It's The Dreary Time

It’s winter time and heavy clouds hide the sun. Snow covers the ground and it’s too cold to remain outside for any length of time. Christmas is over and nothing much to look forward to for some time.

Aliens overflying Earth might be astonished as they gaze upon our fine planet. Torrents of rain have caused mudslides in the Western US while our Southern communities are being rebuilt after hurricanes, storms and   tornadoes raged from Florida to the North.The year 2015 has been cited as

having been the warmest year since weather records have been complied. What is happening? “El Nino! is the cause” according to some believers while other scoff, replying “ It’s just the law of averages.”
Whatever the reason, our air currents seem to be changing and when the normally north cold airflow sags southward and mixes with the warmer air flow, ‘things happen’.

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Digging out in Washington

Our North Eastern area is still shoveling out from a snowstorm that delivered as much snow in three days as residents normally experience in their entire winter! 2016 has only begun.

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Overseas, warmer than usual conditions in Norway has caused mountain snowcover to be unstable. An avalanche thundered down a    mountainside in Norway’s northernmost archipelago of Svalbard during  a December weekend in Svalbard’s main island of Spitsbergen 

Avalanche in Longyearbyen

Longyearbyen

destroying ten homes, leaving one man dead and two children critically injured.This avalanche was caused by  shifting temperatures and hurricane-strength winds. "Nearly 200 homes have been built at the foot of the mountains surrounding Longyearbyen, a remote Arctic settlement. " reported a Norwegian Broadcasting spokesman, but some geologists said they would likely never have been built today, given the avalanche danger that has grown in line with milder winters and climate changes.

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 An American, John Longyear, started an Arctic Coal company and set up a mining operation for around 500 people in 1906. The settlement was naturally called "Longyear City." Today, it is known as Longyearbyen to all Norwegians and  the world’s northernmost settlement with a population greater that 1,000 permanent residents. Major mining operations have moved away, but this settlement is currently known for tourism, the location of a University Center,as well as the site of one of the World Seed Vault and an prominent weather satellite station as well as for several other reasons.

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 The ground in Svalbard is permafrost, which means the soil is permanently frozen year round. In

Longyearbyen on a clear day.

Longyearbyen, the permafrost ranges from 10 to 40 meters deep, with an active layer that melts each summer as the temperatures rise above freezing. Houses are built on pilings, or stilts to prevent flooding and sinking as the top layer melts!

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In Longyear, the sun ‘sets’ each year for the very last time around   October 25th and is not fully visible above the horizon again for four months.   

Midday at The Arctic Circle

The sun officially reappears on March 8th, when it is finally high enough above the horizon to illuminate buildings in the area . People in this area of the Arctic Circle  are accustomed to this semi-darkness and learn to ‘live with it’. This time of the year is called the Murky Season or “Morkitiden”. Due to location in the mountains, this dark period varies from village to village, but the sun is mostly under the horizon until around March. Midday is  “most illuminated “ as the sun approaches the horizon,  but the sunlight is feeble.

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Watching for the sun's return

These days of ‘No sun’ are known as “The Polar Night”. At the end of these long four months, residents can look forward to a week-long celebration known as Solfestuka- the return of the sun. Children are dismissed from their schools to see the happy day of the sun’s first arrival over the horizon.

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Michael Emberley

 Michael Emberley is a prominent author and illustrator of many

children’s books since 1979. Born in Massachusetts, Emberley now lives in Ireland, but one book written about the Norwegian winter became a favorite of Norwegian children, as his subject, a young Norwegian girl child became overwhelmed with the prolonged darkness and yearned for sunshine. The story became nationally popular.

In his story....

A book by Michael  Emberley

The youngster lived in a small Norwegian village hidden deep between

mountains and it was the “Murky Time”. The little Norwegian  girl, her
parents and friends grew weary of the darkness and as the time dragged on, the little girl convinced her parents to  journey up the great mountain while encouraging many others to join them on their upward climb to  “Welcome the sun!”. This story is probably read and enjoyed by Norwegian children every winter “Polar Night”in Scandinavia.

