Where's The Fire?

The night is filled with the sight of fires where-ever you look. Along the beaches, everywhere, people are dancing, singing and holding a joyful celebration. It's St Hansaften, the ultimate summer occasion and feast in Scandinavia. After a long dark winter, it’s time for a joyous celebration of a much-awaited summer. Bonfires are lighting up the skies, swimmers are diving into the deep fjords and barbeques glow down by the water.These are the sights of people celebrating a seemingly endless midsummer night. June 23 is St.Hans Aften (St.John’s Eve) in Norway. It may also have another name, that being Sankthansaften. If you ask someone, this is what you might hear in explanation: “Etter en stund blir bålene tent, og folk koser seg med god mat, gode historier, sang - og dans”. It sounds like: “eht-tehr ehn stoonn bleer bohl-eh-neh tehnnt oh fohlk koo-sehr sai meh goo maht goo-eh hees-too-ree-ehr sahng oh dahns”. Its English translation is:“After a while, the bonfires are lit, and people sit down to enjoy good food, good stories, singing--and dancing”

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Norway celebrates Sankthansaften, or St. John's Eve each June 23, the eve before the longest day of the year. It is also called Jonsok which translates to John's wake, referring to St. John the Baptist's birth. Rituals carry on each year as little girls pick flowers and put them under their pillows at night with hopes of dreaming of their future husband.

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The bonfire tradition, which is quite often along the coast, goes back to pagan days, was believed to produce fertile soil, and providing protection from witches and evil spirits. Some believed the witches to be especially active on midsummer nights, gathering their witchcraft ingredients and preparing for witchery at evil gatherings. In parts of Norway, a custom of arranging mock marriages, both between adults and between children, is still kept alive. The wedding was meant to symbolize the blossoming of new life. Such weddings are known to have taken place in the 1800s, but the custom is believed to be older.

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It’s all in celebration of the coming day “ When the suns stands still”. Solstice celebrations still center around the day of the astronomical summer solstice. Some choose to hold the rite on the 21st of June, even when this is not the longest day of the year, and some celebrate June 24th, the day of the solstice in Roman times. The word solstice derives from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). For several days before and after each solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky—that is, its noontime elevation does not seem to change. Before Christianity came to Denmark, Scandinavian peoples celebrated the longest day as a supernatural struggle between light and dark, heat and cold.

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Since the feast day of Saint John the Baptist occurred on June 23rd, near the date of the annual summer solstice, the Christian Church emphasized this celebration in Scandinavia. “Hans” is the diminutive of “Johannes” or “John”. Today it’s a very good excuse to stay up late, have fun, and light bonfires.The Gospel of Luke states that John was born about six months before Jesus, therefore, the feast of John the Baptist was fixed on June 21~24, six months before Christmas. This feast day is one of the very few saints' days to mark the supposed anniversary of the birth, rather than the death of the saint commemorated.The coming days will slowly become shorter and shorter until the days grow completely dark. Norwegians live with these polar opposite seasons every year and, therefore, they take full advantage of every summer and enjoy the extended company of the sun on Sankthansaften, or St. John’s Eve.

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At the feast, everyone enjoys the traditional treat..sour cream porridge, better known as rømmegrøt.

Ingeborg Nygaard, the chef at the American Norwegian Embassy, said: “Bonfires, rømmegrøt (sour cream porridge), cured ham, barbeque, midsummer, sun, family, friends and dancing” are her fond memories of the occasion. Sour cream porridge is eaten sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and with warm melted butter. Some people also like to add raisins on top, as pictured . Red juice, such as raspberry or currant, is usually served with the porridge.

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Summer is finally here---and that’s a reason to celebrate!

Look at All The Trees!

Summertime is vacationtime. A couple weeks ago, we decided to see the scenery and visit some friends in the Norwegian area of Southwestern Wisconsin known as the “Driftless Area”, or land not touched by glaciers that leveled much of Wisconsin. We found ourselves in the mountains of Wisconsin. These “mountains” are called the Ocooch Mountains, the Native American name given to this portion of the Driftless Region in southwest Wisconsin. This area was originally inhabited by the Sauk Indians , but later settled by Scandinavian immigrants. Actually, you would have to travel back in time a few million years to see real mountains, but what remains, after several Ice Age episodes, are some hills that make you think you are actually in mountains.

You might think you are in the Ozarks! ----------------------

And what a variety of trees, everywhere, lush and green. In fact, as the old saying goes: “You can hardly see the forest for the trees!”. It is easy to see why immigrants from Scandinavia chose areas of Westby, Viroqua, and Coon Valley to settle into. The hills and valleys are everywhere and covered with a variety of trees. Many trees in this area are called deciduous. These normally completely shed leaves annually as opposed to coniferous or needled trees that keep foliage on all year. These deciduous tree leaves provide color over the hills, creating spectacular scenes in the autumn. Not having been rooted up by the glaciers and ice ages, these trees have spread throughout the area for many years. Checking a tree’s age has been done by counting the growth rings of logs, but now researchers are able to read the DNA from the living roots and are discovering some very old trees! However, many species of trees are disappearing, due to their popularity.

