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DO NOT DELAY – The deadline to make your hotel reservation at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bloomington Minn., for the Sons of Norway 2018 International Convention is July 19. PLEASE NOTE – Sons of Norway is once again utilizing the services of a housing bureau to make all hotel reservations. Please do NOT contact the hotel directly as they will not be able to offer you the special pricing. [...]

What started as a pagan ceremony to ward off evil spirits and honor the sun is now a beloved celebration of nature, community and warm summer nights. Midsommer is celebrated throughout Scandinavia on different days from June 19-25—and specifically recognized in Norway on June 24. Midsommer originates long before Christianity was introduced, and began as an observation of summer solstice; the longest day of the year. During this time, [...]

Can following a Nordic diet make you healthy? New research says yes. The Nordic diet trend is making waves around the world. Similar to the trendy Mediterranean diet, the Nordic diet prioritizes fresh veggies, in-season fruits, and encourages whole grains and plenty of seafood.

Known for his multi-volume books Modernist Cuisine and Modernist Bread, Nathan Myhrvold pushes the boundaries for culinary science as a chef, photographer, scientist and writer. The June issue of Viking magazine highlights the Norwegian-American and his life of fascinations, from physics to photography, climate change to modernist cuisine. In his state-of-the-art cooking lab in Bellevue, Wash., Myhrvold is advancing the state of culinary art through scientific knowledge and experimental [...]

Do you have any kroner that you’ve been saving for a rainy day? You’ll need to trade them for new banknotes by the end of May 2018. Last year, Norges Bank phased in brilliant new 100- and 200-krone bills, while keeping the old ones in circulation for a year. On May 30, 2018, the old 100- and 200-krone notes will expire and no longer be accepted in stores as [...]

In the May issue of Viking, we talked with Nancy Lorraine Jensen Memorial Scholarship recipient Shiloh Curtis. She hails from Sunnyvale, Calif., and attends college at MIT. Curtis is passionate about robotics. See more from the interview below. Q: What sparked your interest in robotics? A: I think my dad was mostly responsible for this. When I was a kid, we spent a lot of time building stuff together, [...]

Image credit: @oslorunway Norway is the fashion world’s new “it-girl.” Before the hustle and bustle of New York, Milan and Paris fashion shows, Norway hosts its fashion week. Drawing in crowds of fashionable bloggers and celebrities, Norway attempts to put aside the fierce competition with their Scandinavian counterparts and bring recognition to Oslo’s annual fashion week. In 2018, viewers were pleasantly surprised when they saw some epic [...]

2018 International Folk Art Competition & Exhibition Join us in celebrating talent and culture by participating in the International Folk Art Competition & Exhibition, part of the International Convention in Bloomington, Minn., August 15 -19. Sons of Norway members with all levels of artistry, from amateur to professional, can exhibit work in several Norwegian folk art categories including rosemaling, hardanger embroidery, photography and more. All participants will receive a [...]

Release your inner explorer and join us Thursday, June 14, to learn about our 2019 Signature Journey: Water, Wildlife & the Wonders of Antarctica. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and Borton Overseas’ featured lecturer on this Antarctic journey. Peter is a renowned expert in maritime history, art, exploration, and marine environmental issues. Sunniva Sorby will also join us June 14 [...]

While growing up in Norway, Lise Lunge-Larsen loved listening to her parents read folktales. Her passion for children’s literature grew when she moved to the United States. Today, she’s written eight books, including her latest “Seven Ways to Trick a Troll.” Check out her interview in the May issue of Viking magazine, and see more below. What inspired you to become a children’s book author?   I studied folklore at [...]

Looking to liven up your breakfast routine with healthy ingredients? In the April issue of Viking magazine, chef and photographer Simon Bajada shares four recipes from his latest cookbook, “Nordic Light.” Another one of his favorites in Nordic granola. “There is so much satisfaction to be had in making home-made granola,” Bajada says. First of all, the kitchen smells incredible for a couple of hours, secondly you save some coin because boutique [...]

For reasons other than health and wellness, people across the United States and around the world are joining the latest fitness craze, plogging. Created in 2016, the term is a hybrid of the English word jogging and the Swedish term plocka upp, meaning “pick up,” and involves participants gathering litter while out jogging or running. Ploggers bring trash bags with them to help collect litter, and sometimes add rigorous elements [...]

The Storting (Norway’s parliament) recently passed the most comprehensive administrative reform since 1662. Back then, the country’s administrative units transitioned from len to amt while under Danish rule. In this new reform, Norway’s 19 fylker (counties) are planned to be replaced by 11 regioner (regions) by January 2020. Four existing counties (Nordland, Rogaland, Oslo and Møre og Romsdal) will continue using the same names and borders as they had in [...]