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Norwegians in the Arctic have earned to enjoy this time of perpetual   darkness as the twilight reflects off the snow and the northern lights flash around the skiers often seen on lighted slopes. After returning

Koselig

next to the fire, they enjoy the warmth they call “koselig”- a feeling of coziness, candlelight, fellowship and fuzzy socks.
  These people are content to live in their environment.
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No one even dies in Longyearbyen. It is against the law! This is because of the permafrost in the ground. Death is forbidden. Longyearbyen has

only  a small graveyard that stopped accepting new burials over 70 years ago. The reason? Bodies never decompose. Scientists found that bodies remain perfectly preserved because of the permafrost.So if one is about to die, they are required to go somewhere else. It’s the law!       (Cremation doesn’t seem to be acceptable).

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These people have learned to accept these harsh conditions. They are able to find the positive side, adapt to their country's conditions and use their creativity to their advantage with a different mindset.

 They look forward to their Polar Nights.

Santa Has left The Area

A famous 'person of interest' has departed a very important calendar-time of our year, but his celebratory appearance has once again brought up issues. Mr. Santa Claus, a very beloved 'real' man appeared by journeying to our lives and leaving in a vehicle pulled by a mythical team of  'Hreinin', which in old Norse translates to 'horned animals' or reindeer!

 "On Dancer, On Prancer...!"

This animal actually exists today. As Santa leaves, he calls out his team's names, ending with  "Donner and Blitzen". However, those two confused Dutch deer are really named Dunder and Blixim, named by the 

Sami Santa?

Dutch-American who wrote the famous story about St. Nicholas. So, what's right and what's wrong with this picture? Maybe, Santa is really Sami! One more thing: Both sexes of reindeer grow horns, but the adult male sheds his in the early winter, while the female keeps hers! So, the sleigh is being pulled by a  team of female deer   ( they all have antlers) that has the ability to fly!

 No wonder our children are confused!

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Reindeer were once viewed as mysterious creatures living in lands in the northern part of the world. Their population was widespread in Scandinavian and Eastern

European countries where, during the 18th century, they were domesticated. They are often used in transportation, pulling sleds and sleighs, and are still an important part of some northern European cultures, particularly to the Sámi people (commonly known as Laplanders to non-Europeans).

 The Sami are one of the oldest indigenous groups in Europe. Two thousand years ago, they inhabited all of present-day Finland. They have also lived  in the inland of Sweden and all the way to the Atlan­tic Ocean, from central Norway north to the White Sea, in what is now Russia. The Sami have a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently about ten percent of the Sami are connected to reindeer herding, while the deer provide them with meat, fur, and transportation.

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   The Sami people have depended on the reindeer for food, transportation and their livelihood. The reindeer are free ranging to find their own food and survive the winter cold as well as summer heat, pests and wolves. In a year, reindeer may travel as much as 3,100 miles  each year. To avoid the winter weather of the tundra, reindeer travel back towards the forest to seek shelter from the severity of winter. Winter is a difficult time for the reindeer, therefore, movements are erratic as they forage for sufficient food to sustain themselves through the long, cold and dark eight months of winter.Reindeer migrations are simply a means of survival and during the winter, it migrates to the forested areas where it is easier to dig in the snow where they find  reindeer lichen on which  to graze.

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 To keep up to the reindeer, Sami herders must be able to move often. Their temporary dwelling is called a lavvu  (pronounced “LAA-voo”).Its simplicity enables the Sami to move quickly with their semi-domesticated reindeer herds at a moment's notice. Similar to an 'Indian tepee', the Sami home is more centered to the ground, and better able to endure the fierce winds of the Scandinavian tundra, a design that dates back many hundreds if not thousands of years.

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It's winter, and Christmas really is over! Dunder and Blixim

as well as thousands of reindeer will  cross Scandinavia for their annual two-month migration from Norway to Finland. It's a matter of survival and instinct. Sami herders will pack up their lavvus and family for their  journey which can take two months, covering hundreds of miles.Around 3,500 reindeer and dozens of Sami make the annual trip across the snow from Karasjok, the Sami capital of Norway, over the snowy plains of northern Scandinavia, and across the Finnish border.

