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The Christmas season is upon us! For many, this time of year is full of traditions. Some traditions may have been passed down to us, while others we create along the way. Those of us from Scandinavian heritage may share some of the same traditions.

Around the holidays, it is no surprise that food tends to be top of mind for many. What will I make for Christmas dinner? How many Christmas cookies should I make? What will be served at the lodge julebord?

A holiday tradition.

Most, if not all of you have seen – and hopefully purchased – this year’s Sons of Norway Christmas ornament. Continuing in the tradition that started in 2009, our annual ornament is designed by a talented rosemaler in the style of their artistic training. The ornament this year was painted by Karen Van Loan of Apple Valley, Minnesota. 

While Norwegian and English certainly share many words in common, there are plenty of examples where their vocabulary diverges. Take for example, words such as ski, cat/katt and fjord, which need little translation.

On the mountain called Venabygdsfjellet in Ringebu, Norway, a small animal has won the hearts of locals and tourists alike. This animal is an adorable gray cat named Ida, who lives in the nearby area.

Ingredients: 2/3 c butter or margarine   16.9 oz [...]

Bernt Balchen was born just outside of Kristiansand, Norway on October 23, 1899. He was known as a navigator, mechanical engineer, polar aviator and distinguished military leader in the course of his life.

A South Dakotan TikToker and her sisters were visiting Gjerdrum, a small town on the northwestern outskirts of Oslo, where their ancestors had once lived. They toured Gjerdrum kirke, the church where their grandfather had been baptized, but could not have been prepared for what happened next.

Bernt Balchen was born just outside of Kristiansand, Norway on October 23, 1899. He was known as a navigator, mechanical engineer, polar aviator and distinguished military leader in the course of his life.

This delicious bread recipe would be a great pairing with soup during the upcoming cold months or as a tasty side with a little honey.

In Norwegian culture, there are several unwritten social laws that guide the way people conduct themselves and act towards each other.

If you said the word Hardanger to someone, they might follow up with the question, “Hardanger, what?” The word is associated with various things well-known and loved by Norwegians. One of its most well-known associations is with embroidery.

In downtown Oslo, sandwiched between the Majorstua and St. Hanshaugen neighborhoods, you'll find Margrethe Munthes Plass, a small plaza named for one of Oslo’s former residents. 

Enjoy this delicious Scandinavian breakfast that is a perfect start to a fall day!

2025 marks the 200th Anniversary of the first organized emigration of Norwegians to the United States. The single mast sloop, Restauration, left Stavanger on July 4, 1825, with 52 people on board. Often referred to as the “Sloopers,” they arrived in New York City harbor on October 9, 1825.

In May, Olympiatoppen—the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports—put forth an official goal for Paris: eight medals.

Trollstigen, one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions featuring winding roads up the mountainside, has recently closed. The closure was a result of recent rockslides in the area. In one instance, a rock the size of a football crashed through the window of a car.

Over the last four years, there has been a major renovation and restoration underway at Astruptunet and its gardens.

Do you know the Muffin Man? Not the one of Drury Lane fame, but one who went viral at the Paris Olympics?

A team of up-and-coming Nordic pro men cyclists and one veteran took the world cycling stage in the Tour de France in early July.

Imagine putting way too much soap in a washing machine and the laundry room being filled with white foam seeping from the machine. This is what the streets of Bærum, Norway looked like—but on a much larger scale—after a recent foam leak from an industrial building. 

The archeological community is abuzz after a significant find on the island of Leka, which is situated in the northern part of Trøndelag county in Norway.

To cool down on a hot summer day in proper Norwegian style, try this delicious Brunost Lingonberry Swirl ice cream. 

This year marks an important historic milestone, as Norway celebrates the establishment of Christian law, or Kristenretten, in the country.