Sons of Norway Blog

You don’t have to visit Norway to indulge and delight in the best of Nordic cooking. Norsk Høstfest imports top-notch Norwegian chefs to lead the menu creation at En To Tre (presented by Sons of Norway, where members enjoy a special discount). How does jaeren (grilled tenderloin with spinach, onion, beets and cognac sauce) appeal to you? How about herring with aquavit on bread with fennel salad? Or tender [...]

This year, Norway unseated Denmark as the happiest country in the world, ranking first in the 2017 World Happiness Report. Read more about why Scandinavia is the world’s happiest region in the September issue of Viking magazine. Here, we asked three Norwegian leaders the question: “Why do you think Norway was able to earn the number one spot in the UN rankings, which define "happiness" as well-being and life [...]

Did you know that your investment in your future financial health not only helps protect your family's financial security but has far reaching, positive effects for the greater Sons of Norway community? In the spirit of celebrating Life Insurance Awareness month this September, we're sharing our new infographic which explains how purchasing our life insurance and annuity products helps build a strong financial future for you and your Sons [...]

While walking down the grocery aisle of your favorite store you’ve likely studied labels and dates, noting the shelf life of the items you put in your cart. But, what if all the items in your store were past their labeled prime? Oslo’s unique Best Før supermarket looks much like other Norwegian grocers, except all of the items lining its shelves are beyond their sell by dates and signage [...]

There aren’t too many tasks one can complete in just five minutes, but that’s how fast  Norway’s newest cable car attraction will take you 3,300 feet above sea level to the top of a mountain. Billed as one of the steepest cable cars in the world, the Loen Skylift in Loen, Norway transports 35-40 guests per cable car from the Fjord station on the Nordfjord to the top of [...]

Photo Credits: Tyveriet på Universitetsmuseet/Burglary at The University Museum of Bergen Facebook Group On Monday, August 14, University of Bergen staff discovered there had been a burglary over the weekend. A massive collection of invaluable Viking artifacts had been stolen in a raid being called Norway’s largest museum heist. The Viking Age and Iron Age artifacts, which were being temporarily stored in a warehouse, stemmed mainly from gravesites in [...]

Vinland Lodge, 1-193 It’s been said that Sons of Norway is the best kept secret: Our organization offers plenty of great benefits, but many people don’t know all that we have to offer. It’s time to change that! In reality, Sons of Norway is a vibrant international cultural organization with benefits that appeal to members of all ages. With that in mind, entice potential members to join with [...]

The September issue of Viking magazine is devoted to the Scandinavian lifestyle concept of hygge, which is all about creating intimacy, cozy togetherness and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. One great way to achieve hygge is by indulging in comfort food. Try this recipe from Signe Johansen’s book “How to Hygge.” The Ultimate Grilled Cheese   Photo by Keiko Oikawa Serves 2 5 ounces Jarlsberg cheese, coarsely grated 1 ounce prosciutto, [...]

“The Scream”is one of the art world’s most iconic compositions. Known around the world for the captivating image of what appears to be a tortured individual set against a background of blues and oranges, the work has been called the “Mona Lisa” of Modern Art and was created by famed Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Want to learn more about one of Norway’s most famous pieces of art? Read on [...]

Norwegian jazz pianist and Lillehammer native Maren Selvaag started playing the piano at age 7 and honed her musical skills in college, receiving a master’s degree in jazz piano performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Last year, Selvaag released her debut album, “Close to Shore.” Check out Viking magazine’s interview with the talented musician in the August issue and read more below. What made you want to start [...]

It’s time to join in the excitement of North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, and the 40th Anniversary event promises to be the best year ever! Visit the official Høstfest website to purchase tickets and gain access to all Høstfest has to offer: great stage entertainment, a wide variety of dining experiences, cultural attractions, live Viking combat and more! Whether your palate craves traditional home-made lefse or more avant-garde fare, [...]

Norway’s iconic cliff formation Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) has been grabbing headlines this summer. Overlooking the Lysefjord, the spectacular location offers awe-inspiring views and is one of Norway’s most visited attractions. So much so, that CNN placed the site atop their list of 50 natural wonders (the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord also make the list), and last month newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad reported on the upcoming nine-day closure of the attraction to [...]

On August 7, 1947, Thor Heyerdahl completed his arduous journey--a nearly 4,300 nautical mile trip across the Pacific Ocean. The balsa wood raft, the Kon-Tiki, propelled Heyerdahl into the upper echelon of famous Norwegian explorers and rewrote how we understood human migration and early exploration. Heyerdahl catalogued his experiences in the popular memoir “The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas” which was released in 1948. “Kon-Tiki,” the [...]

Some clever off-bike research paid off at this year’s Tour de France for Norwegian pro cyclist Edvald Boasson Hagen. In the longest stage of the race –222 km / 138 miles–the 30-year-old broke his 6-year drought to finish first in the 19th stage, which ended in Salon-de-Provence in July. Boasson Hagen, known as “The Boss,” had taken second place in two stages that were so close, the winner could [...]