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 The "stay-at-home" Scandinavians can only wonder what that trip would be like and  how it must appear. Winter nights are long and entertainment must be scarce. TV watchers have become content to watch TV productions of long duration. During one Yul, Norwegian TV aired "Yule Log" that did nothing but flicker all night. Another "Slow TV"  epic event was of a  'knitting marathon' in real time. These productions are well-liked by Norwegian viewers and these reindeer have caught their interest. By popular demand,  the reindeer migration will be aired on TV!

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" Coming soon, Reindeer Migrate to Their Winter Grounds"

NRK TV will air reindeer being herded across the country. The project leader Thomas Hellum, an NRK producer. says" it's going to be hard-core, but will only last a week. Anything more", he says," would be too slow, even for slow TV. It might be boring at times, but live reindeer migration is hardcore slow TV.” “It’s an opportunity to give the rest of the country a greater understanding of our culture,” said Ole Rune Hatta, of NRK Sami . Slow TV has been a big hit in Norway since 2009.

Ready...Action!

This large herd of reindeer are following their instincts and ready for the long journey.

10,000 to up to 100,000 animals band together for their journey.

As Sami herders keep them together, they travel to more favorable winter grounds.

The long journey continues until  winter food and shelter from the cold is found.

The Sami reindeer herders follow their animals all the way across the plains of Sapmi, an annual task of herding thousands of reindeer many miles in order to survive the tundra winter.As the season changes, The herd will retrace their path and return to warm and fertile home. Dunder and Blixim were unable to fly on their journey, but the annual event goes on.

Have a good trip. We'll see you on TV!

Out With The Old!

Out with the Old

Suddenly, it’s over! All the planning, all the traditional music, chatting with people we haven’t visited with for some time, and now.. Everyone has said their goodbyes and departed for their homes, and all is quiet.

It’s over. Time to write the ‘thank you’ notes and reflect on what had happened in such a short and happy time. Now, to locate that receipt in order to return the sweater that doesn’t  fit and get to the store tomorrow.

The first weekday after Christmas is always a busy day and storeclerks are prepared for the ‘return rush’ that has become even more important to business than ‘Black Friday”. Here, in the USA, this day has become America’s Boxing Day”. Find the box and the receipt and return it!

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In Europe, Boxing Day is “Andre juledag”, the second day of Christmas and  a public holiday to relax with family. This is also a  traditionally celebrated  day  when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts known as a "Christmas box" from their masters, employers or customers. Despite its name, Boxing Day  is not  a

 day for people to return unwanted Christmas presents. It’s a quiet day after Christmas when Norwegians are spending time probably sledding and enjoying the skii slopes with their family. Jul ( Christmas) is celebrated throughout December  traditionally until St. Knut’s Day on January 13th, a great time to say ‘hello’ to the neighbors and meet the ‘new people’.

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Answering a knock on the Norwegian door might be interesting to newcomers as they view a group dressed in weird ragged clothing with masks on their faces with perhaps a goathead on a pole singing Christmas carols. In America, a group like this would shout “Trick or Treat!”. But this time, Norse residents would be delighted to welcome them as they attempt to learn the visitor’s identities

. All would enjoy treats of nuts, oranges and baked goodies, while small gifts would be given to  children who otherwise might not be receiving anythng that jul season. These visitors are known to be”jule bokke” or Christmas fools. Then, on to the next house as they “Gå julebukk”

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The goat theme is  the oldest Christmas tradition in Scandinavia, and possibly connected to heathen worship of the Norse god Thor, who rode the sky in a chariot drawn by two goats.Usually made of  the last sheaf  of  grain bundled in the harvest , the  goat is credited with magical properties as the spirit of the harvest and saved for the Yule

celebrations, called among other things "Julbocken" (the Yule goat). In Sweden, people regarded the Yule goat as an invisible spirit that would appear some time before Christmas to make sure that the Yule preparations were done in good fashion.

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Europeans have more than one day of Christmas celebration. Their “Twelve Days of Christmas” stretch from December 25 until January 6, which is Epiphany, the day the Three Kings delivered their gifts. Here in America, we become a bit fatigued with the length of this familiar Christmas Carol of a lover’s series of  daily gifts during this time. But, perhaps we do not understand this long tune.

Perhaps, it is not a lover’s gifts to his sweetheart, but actually a religious song!

