Sons of Norway Blog

On lille julaften (December 23), Norwegian families typically decorate the juletre (Christmas tree), adorning the branches with handmade woven baskets, lights, Norwegian flags and figures made from straw. One of the traditional straw ornaments is the julebukk, or Yule Goat. Many of Norway’s Christmas symbols stem from pre-Christian times, and the Yule Goat is no exception. It was believed that the last sheaf of harvested corn contained the power [...]

Photo Credit: Helge Høifødt Oslo, the relatively small capital of Norway, has suddenly captured the attention of food enthusiasts from around the world. Historically known for its cutting edge architecture, amazing skiing opportunities and unique coffee shops, Oslo can now proudly add “established foodie destination” to its resume after recently placing high in two major culinary best-of lists. The city even managed to bypass several more well-known locations including Madrid, [...]

Every once in a while, late-night television viewers might be lucky enough to harken back to the early days of film-making while enjoying snowy and lush Nordic panoramas, courtesy of the 1929 Norwegian silent film, Laila. Laila is the charming heroine and central character of the film. In addition to spectacular scenery (notably the extreme Northeastern mountains of Finnmark), the film offers romantic drama in the form of a [...]

Biri native Even Sigstad received his first pair of alpine skis at six years old. Today, he’s turned his passions of skiing and making films into a cool career. His award-winning production company, Field Productions specializes in outdoor movies. Check out Viking’s interview with Sigstad in the December issue and see more here. What’s one of your favorite memories from growing up in Biri, Norway? I loved the freedom [...]

Did you see our 2017 Gift Guide in the November issue of Viking? Here are five additional gifts to inspire your Christmas shopping. For a short hike or trek around a new city, consider the Norrøna bitihorn Hip Pack 6L. Spots for a water bottle and multiple zip pockets keep you organized, wherever your adventure takes you. Swedish designer Estrid Ericson designed the timeless Svenskt Tenn Trivet Scandinavia in [...]

The name Doug Warne may sound familiar to many of you. After all, he serves on the Sons of Norway Foundation Board of Governors and is the voice behind the Seattle-based radio show “Scandinavian Hour,”which he has hosted for 55 years. Today, Warne is the proud holder of a St. Olav Medal, bestowed by His Majesty King Harald V in recognition of his outstanding service in promoting relations between [...]

The phenomenon known as “Northern Lights” is most commonly seen in the northern hemisphere of our planet between the months of October and March. The lights are described to be magical, dramatic and utterly dazzling.  If you are fortunate enough to experience the display, you’ll see a ray of dancing greens, yellows, violets and reds; on a rare occurrence, you could even spot some oranges and whites. Here are [...]

Flashback: It’s the glory days between the World Wars, when King Haakon and Queen Maud maintained a handsome and complete royal stable of horses along with all the trappings of the day. Carriages, harnesses and other tack, a shoeing forge and even infirmary stalls were part of the state-of-the-art facility. The Royal Stables included an equestrian arena and viewing gallery. Thirteen grooms were housed on site, attending to all [...]

Photo Credit: visitnorway.com Norway’s most famous play, Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, celebrates its 150 year anniversary in 2017. The drama, which paints the vibrant and outrageous adventures and misdeeds of Peer Gynt, was finished on October 14, 1867, while its stage premiere opened exactly one month later. To mark this milestone anniversary, Norway has been celebrating all year, both on and off stage. In June, Akershus Fortress outside of Oslo [...]

Margaret H. O’Leary, Associate Dean for Humanities and King Olav V Chair of Scandinavian-American Studies at St. Olaf College, was awarded the rank of Office of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit on September 16. Norwegian Ambassador to the United States, Kare Åas, conferred the award. O’Leary received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit due to her continuous commitment to strengthening ties between Norway and the U.S. O’Leary spent [...]

Historical linguist Dr. Jackson Crawford has studied dozens of languages, but what captured his imagination early on was Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. His popular YouTube channel features videos about Norse gods and heroes. He also was a consultant on Old Norse for movie and television projects, including Disney’s “Frozen.” Check out Viking’s November issue and see more from the interview below. Interview by Bradley Anderson Your [...]

Kick off Thanksgiving week with a Nordic-inspired breakfast and the exquisite choral music of the VocalEssence Singers, a national force in its genre for nearly three decades! The Nordic American Thanksgiving Breakfast, coming up on Tuesday, November 21, is pleased to present this local musical treasure, under the direction of Philip Brunelle, as the Nordic community and esteemed speakers celebrate the importance of freedom, faith, family and friends. The [...]

Did you know that Norway, a country with just over five million people and a population slightly larger than that of South Carolina, directly supports nearly half a million jobs in the United States? These jobs are found in all states and span a diverse range of economic sectors. “Norway Creates Jobs in the United States: Norway’s Impact on the American Economy,” a new report released by the Royal [...]