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A well-known oldie is the Boswellia tree. This tree has been known to be the source of a biblically famous perfume called frankincense. For centuries, frankincense, is valued by kingdoms across ancient Arabia, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Frankincense is an oily gum resin periodically scraped off by local villagers and sold in 40kg sacks to traders. Because these trees are stressed by constant scrapings, they become weak and die. The oldest trees in the USA are the Bristlecone Pine, located in the White Mountains of California. Research has found one of these trees being 4,789 years old.

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It is commonly believed that trees were absent in Scandinavia during the last glaciation and first recolonized the Scandinavian Peninsula with the retreat of its ice sheet , but recent findings have researchers reconsidering. DNA studies have shown that some Scandinavian trees survived the last Ice Age, challenging a widely held notion that they were killed off by the huge ice sheet that covered the region. Modern trees in Scandinavia were thought to descend from species that migrated north when the ice melted 9,000 years ago. Research suggests some conifers survived on mountain peaks that protruded from the enormous ice sheet, on islands and in coastal areas.The researchers came to their conclusions by studying the DNA of modern spruce - which clearly portrays two Scandinavian types. One belief is that trees were able to survive on the top of nunataks, the exposed ridges or peaks of mountains protruding from glacial cover.

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A recent report states that a Swede has discovered a tree said to be the oldest on the planet! This tree is thought to be nearly 10,000 years old and recently found in Sweden. ---It’s a spruce tree! “The tree's incredible longevity is largely due to its ability to clone itself” according to Leif Kullman, a professor at Umeå University's department of ecology and environmental science in Sweden.

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The visible portion of the spruce was comparatively new, but analysis of four "generations" of remains - cones and wood - found underneath its crown showed its root system had been growing for 9,550 years.

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As we travel country roads bordered by the scenic trees we take for granted, we often see large logging trucks heavily loaded enroute to sawmills. We give little thought to the history going down the road.

Enjoy your summer. Enjoy the view!

Let's Go To The Beach!

Travelling to Scandinavia this summer?

June is the favorite month of many Scandinavia visitors as it warms Scandinavia up nicely and brings everyone outdoors. Summer attractions are open, Scandinavia's parks and gardens are in full color in June, and visitors to Norway are ready to help the people enjoy the annual Midsummer celebrations. These Scandinavian midsummer traditions dates back to pagan times, showing the defeat of darkness to the powers of the sun god. Later, when you’re ready for a swim, take the road down to Selje, located on the West Coast of Norway in the County of Sogne og Fjordane. Enjoy the scenery. Watch the road!

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And if you are really interested in a unique swimming experience, head for Iceland! In Iceland, the sea is normally far too cold to tempt swimmers, but at Nautholsvik Bay in Reykjavik, a thermal beach has been created, where natural hot water flows out into the sea, and you can frolic in the waves as if you were in the Mediterranean! This artificial beach in Nauthólsvík is a fun place to cool down during a rare hot summer day. Featuring specially- imported white sand, they pump geothermal water into the ocean, so you can take a dip without freezing to death.

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A beach of golden sand has been created and a "pool" has been enclosed nearby, separate from where the water temperature is about 20ºC. Refreshments and various services are available at the beach. Iceland was settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D. According to their history, the first settler of Iceland built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavik stands today. The place was named Reykjavik – “Smoky Bay” - after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a profound impression on the original settlers.

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Have you heard about the Swedish Riviera? On your summer trip, don't forget to enjoy the sunny, sandy beaches in southern and central Sweden. Visit Stockholm and still enjoy sand and sun at two popular beaches right in the city: The county of Skåne is known for its beach region in Sweden. It's the southernmost county in Sweden and offers long, warm beaches. However, travellers must be aware that the scenery at some Scandinavian beaches differs from those in the USA. Signs are posted and probably read carefully. --- Signs are often used to inform beach visitors about nude-only or CO (clothes optional) beaches. Read carefully.

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Nudism in Scandinavia is nothing unusual - Scandinavia is the most open-minded region in the world. It's perfectly legal in Scandinavia for nudists to swim naked, or to sunbathe either topless or completely in the nude. In Denmark, nudism is allowed on many kilometers of coastline with several dedicated to “naturists only”. Norway has over 20 clothes-free beaches, and Sweden offers about 60 beaches for nudists! So, check the signs and swim-apparel accordingly.

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There is no surprise that water plays a very important part in Finnish lives. Hot water, because the Finnish sauna is a substantial part of Finnish culture. For Finnish people, the sauna is a place in which to relax with friends and family, and a place for physical and mental relaxation as well. Finns think of saunas not as a luxury, but as a necessity. Saunas are found on the shores of Finland's numerous lakes, and in every home. Especially in the wintertime! The benefits of saunas and steambaths are widely reported for relieving stress and soothing tired muscles as well as aiding most health improvements.