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  One theory is that Roman Catholics in England in the years 1558 until 1829 were not permitted to practice their religion openly. Someone wrote a carol as a ‘teaching aid’ song for Catholic children with each day known only to members of the church. Each day contained a code word for a religious reality that the children could remember.

  The “True Love” was the newborn baby Jesus, while “The Partridge” represented Him because that bird would often roost in pear trees and  would  lure predators away from the bird-nest, protecting the young. The  "two turtle doves” represented the Old and  New Testament, “Three French Hens” became known as faith, hope and charity..and the song goes on. For the complete “symbol” story, one link might be      http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/advent/customs-and-traditions...

Whether or not it’s true, or only an interesting story, the Christmas season is celebrated by this and other popular traditional songs .

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But to end the season is to end the year.

In Sweden, bells chime to welcome in the new year while verses of  “Ring Out, Wide Bells” are recited. This poem was written by the English poet Tennyson in 1895 and first recited on New Year’s Eve. Many people gather at the Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm (capital of Sweden) to observe the town reading of this narrative as the bells toll. The first two verses of which are:

   " Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

          The flying cloud, the frosty light

          The year is dying in the night;

    Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

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         Ring out the old, ring in the new,

         Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

         The year is going, let him go;

         Ring out the false, ring in the true."

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      While no song is credited to Norwegian celebrations, Norway  celebrates in family gatherings with

traditional foods .Others, celebrating in public, arrange their evening to see the end of the year fireworks. Oslo, Norway has traditionally lit up the sky on this evening to welcome in the New Year.

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A famous Norwegian  soprano, Sissel Kyrkjebø  has sung many concerts in the US and is  known to often take part in American New Year’s Eve celebrations, singing the year’s end song “Auld Lang Syne”. This Scottish song traditionally ends each year in several countries as well as the USA.                           - - - - - - - -
  Auld Lang Syne is a reminder to remember and cherish old friendships, and good deeds while toasting health and good will for the year ahead. Every year, on December 31, people gather to sing  Auld Lang Syne. The fact that few actually know all of the words, let alone their meaning, has rarely stopped anyone from joining in song  traditionally  bidding farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight.   

      “Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

        And never brought to mind? 

      Should  auld acquaintance be forgot,

      And auld lang syne?

  (“auld lang syne” might be loosely translated as "for the sake of old times"). 

             We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet 

      For auld lang syne .”

                                                   godt nytt år
                                                          Happy New Year         

Christmas Is Coming

 

Best wishes to all

for a happy, healthy, safe and fulfilling New Year!

What's the meu going to be?

 It's December. Time to think about the next holiday dinner..Who's coming..Who can eat what..

It's Advent time already. One candle has been lit and and in three more, it will be Christmas.

We still have turkey leftovers in the 'frig, so turkey is out! Time for some planning!

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 A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York the day before Thanksgiving and says,"I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing". "What are you talking about?" the son screams. "We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm tired of it. Call you sister and tell her". Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts. She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow."  The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.                "Okay," he says,  "they're both coming for Thanksgiving   and paying  their own way."

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But seriously, every region and nationality has it's favorite food and beverage, so what to serve?

Here, in the USA, Thanksgiving Dinner was usually turkey or some other poultry product, while Christmas diners will likely be feasting on Christmas ham, mashed potatoes, and meatballs with veggies on the side. Some will reach for the bread and butter while the Scandinavian Americans might have lutefisk and lefse. Meatballs will be added for those adverse to lutefisk. Tom and Jerrys or egg nog will be the beverages as they wait for the table to be set.

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While hamburgers seem to be the American national food, our European friends have some  other tastes.

Swedish tables will have lingonberry jam that is used to accompany a variety of dishes  from meatballs to blodpudding. Reindeer meat is popular in the north while southern portions of Sweden may have other game dishes, however, the traditional Swedish meatballs ( with brown cream sauce) will probably have tart lingonberry jam alongside.  Knäckebröd (crispbread) will be on hand. This 'bread' has been enjoyed for over 500 years and can last for at least a year if stored properly.

