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King Harald and Queen Sonja have reigned in Norway since 1991. They enjoy a high approval rating with the citizens of Norway, but when they first met, their relationship was highly controversial.

As the rest of us were just getting started on our new year’s resolutions, on January 25, a young Norwegian was already checking a major one off her list. Karen Kyllesø set a new record as the youngest solo skier of all time to reach the South Pole.

Norway has produced a number of great writers. Some have even been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, an honor that has been handed out since 1901. The most recent recipient of the award is Jon Fosse, who received the honor in 2023.

January 16 marks the day that Sons of Norway was founded in 1895. On that day 130 years ago, eighteen individuals signed the charter that made this organization official.

A hundred years ago in Lillehammer, Norway, cabinetmaker Thor Bjørklund was using a planer to smooth out some wood, when the idea of a more efficient cheese slicer came to him- one that would be more precise and easier than cutting with a knife.

On July 4, 1825, a group of 52 Norwegians set sail on the ship Restauration to make the first organized migration from Norway to North America.

Friluftsliv has long been an important part of Norwegian society. It translates to “open-air-life” and is the concept of embracing the outdoors and connecting with nature. The idea behind friluftsliv has been around for centuries as can be seen in philosopher’s books such as those written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Henry David Thoreau.  

To celebrate 100 years of the Norwegian cheese slice, grab some hearty wheat or rye bread and try out some of these open-faced sandwich toppings featuring Norwegian cheeses.

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.