Every year February 6 marks Sámi (SAH-mee) National Day, a day when thousands of individuals join in celebrating the vivid culture and history of Scandinavia’s indigenous people. The day wasn’t officially recognized as an ethnic national holiday until 1992, but its significance stems back to the first Sámi Congress held in Trondheim, Norway over 100 years ago. The Sámi have inhabited [...]
Embrace the simple pleasures of Hygge this winter. Silliness and fun ahead: Get ready for laughter as you play one of these Nordic-inspired games. We’ve shared three of our staff favorites; available in select stores or online. Bananagrams Norsk or standard edition. Encourage beginning spellers of English or Norwegian with this fast moving game that challenges your vocabulary. See who can [...]
This month, we celebrate National Sámi Day on Feb. 6. In Viking magazine's February issue, we highlight Mari Boine. Raised amid a Sámi community on the Finland-Norway border, international singer Boine is inspired by her roots. After singing in her native language for 30 years, she recently released her first entirely English-language album, “See the Woman.” Catch Boine on tour in [...]
January 16 is a day of celebration for Sons of Norway members. It’s the day we commemorate the 18 Norwegian immigrants who established our organization to assist members and their families when they experienced financial hardships. Today Sons of Norway is the largest Norwegian cultural organization outside of Norway. Here are 10 more facts about our founders and Sons of Norway. [...]
In the January issue of Viking, we take readers on a Nordic tour of New York City. From cultural attractions, shops and restaurants, there are plenty of ways embrace your Scandinavian heritage in the Big Apple. As you explore, make sure to stop for a cup of Joe and a treat at these Nordic-inspired cafes. BÚÐIN This trendy café in Greenpoint [...]
Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten is investing in ships with a hybrid engine developed by Rolls Royce. The ships, constructed at Kleven Yards in Norway, are expected to launch in 2018 and 2019. The launch of these hybrid ships will be an important milestone in Hurtigruten’s goal of sailing fully electric ships to the Arctic and Antarctic. The ships will have the [...]
Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar "Olaf's Frozen Adventure" Find yourself missing the holiday season already? If so, you can continue celebrating those beloved Norwegian Christmas traditions well into the New Year by watching the newly released short film, “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure.” Building further upon the Norwegian references introduced in the original film “Frozen,” this 22-minute spin-off features a number of Scandinavian holiday customs [...]
A group of Sherpas from Nepal have spent the last 18 years reconstructing Norway’s mountain paths for locals and tourists to enjoy. They have built paths and stairways in more than 100 different locations throughout Norway. Sherpas are from villages in the Himalayan mountain range near Mount Everest. They are known for their strength and capacity to work in high altitudes. [...]
Located halfway between Iceland and Norway, the Faroes are an 18-island archipelago of unspoiled natural beauty. They offer unique and thrilling experiences for every kind of traveler. Check out the January issue of Viking magazine to learn more. Here, we highlight five places to stay in the Faroes. Hotel Vágar If you want to be close to Vágar airport, this 3-star [...]
Note: This interview was originally posted in December 2017. Chris Pinkerton was named CEO of Sons of Norway in March 2020. Q. Welcome to Sons of Norway, Chris, and congratulations on being Sons of Norway’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer. What attracted you to this position at our organization? A. A couple of things. First, I had a great experience working at Foresters, [...]
