Adventures With a View
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 [...]
Scandinavia Takes Hollywood
Scandinavia Takes Hollywood posted on Tue, Jul 25 2017 1:42 pm by Anya Britzius 1 Comment The July issue of Viking magazine includes a feature story that showcases Scandinavia as a dream location for filmmakers around the world. Thanks to the area’s natural beauty, film incentives and help from location production companies, the Nordic region is rapidly turning into the new go-to destination for films and television shows. Scandinavia’s [...]
The Bachelorette, with Norwegian Flair With Maren Selvaag
Oslo was recently the backdrop for an episode of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” The hit TV show has also been a popular series in Norway. This year marks the fifteenth anniversary of premiere of The Bachelorette, in which a group of men vie for the interest of a single, eligible woman. Sometimes the show is shot on location in romantic international settings, and in June, the contestants landed in Oslo [...]
16 year-old Norwegian is youngest person to run a sub-4 minute mile
Sixteen-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen may not yet be a household name, but he’s being called “the next Sonja Henie” for his prodigious athletic skills at a young age. At the International Mile race/Prefontaine Classic event held recently in Eugene, Oregon, Jakob set a new world record as the youngest person to run a mile in under four minutes. The previous record - a 3:59.0 minute mile - had been held [...]
The Great Expeditions of Roald Amundsen
Born on July 16, 1872, Roald Amundsen would become one of the larger than life figures from the Golden Age of Arctic Exploration, a time when the exploits of brave adventurers made headlines vying to be the first to reach the North and South Poles. These explorers captivated the globe. Because of his numerous accomplishments and the mystery surrounding his death, Amundsen has become a legendary figure amongst Norway’s many iconic [...]
Norway Tackles Climate Change Issue Head-On
Did you know that buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption and 40 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide? This revealing statistic helps shed light on what continues to fuel climate change—an undoubted environmental challenge around the world. To address this global problem and spearhead the fight against climate change, Norway plans to be the first country in the world to ban the use of fossil-based oil to heat [...]
Summer Sippers
If you’re looking for some great drink recipes for summer entertaining, check out the July issue of Viking magazine. The five recipes featured are made with homemade syrups infused with fresh fruit and herbs, also known as saft in Scandinavia. Viking worked with Oslo-born Paul Lowe — a cooking, crafting and decorating extraordinaire currently living in New York. He’s the creator of the website and quarterly magazine Sweet Paul, [...]
Happy Birthday Queen Sonja
While we in the United States are celebrating our country’s Independence Day, Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway will be recognizing a different milestone—her eightieth birthday.Their Majesties the King and Queen will spend part of the day unveiling the Queen Sonja Art Hall. The latest in a series of festivities to mark the 80th birthdays of the monarchs, the new hall was a gift to Sonja and is a public [...]
Celebrating Edvard Grieg
Happy birthday, Edvard Grieg! On this date in 1843, Norway’s most famous composer was born in Bergen. In addition to achieving great notoriety for his musical compositions, Grieg is also credited with giving Norwegians a sense of national identity during the union with Sweden. Today his legacy lives on not only through his compositions, but also through several performing art centers and schools named in his honor. Want to [...]
Friluftsliv and Fitness
This Saturday, June 10, is the 10th annual National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day), which encourages healthy, active outdoor fun. What better way to take part in the spirit of the day than to embrace the Norwegian tradition of friluftsliv! Just what is friluftsliv? It is a uniquely Norwegian concept that celebrates outdoor life and recreation. Interestingly, it is Norway's own Henrik Ibsen who first coined the term frilufstliv in [...]
Food Tour Highlights Bergen’s Culinary Flair
Canadian entrepreneur Cheyanne Smart founded a tour company in Bergen to showcase the culinary delights of Norway’s second-largest city. Smart experienced a tasting tour in Stockholm and thought that her adopted hometown would be a great location to launch her own food tourism company. Now in its second year, Bergen Food Tours offers an insider’s guide to the local food scene and welcomes tourists and natives of Bergen alike. [...]
Foundation Grants Bring Norwegian Culture to Wide Audiences
Foundation Grants Bring Norwegian Culture to Wide Audiences posted on Tue, Jun 6 2017 11:31 am by Jenna Kohlnhofer 0 Comments Through grants and scholarships, the Sons of Norway Foundation helps fund activities that positively affect members, assist lodges and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway. Read on to see how in 2016 General Heritage & Culture Grants supported projects that help advance our mission. At the Carnegie: Scandinavia [...]
Norway’s Flag: Then and Now
June 7th marks the 112th anniversary of the dissolution of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, leading to the independent Norway we know today. Along with independence, the break with Sweden also gave Norway its official flag that flies to this day. To mark the occasion, June 7th is one of sixteen official flag days where all Norwegians are encouraged to raise the national flag with pride. To [...]
Entertainment for a Scandinavian Summer
Whether you’re looking to celebrate into the night or for a way to introduce Norwegian heritage to a new generation, here are a few ways to fill your summer with activity resources from Sons of Norway. Midsommer June 24 is Midsummer; one of the biggest summer celebrations in Scandinavia. It also coincides with the summer solstice, making it an ideal time to enjoy the outdoors. In Norway, the date [...]
Hobbyists Uncover Bronze Age Hoard
Thanks to the curiosity of siblings Joakim and Jørgen Korstad and their metal detectors, a large cache of late Bronze Age artifacts have been uncovered in a field east of Trondheim. In January the pair made the first of the discoveries—nine axes, a spearhead, casting mold and fragment of what is likely a bronze lur (a horn-shaped wind instrument). Quickly alerting archeologists with the Norwegian University of Science and [...]