple of hours, secondly you save some coin because boutique [...]

For reasons other than health and wellness, people across the United States and around the world are joining the latest fitness craze, plogging. Created in 2016, the term is a hybrid of the English word jogging and the Swedish term plocka upp, meaning “pick up,” and involves participants gathering litter while out jogging or running. Ploggers bring trash bags with them to help collect litter, and sometimes add rigorous elements [...]

The Storting (Norway’s parliament) recently passed the most comprehensive administrative reform since 1662. Back then, the country’s administrative units transitioned from len to amt while under Danish rule. In this new reform, Norway’s 19 fylker (counties) are planned to be replaced by 11 regioner (regions) by January 2020. Four existing counties (Nordland, Rogaland, Oslo and Møre og Romsdal) will continue using the same names and borders as they had in [...]

Vikings sailed the seas as master sailors and explorers. But you may be surprised to learn that a Viking sword unearthed from a grave in Oslo, estimated to be forged in 900 A.D., can be found on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. How did it get there? In late 1943, then General Dwight Eisenhower became the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War [...]

The April issue of Viking highlights Norwegian folk singer, artist and radio host Arna Rennan. She hails from Duluth, Minn., but has spent a lot of time in Norway throughout her life. Rennan currently hosts the radio program Nordic Roots Music for KTWH Two Harbors Community Radio. Here, we feature more from her interview. Tell us about spending time in the United States and Norway as a child. My [...]

District 5 is the proud recipient of the 2018 Shellie Milford Spirit of the Birkie Award, given to a volunteer, race chief, vendor, community member or skier whose selfless, thoughtful or heroic act contributes to a successful race and a positive experience for participants in the Birkie. Members of Sons of Norway District 5 have provided more than 30 years of service to the American Birkebeiner, the largest cross-country [...]

Have you checked out the March issue of Viking magazine? For a little travel inspiration, we highlight the small and beautiful Norwegian town of Tromsø, known as the “Gateway to the Arctic.” It brims with natural beauty and many opportunities to see the Northern Lights. Whether you want your home base to be in the city’s center or on the outskirts of town surrounded by nature, here are some [...]

In the March issue of Viking magazine, we talked with Hollywood stuntman and coordinator Alex Terzieff. Hailing from Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, he has worked on projects such as “The Dark Knight Rises,” “Thor,” “Twilight” and “Big Little Lies.” Terzieff is also a Sons of Norway member. Here’s more from the interview. Q: What’s the most impressive stunt you’ve ever done? A: My proudest stunt was probably a car wreck [...]

Member Discounts Apply Norgesskolen is a two and a half week summer school that takes place in Telemark, the cultural and historical heart of Norway. The school provides an opportunity for children and youth aged 9 to 18 to deepen their understanding of Norwegian language, culture, and society. The students also participate in a wide range of sports and outdoor activities and make life-long friendships. An excursion to the [...]

Emma Ångström is a woman of many talents. She’s an architect, journalist, songwriter and author. She’s turned her passion for writing into a career as a crime novelist. Her books include “And All Is Distorted,” “The Man in the Wall” and “The Last Experiment.” Learn more about her in Viking magazine’s February issue and see more from the interview below. How did you discover your passion for journalism? Growing [...]

A project funded by the European Union is making it possible to convert centuries-old handwriting into typed text. Transkribus is a software program that can scan, transcribe and search historical documents that are in English or Norwegian. The program is supported by the READ project (Recognition and Enrichment of Archival Documents), an international collaboration involving 14 countries. The ability to scan an image into printed text has existed for [...]