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Norwegian cuisine is based largely on the raw materials readily available on mountains, in waters, and

wilderness as well as coastal areas. Lutefisk is the common thought-of national 'favorite', but it's losing to cod or whitefish. Lutefisk lovers will make sure that lots of melted butter, white sauce, and salt with lots of condiments make this dish palatable.  Fokost (breakfast) will be milk or fruit juice, lots of coffee, oatmeal and open sandwiches on the table. Dinner (middag) diners see fish, boiled potatoes and vegetables to eat, while krumkaker (a delicious pastry) and lefse will be enjoyed. Again, lots of coffee!

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"Lutefisk" may be the 'National Norse food' , but Norwegians are currently turning to their second National Food!...

Pizza!!

Norway's new favorite food- pizza!

Norwegians like their pizza unhealthy, the more unhealthy the better, it seems.The most popular brand is "Grandiosa".  which has a habit of putting capsicum (paprika) on their pizzas.Norwegians say that frozen pizza is now Norway’s national dish as pizza usually dominates store's frozen food section. Every new pizza brand that comes out offers the same flavors  – meat, ham, pineapple and margarita.  This suits Norwegians just fine as variety isn’t cared for. Capsicum is very popular in Norway and is sold like apples.  But everyone complained that they had to pick off the capsicum before they could eat their pizza. 

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But our Norwegian Christmas diners will expect pinnekjøttt, a salted dried and sometimes smoked lamb ribs  

färikål

or färikål, which is  lamb simmered with cabbage and peppercorn. Boiled potatoes, sausages, and piles of pastry will be enjoyed with rømmegrøt, a porridge made with sour cream, again served  with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. All washed down with gløgg, a syrupy wine with almonds and raisins for taste. How will they find room for juleøl, a special Christmas beer? Or akevitt?

akevitt

Whatever is chosen, akevitt ( in Latin - water of life) is the best known and  widely accepted as THE drink. Akevitt is a distilled yellow-colored liquor spiced with caraway seeds and not for the young!

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Lots of culinary choices!
But now, how many will be coming?

gud jul!

Saints and Martyrs

 Times are Changing.

        November  seems to be our transition month . It begins with All Saints Day,   Nov 1

             honoring  all  saints known and unknown, a national holiday in many countries.

The feast of All Saints began in the ninth century during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI "the Wise" (886–911). His wife was known to have lived a devout life. After her death, her husband built a church intending to dedicate it to her. When he was forbidden to do so, he decided to dedicate it to "all saints", so that if his wife were in fact one of the righteous, she would also be honored whenever the feast was celebrated. According to tradition, it was Leo who expanded the feast, to a general commemoration of All Saints, whether martyrs or not. This  may not be the true origin of All Saints' Day , but it has been accepted and observed on various days in different places. Many ‘saints’ suffered persecution and a violent death while others welcomed the release from mortal life. The definition of  ‘a martyr’ is considered to be one who chooses to suffer death rather than renounce religious principles. These are considered victims and are honored and revered by most.

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Currently, there are  worldwide problems of political and religious conflicts that has changed this

view. Groups of  Mideastern ‘fundamentalists’ have chosen a very narrow interpretation of their ‘religion’ and  violently opposing anyone choosing to disagree with their ‘new  law’.
   These radicalists are convinced that their motivations are grounded in faith and directly tied to religious scripture.They seek to live in accordance with laws and scripture dating back thousands of years and carry out their onslaught  without any shred of guilt or shame. Their ‘cause’ is rewarded by the belief that any male soldier dying in battle will be rewarded in their afterlife with the companionship of a bevy of 'willing maidens of their age'. In this way, the soldier desires to become a martyr and be honored by their fighting companions.

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In  The Viking age, Nordic countries were mostly pagan while North Europe had earlier become Christianized. As kings and kingdoms changed territorial rules, these new kings forced their beliefs upon the conquered  people. Those that resisted were eliminated; many becoming the new ‘martyrs’ and later saints.
Many ‘saints’ suffered persecution and a violent death while others welcomed the release from mortal life.

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In Norse mythology, Odin was the king of  Asgard, one of  Nine Worlds and home to a tribe of gods.  He was a god of war and death and the god of wisdom and poetry. Along with being a god, he was the ‘All-Father of all the Nordic Gods’.

