Darth Vader in a Bunad?

Ever have one of those days where, for one reason or another, it’s difficult to decide what to wear to the office? That was my dilemma yesterday. It was casual Friday at the Sons of Norway Home Office, so my options were more expansive than usual. In the end I picked this shirt. As most any kid who grew up in the late 70’s/80’s can relate, Star Wars is the be-all-end-all of youth culture. I wear my SW gear proudly and have no shame in showing off how nerd-core I am every chance I get.

Now I bet you are wondering what on earth this has to do with Sons of Norway or Norway in general, right?

Simple. This month marks the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back being released.

Still not connecting?

Back in May of 1980, Norway was rocketed into forefront of SW culture upon the release of Empire. You see the small town of Finse and the Hardangerjøkulen glacier played host to most of the SW cast, as the shooting location for the far-flung ice-planet, Hoth. Even 30 years later stories are still told of how nearly 18 feet of snow fell and temps plummeted to -20 F during the filming. Apparently the weather was so sever that the entire cast and crew were trapped in their hotel, at times, because the large amounts of snow falling blocked all doors and exits.

Thanks to Norway I, and many other SW geeks out there, spent many a winter day reenacting all the Hoth scenes. Whether it was pretending to be riding a Tauntaun across a snowfield, hiding from a probe droid or fighting a Wampa with a pretend lightsaber, it was the stunning landscape of Norway that fed my imagination and the imaginations of a million other kids in the 80s!

Thank you, Norway, for being the inspiration for so many great childhood memories! With that, I leave you with one last thought for the day:

What would Darth Vader have looked like in a Bunad?

Norway Is World’s Best Workplace

Today we have another post from Viking Editor Amy Boxrud, this time about the great work environment in Norway. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

In May I wrote about how Norway was named the best place in the world to be a mother. Norway was recognized again recently: as the world’s best place to work!

What makes Norwegians so happily employed? According to the European Employee Index 2010, 78 percent of Norwegians feel secure in their job, as opposed the international average of 67 percent. In addition, 70 percent of Norwegians find satisfaction in their work compared to 62 percent internationally. And 62 percent believe they could find another job if they wanted it. If you want to learn more about the study—and you read Norwegian—check out this article on the Aftenposten website.

Photo: Rasmus Andersson

When it comes to great places to work, a commitment to work/life balance can’t hurt either. Check out the July issue of Viking to learn how much vacation time Norwegians enjoy, compared to citizens of the U.S. and Canada.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minnesota, where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585. Amy is a Nordic folk music enthusiast, and when she’s not working or parenting, she can often be found making music with friends.

Norway Ranks Top for Moms

Earlier this month Mothers Day was celebrated all across America. Personally, I think every day should be Mothers Day and, according to Amy Boxrud and some recent research, it is in Norway!

Kudos to Norway—the best place in the world to be a mother! A recent study conducted by the international organization Save the Children compared conditions for mothers in 160 nations, taking into consideration health care, nutrition, education and economic status.

As an American mom, the situation in Norway sounds pretty dreamy: a year’s maternity leave at full-pay, as many as 20 paid days off each year to care for a sick child, universal health care and high-quality child care that is heavily subsidized by the government. Is it any wonder that Norway came out on top? The rest of the Nordic countries fared well, too, with Iceland, Sweden and Denmark ranking third, fourth and fifth, respectively, and Finland in a respectable seventh place. The U.S. ranked twenty-eighth.

According to this study, it would seem that every day is Mothers Day in Norway.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minnesota, where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585. Amy is a Nordic folk music enthusiast, and when she’s not working or parenting, she can often be found making music with friends.

Syttende Mai Memories

Syttende Mai was this week and I've got a great post from Viking Editor Amy Boxrud about one of her favorite Syttende Mai memories!

One of my most memorable Syttende Mai experiences took place about a decade ago, when my husband and I were traveling in Norway. We had planed to take Hurtigruten, the coastal steamer, to visit my husband’s ancestral home just north of the polar circle. At first I was disappointed to learn that we would be “stuck” traveling by ship on the 17th, but it was the best way to stay on schedule for the rest of our trip.

Little did I know this would be a great way to spend the day: not in one location, but in several—with each port community making us feel that they had been waiting for us to show up to begin their celebration. We woke to crisp, clear weather and the sound of a brass band in the port of Måløy. Two hours later, another lively community band entertained us in Torvik. We continued northward, with champagne toasts on the ship’s deck with our captain. We enjoyed a meal of pølse, sild and is on the streets of Ålesund, after marching in the town’s parade. While we were as dressed up as possible, given our limited traveling wardrobe, we were no match for the Norwegians. From the youngest to the oldest, they were decked out in their bunads, as if the whole town had just stepped off a movie set.

