Fyrstekake
This Norwegian cardamom-almond tart’s name translates to ‘Prince’s Cake’ in English. It’s a classic dessert to enjoy with coffee on a cold winter’s day!
Behind the Scenes with Viking
Have you ever wanted to know what goes into a Viking magazine photo shoot? Here’s your chance! The Viking team photographed the December cover story in late September 2021. But planning for it started months in advance. Read on for a look into the process.
Julebukking: December’s Trick or Treating
Although Halloween has come and gone, there is still time to participate in the Scandinavian Christmas version of trick-or-treating known as julebukking. Julebukk translates to “Yule goat” and was brought to the United States by Norwegian and German immigrants.
Innovative Cookie Baking
Have you ever made a batch of rolled cookies, and wished you could avoid the waste or extra work created by using dough from the spaces between cookie cut-outs? Martin Lersch, a scientist living in Norway, considered the possibilities. Lersch decided to come up with a new way to make rolled cookies. He designed a cookie cutter to create a tessellated sheet of dough, meaning there is no space between each shape.
Norwegian Tabby Takes the World by Storm
Meet Jesperpus (“yes-per-poose”), Norway’s famous adventure cat! This large, fluffy tabby bunks with his human family in the municipality of Løten, in Innlandet county in eastern Norway. He spends his days riding on one of his many horse friends, or out on the hunt with his younger cat brother, Kasper. He also loves to hike in the mountains and go swimming. However, his primary passion is snørekjøring.
Pepperkaker – Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies
Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies are spiced, snappy cookies that make your house smell divine when they bake. They are perfect for kids and adults to decorate, and you can shape them into whatever you please!
Haakon & Mette-Marit: 20 years
In August, Norway’s crown prince pair celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. The couple decided to delay their celebration due to coronavirus concerns. On the date of their anniversary, Princess Ingrid Alexandra was quarantined due to a Covid diagnosis and has since recovered.
Innlandet – Storied Mountains, Lush Valleys
Innlandet county is a sweeping expanse of rich farmland, thriving wilderness and mythical mountain ranges, stretching across middle and southeastern Norway. It is the only landlocked county in Norway, and is second in size only to Troms og Finnmark in the north.
Scholarships in Action
The Sons of Norway Foundation has been proudly supporting accomplished and innovative students since our founding in 1966. We are pleased to share their stories with the donors and members who make our scholarships happen. Here is one such message from 2021 King Olav V Norwegian-American Heritage Scholarship recipient Amalia Waiter Lewis.
Norwegian Sweet Soup (Søtsuppe)
Søtsuppe (sweet soup) is a traditional Norwegian food that is great for family celebrations. It can be eaten hold or cold and is delicious for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.
Staying Cozy the Scandinavian Way
At one point or another, you may have heard the Norwegian and Danish term hygge, pronounced “hue-guh.” Over the last several years, the endearing word has become more widespread in the U.S. and was named one of the top words of the year in 2016. The translation of “coziness” doesn’t fully capture the meaning of the hygge, as it encompasses the broader idea of appreciating and savoring the truly rich moments in life. In a similar vein, the Norwegian word kos emphasizes the warmth of togetherness and being with loved ones.
Recipe Round-Up
The holidays are a time when members like to gather, cook and enjoy their favorite Norwegian foods, especially traditional favorites like lefse, rosettes, meatballs, and even lutefisk. While heritage foods are on our minds, why not organize a lodge recipe exchange? Tips on Hosting a Recipe Exchange Decide on the Format Will you meet in person, or over Zoom? Are you swapping paper recipes, or sending them virtually? If [...]
Five Must-Watch Nordic Films
Fall is officially here, and it’s the perfect time to plan a Nordic-themed movie night. Whether you’re looking for an inspiring documentary, heartwarming comedy or adventure film that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you have plenty of options to choose from.
When Leif Went to Washington
To celebrate the first annual Leif Erikson Day in the U.S., in 1964, Minnesota Governor Rolvaag asked Sons of Norway and the Minnesota press to find a young man with the same name. Fifteen Minnesotans responded, but not all were of Norwegian descent. Gradually, the number was narrowed to two - a boy of 11 from Austin and Leif, age 17, from Moorhead. Since the Leif Eriksen coming to the ceremony from Norway was 16 years old, the 17-year-old Minnesotan was deemed a better choice.
Halloween in Norway
Halloween is an American holiday which didn’t catch on in the rest of the world until recently. However, it has increasingly become a phenomenon in various parts of the globe. One country that has grown well-acquainted with Halloween is Norway. The traditions of Halloween were “imported” to Norway in the late 90’s and are now quite common, at least in the larger cities.