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In North America, waffles are eaten for breakfast, and the waffle irons are round or square with four sections. The usual toppings are butter and syrup. The vafler in Norway are served for dessert or as a snack, in heart-shaped sections. They are richer and softer than American waffles and are almost always homemade.

How much do you know about the world’s northernmost region? In the February 2022 issue of Viking, we highlight fascinating facts about the Arctic. Grab your parka and mittens—it’s time for another icy adventure! Here are five more reasons the Arctic is so unique.

In the January 2022 issue of Viking magazine, we featured five Nordic designers who are making strides in their field. Nordic design’s influence on the world is always growing, and more and more of its stars are continuing to rise. Here are three more Nordic designers whose reach is expanding across the globe.

Have you read the January 2022 issue of Viking magazine? In it, we cover everything from top Nordic designers, the history of ski jumping and financial resolutions you can make in the new year. Our cover story highlights legendary Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen.

New Year’s Eve is a joyous celebration that is widely observed around the world. In America, the New Year is rung in by the big ball drop in Times Square, popped bottles of champagne, and a kiss with a significant other. Most people mark the occasion by spending it with their closest family and friends. The same can be said for Norway.

By early January 2022, over half of Norway’s delegation of winter athletes were selected for the trip to Beijing in February 2022. More were added to the throng January 18th, including those competing at the Paralympics Games in March.

There are many Norwegian shows worth watching, for the sake of good entertainment. While you enjoy the titles, you can also learn quite a bit about Norwegian social values, language and culture.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Spanning across the southeast region of Østfold in Viken county, the 7th edition of the Ladies Tour of Norway was held this year from August 12-15. The athletes in this world-class bicycle race compete as teams of up to 6 cyclists, often riding close to each other to take advantage of drafting, and use a variety of other tactics to reduce drag and increase speed. This year’s race featured 18 teams, crewed by top competitors from all over the world.

The perfect soup to make as the temperatures get colder, Norwegian Betasuppe!

In the October issue of Viking, we explored how Norway has been taking sustainable steps forward by using electric ferries. The country currently has 31 fully-electric ferries in operation, and that number is expected to grow substantially.

Norway has a vibrant brewery culture and an interesting wine history to match. In the September issue of Viking magazine, we explored the wine culture found throughout Scandinavia.