I’m grateful for this unique memory and to the many Norwegians who shared this special day with us.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minnesota, where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585. Amy is a Nordic folk music enthusiast, and when she’s not working or parenting, she can often be found making music with friends.

Sons of Norway Welcomes New Fraternal Director

Minneapolis, May 14, 2010—Linda Pederson has been named the new Fraternal Director of Sons of Norway, succeeding Eivind Heiberg who stepped up to the position of Chief Executive Officer late last year.

This is the second time Sons of Norway has welcomed Pederson, a native of Ålesund Norway, to the Home Office staff. She previously worked for the international fraternal benefit society from 1992-95, during which time she was Manager of Fraternal Lodge and Membership Services.

When asked about Sons of Norway membership and her goals for the 115-year-old organization she said, “A Sons of Norway membership offer something for everyone, but for me the highlight is the shared appreciation of Norwegian Heritage and Culture. In the future I want as many people as possible to know about us, which means increasing our visibility and meeting member needs while exceeding their expectations.”

In addition to Pederson’s previous contributions to Sons of Norway, she has a significant background in promoting Norwegian heritage and culture. She spent six years with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Minneapolis as Vice Consul and is the co-founder of a Norwegian/American Women’s Organization.

CEO Heiberg said, “Linda Pederson is dedicated to the promotion of Norwegian heritage and culture and will be a talented leader for Sons of Norway’s future. She has proven her leadership skills during her years of service with a number of Norwegian-based organizations, helping them reach their goals and live their mission.”

Sons of Norway was organized as a fraternal benefit society by 18 Norwegian immigrants in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 16, 1895. The purposes and goals of the Founding Fathers were to protect members of Sons of Norway and their families from the financial hardships experienced during times of sickness or death in the family. Over time, the mission of Sons of Norway was expanded to include the preservation of Norwegian heritage and culture in our Society.

Viking’s Editor Meets The Cheese Guy

Here's another interesting post from Viking magazine editor, Amy Boxrud about her meeting with "The Cheese Guy."

Over the past few weeks, I’ve really enjoyed immersing myself in Viking magazine’s food issue, arriving in June. Today I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Moore, also known as “The Cheese Guy.” I first met Patrick went I lived in Minneapolis and did my grocery shopping at Lunds in Uptown (which happens to be right across the street from Sons of Norway headquarters). Whenever I saw Patrick working behind the cheese counter, I always stopped to browse, which inevitably led to samples, recommendations and Patrick’s entertaining commentary. I wasn’t the only person who appreciated Patrick’s advice; he’s now a specialty cheese consultant who also offers classes and tastings.

When I began working on an article about Norway’s cheeses, I knew Patrick would be a great source of information. We sat down over a cup of coffee spent an hour discussing Norwegian cheeses available in the U.S: Jarlsberg, Gjetost, Ridder and Snøfrisk. Now I've got cheese on the brain and I can't wait to hit the grocery store. Look for Patrick’s insights—along with five new ways to eat Jarlsberg cheese—in our upcoming June food issue.

Photo courtesy of Norseland Inc.

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. The mother of two grade-schoolers, Amy and her family live in Northfield, Minnesota where she is a member of Nordmarka 1-585. Amy is a Nordic folk music enthusiast, and when she’s not working or parenting, she can often be found making music with friends. She is a founding member of Northfield’s Nordic Roots Session and performs with the groups Scandium and Hütenänny.

Scandinavia’s Best in Your Own Backyard

Is a trip to Norway not in your budget this summer? Me neither. But we can still enjoy some Scandinavian culture and learn something new, right?
Here are three upcoming opportunities to learn Nordic folk music and dance in the U.S.

If you live in the East, the Midwest or in the West, there’s an event taking place in your region in June:
• Nordic Fiddles and Feet, June 27-July 4, near Littleton, N.H.


• Nisswa-stämman, June 11-12, in Nisswa, Minn. 

• Scandia Camp Mendocino, June 12-19, near Mendicino, Calif.


All three of these events offer training in folk music and dance from top-notch Scandinavian instructors. As someone who’s attended Nisswa-stämman for the past 7 years, I can attest to what a great opportunity these events are for Nordic music and dance enthusiasts, whether you’re just beginning to explore your musical roots, or you’ve been at it for years.
PS: Look for more ways to experience Norway in your own backyard in the July issue of Viking!
Photo courtesy of Doug Bratland

Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. The mother of two grade-schoolers, Amy and her family live in Northfield, Minnesota where she is a member of Nordmarka 1-585. Amy is a Nordic folk music enthusiast, and when she’s not working or parenting, she can often be found making music with friends. She is a founding member of Northfield’s Nordic Roots Session and performs with the groups Scandium and Hütenänny.