He lived in Valhalla (pronounced “val-HALL-uh”; “the hall of the fallen”). This was believed to be a hallowed hall located “near gods and elves” where the god Odin housed the dead whom he deemed worthy of dwelling with him. Being  a place of perpetual fighting ,warfare was associated with religion, however pagan
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One of the most revered Norwegian kings become a saint and a martyr. Olaf Haraldsson, the son of King Harald Grenske of Norway spent most of his youth as a Norse raider until 1010 when he was baptized at Rouen, France. In 1015, after succeeding to the throne, he started a war to free Norway from the domination of the Danes and the Swedes. 

He also requested that missionaries be sent from England to advance the Christianization of Norway. While neither popular nor especially holy during his lifetime, Olaf was soon revered after death owing to reports of miracles occurring at his tomb. He was  respected as a champion of Norway’s independence, and his shrine became the foundation of the cathedral of Trondheim, a popular place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. He became the patron of Norway, and honored as well as in having his name as a major college in our country.

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There are numerous saints who have become known as martyrs and honored annually, however, there are some that are not so well-known, but honored for their deeds.Whims and wishes of early Kings was to be done without question. Daughters of kings became property of invading kings in order  to settle demands.

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Lucia of Syracuse (283–304)is known as a young Christian martyr who died under the Roman rule. Christians were persecuted for their faith,  forced to endure horrific torture and often met painful ends. According to later accounts, she refused the Roman governor's advances and to punish her, the governor ordered the guards to gouge out her eyes; Lucy, whose name can mean
"light" or "lucid," became the patron saint of the blind. Her feast once coincided with the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year and her feastday has become a festival of light. December 13th has become an important day of remembrance for St. Lucia., also known as Saint Lucy, or in Italian: Santa Lucia.

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Another young maiden became involved in the spoils of war.

 Philomena  was the daughter of a king in Greece who, with his wife, had converted to Christianity. At the age of about 13, she took a vow of consecrated virginity. When the Roman Emperor Diocletian threatened to make war on her father's kingdom, her father and his family traveled to Rome to ask for peace. The emperor fell in love with the young Philomena  and to avoid warfare, the father agreed to give his daughter to the emporer. Despite her father’s demands, she refused to be the emporer’s wife. When she continued to refuse his  demands to marry , the emperor subjected her to a series of torments: scourging, being shot with arrows, and  drowning in order to change her decision. Two Angels responded to her aid curing her each time. Finally, giving up his quest, the emperor had her decapitated.

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           An Viking attack in Ireland resulted in another incident of  a leader becoming enamored with beautiful maidens.

 Sunniva was to be the heir of an Irish kingdom, but had to flee when an invading heathen king wanted to marry her. To escape his advances, she with her brother Alban  and their followers sailed to the island of Selja in Norway during the rule of the pagan Jarl Hákon Sigurðarson ( 962–995). Their pagan Norwegian neighbors on the mainland later suspected the Christians of stealing sheep and complained to Jarl Hákon.

 Hákon arrived on Selja with a group of armed men, intending to kill the accused inhabitants. When the Christians realized what is happening, they hide in caves on the island and prayed to God to collapse the caves to spare them from being ravaged by Hákon and his men. The caves collapsed killing all those in the cave. Later, travellers noticed a supernatural light over the island and arriving in Trondheim, the men told their experience to King Olaf Tryggvason. After another later account of similar events by different witnesses, the king travelled to Selja, excavated the cave and recovered the body of  Sunniva that appeared as if the woman was asleep. Numerous institutions in Norway are named after her, including the Catholic church in Molde, various schools, including St Sunniva School in Oslo,as well as several Norwegian ships and the St. Sunniva dormitory in Bergen,. The short form Synne  has  become the most popularly given form of this name peaking in popularity in the late 1980s .

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Many saints' names have been recalled as children have been named either in their memory or because the name itself is attractive. At our latest Sons of Norway public dinner, a very young girl was enjoying her meal.She was only " Two fingers old", and her mother mentioned her name was "Sunni." When asked how she got that name, the mother replied that the little girl was named for Saint Sunniva. In  family visits to Norway and Oslo, they had learned about St Sunniva, and their next little girl was named in honor and memory of the Norwegian saint.

  The present lives on in memory of the past.