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 printing [...]
Ordering Lodge Supplies
There have been a lot of changes in the way lodges can order supplies during 2021! Many of the items that used to be available through Sons of Norway Headquarters can now be ordered from our new dedicated website for lodge officers: https://sofnlodge.logoshop.com/ Some of the products you can find here are: Sports Medals and Cultural Skills Pins Member Anniversary Pins Heritage Member Patches Rosemaled Napkins and Placemats Shipping [...]
Attract New Members and Connect with Current Members
From Zoom meetings to drive-through dinners and virtual classes, we’ve heard terrific ideas to keep members engaged. Do you have a tip to share about attracting new members or engaging current members? Please email it to [email protected] and we will share the ideas in a future issue of Leadership Resource. Here are recent ideas and tips from lodge leaders: Nordkap Lodge 5-378 wanted to offer a fresh family activity. [...]
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.
Ladies Tour of Norway’s Swan Song
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.
Norwegian Betasuppe
The perfect soup to make as the temperatures get colder, Norwegian Betasuppe!