Tame Your Tax Situation with a Fixed Annuity
Perhaps you are saving for retirement, or maybe you have already hit your goal for retirement savings. Either way, if you are a conservative investor who wants to build assets for the future and don’t sleep well when the markets look more like a roller coaster than a merry-go-round, a fixed annuity may be a good fit. There are not a lot of other investment vehicles that can provide [...]
Chinese Athletes take on Ski Jumping, Train in Norway
As the host country of the 2022 Olympics, China wants to harness the “host country advantage” and repeat their medals sweep from the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. The only problem is that there is not a big winter sports tradition in China … yet.
Viking Presents New Monthly Feature
Starting next month, Norway’s Ambassador to the United States Kåre Aas will be a featured columnist for Sons of Norway’s signature publication, Viking magazine. The ambassador will share key insights about modern Norway, discuss various international topics including transatlantic security, peace and reconciliation, and the Arctic. He also invites subscribers to join the conversation by posting comments and questions to his social media feeds. “The Norwegian American community is [...]
Oslo’s Coolest Foodie
Anders Husa speaks with Viking magazine about his passion for photography, travel and all things food. By Frances Smith In 2011, Anders Husa created a blog called Foodie Stories to document his favorite restaurants. Today, he’s an award-winning food expert and writer that’s on the pulse of Norway’s restaurant scene. Between traveling, snapping photographs and making YouTube videos, Husa spreads the word about cutting-edge restaurants in Scandinavia and beyond. [...]
Norwegian Child Prodigy Remembered
Lodge members from Draxten 1-464 and Vennekretsen 1-559 volunteer to clean and maintain the Ole Bull statue. This month, precisely 209 years ago on February 5, Norway’s first internationally known musician was born; Ole Borneman Bull. A child prodigy, Bull began studying the violin at the age of five, and just four years later was soloing with the Bergen Harmonic Society. Known for his unique performance method, [...]
Unique WW II Airplane Unearthed in Norway after 76 Years
Image Credit: TONY HOSKINS A rare World War II fighter plane, piloted by a Scotsman who was a key figure in “The Great Escape," has been recovered largely intact from a Norwegian mountainside. In 1942, RAF Flight Lieutenant Alastair “Sandy” Gunn, 22, was on a clandestine mission to take photos of a German battleship in Trondheim Fjord when his plane was shot down by German fighter planes. [...]
What’s Better than Summer in Norway?
… Summer school in Norway! Or, for that matter, any semester at the American College of Norway (ACN) is sure to be a fascinating and fulfilling educational experience. The friendly and scenic coastal town of Moss, Norway, just 40 minutes by train from Oslo, is home to the college. For 26 years, ACN has welcomed Norwegian, American and other international students. Registration is now open for the summer session [...]
P. S. I Love You …
While it was extremely hard to lose my uncle Buddy, of whom I was very fond, his memory will live on forever in my mind. I will also remember all the care and thought my mother put into preparing for Buddy’s end-of-life celebration. He was an accomplished trumpet player who served as a band member for the Shriners for many years. Buddy often blessed our small congregation with his [...]
The Magnus Effect Grips Norway
Image Credit: Andreas Kontokanis Norway’s chess superstar Magnus Carlsen has done it again. Aside from taking victory in the recent 2018 World Chess Championship, and being the world’s top ranked chess player since 2013, he’s managed to accomplish the incredible: making chess popular. Carlsen’s continued success has sparked fascination in the game all over Norway, with many calling it The Magnus Effect. The effect can be seen [...]
If Our Founders Could See Sons of Norway Today
Founders' Day: January 16 No doubt: Those hearty Norwegians who founded Sons of Norway back in 1895 can be considered visionaries for forging the cornerstone of what would become a 50,000-member financial and international cultural organization. The 18 founders would be exceedingly proud of today’s members who collectively log hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year in service to their communities. They would be amazed at the breadth [...]
Viking Magazine: Articles to Enjoy Again or for the First Time
As we ring in the New Year, let’s take a look at some of our favorite Viking magazine articles from 2018. Inside Ålesund In the November issue we share the charming Art Noveau-inspired town of Ålesund. Spread across several islands, Ålesund provides an easy access to fjords, mountains and the coast. Members can access the full article here. The King’s Defiance Featured in the September [...]
Oslo For History Buffs
If you’re making plans to visit Norway, check out the January issue of Viking magazine. It’s brimming with travel advice, expert tips and recommendations for exploring Norway from north to south. Whether you’re looking to take a spectacular train journey, search for polar bears in Svalbard or explore Norway’s vibrant capital city, there are ideas for every type of traveler.
Happy “Norwegian” New Year
As the New Year’s celebrations end, standard resolutions quickly come to mind. They may include getting back on track with fitness goals or gaining better control of your finances. But this year, why not keep Norway at the heart of your New Year's resolutions? To help get you started, here a few ways you can add a little more Norway to your daily life. Embrace Hygge Hygge (HIG-geh) is [...]
Celebrating Vigeland
As 2019 approaches, the city of Oslo is preparing for the 150th birthday celebration of Norway’s most famous sculptor: Gustav Vigeland. Institutions around Norway are preparing to celebrate with a lineup of installations and celebrations. Keep an eye out for these events: Anniversary Exhibition Vigeland Museum Opens April 11, 2019 Traveling Exhibition Norway’s National Museum On display though 2020 Summer Vigeland Showcase Thielska Gallery June Want to learn more about [...]
Make Merry Memories with Norwegian Traditions
From decorating the Christmas tree to leaving milk and cookies out for Santa Claus, Christmas traditions are a great way to embrace your heritage in unique ways and enjoy the holiday season. Here are a few surprising or unusual Norwegian Christmas traditions you can try with the whole family. Almond hunt One of the more popular Norwegian customs is to serve rice porridge on little Christmas Eve (Dec. [...]