Where-ever your journey finds you, enjoy the summer, Scandinavian style!

It's Independence Day!!

Everyone in the USA is saying " I don't think so", but in Scandinavian countries, this is a very important time of year! June begins the warmer months of the year and patriotic events seem to be everywhere.

It was June 5th, when Danish citizens celebrated . Constitution Day, or Independence Day in Denmark is on June 5, a national holiday. It is called Constitution Day because it commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the constitution of 1849 , putting into law the "Constitutional monarchy", replacing the "Absolute Monarchy", thus striving to limit the power of the "King". Since that date, the Danish constitution has been completely rewritten five times. No huge celebration, but a day of celebrating with family. June 5th is also Father's Day in Denmark!

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Swedes celebrate Flag Day (similar to an "Independence Day") in memory of the founding of the kingdom of Sweden by the coronation ceremony of Gustav Vasa on June 6, 1523 as well as celebrating their constitution law on June 6 of 1809. This date was selected to be the official National Day of Sweden in the year 1983. Sweden's Independence Day has been a public holiday only since 2005, and is without large celebrations or events. Gustav I has subsequently been labelled the founder of modern Sweden, and the "father of the nation". Gustav liked to compare himself to Moses, whom he believed to have also liberated his people. As a person, Gustav was known for ruthless methods , a sly wit and ability to outmaneuver and annihilate his political opponents.He served as King of Sweden from 1523-death 1560.

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Icelandic Independence Day is June 17, a major annual event in Iceland commonly known as National Day.In 1944, the Scandinavian country of Iceland declared full independence from the Danish crown. Icelanders selected June 17 to be the official holiday because it was the birthday of Jon Sigurdsson, who is regarded as Iceland's champion to their nationalist cause, that being a resolution of a union with Denmark! Sigurdsson was born in June 17, 1811.

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Finland is a Scandinavian country that is not celebrating this month. Finnish residents declare their memorial day on December 6th. Finland was under control of the Russian Empire until 1917 when they finally succeeded in their quest for independence . Every year, on this day, two candles are lit and placed in a window . They were placed to inform young men on their way to Sweden and Germany that the house was ready to offer shelter and keep them hidden from the Russians.

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There has always been a tendency to call Norway's syttende mai Independence Day, but that's Constitution Day. Norway's actual Independence Day is June 7th. The parliament of Norway broke the union with Sweden on June 7th, 1905. After some months of tension and fear of war between the two neighboring nations, negotiations between the two governments led to Norway's recognition by Sweden as an independent constitutional monarchy on October 26th, 1905, when King Oscar II renounced his claim to the Norwegian throne, dissolving the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. King Oscar was the King of Sweden, and later the King of Norway! By historical coincidence, June 7th was also the date in 1940 when King Haakon VII of Norway and the royal family had to leave the country after escaping the German forces during the WWII invasion of Norway; and it is also the date in 1945 on which the King returned after 5 years of exile in London.

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So, June is a busy month. Happy Independence Day to you all!

There Will Be Some Changes Made

There are going to be some changes made in the history of Norway. A system that dates back to 1536 is on schedule to be changed by the Norwegian parliament ( storting), resulting in amendments to the constitution of the Kingdom of Norway. This constitution was laid down in 1814 by the Constituent Assembly in Eidsvoll, Noway. On May 21, 2012, The Norwegian parliament passed a constitutional amendment for the second time. Amendments must be brought up in separate sessions. The amendment will abolish the connection between Norway and the Church of Norway, removing the Evangelical Lutheran religion as the official religion . The constitution now states that Norway’s values are based on Christian and humanist heritage. This will require several changes in articles written into the constitution.The government will no longer appoint bishops as stated in Article Two: ”The king is the supreme governor and protector of the church, and decrees bishops while overseeing the church”, Now, the appointment of cathedral and district deans will be decreed by diocesan councils.The Storting will amend the constitution to read that Norway will no longer have an official religion, ending the 1,000-year tradition of the Church of Norway. However, the royal family will still be required to belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church!

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Christianity came to Norway as local kings and nobles, dating back to the Viking age, struggled to unite numerous and petty kingdoms into one single state. Although the Church of Norway traces back to the 9th century, Norway’s ties to religion varied for several hundred years until King Olav( Olaf) II, forcefully insisted that all would become Christians. The resistance was high until King Olaf II was killed in battle in 1030. Supernatural things began to happen as strange lights appeared over his secret grave and miracles began occurring. His enemies decided they had done wrong by killing their king and decided to take up his religion of Christianity.

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King Olav II was then buried under the floor of Nidaros Cathedral and Olav Haraldson was declared a saint in 1031. During his lifetime, he was known as “Olaf the Fat”, born in 995 A.D. and ruled Norway from 1015 to 1028 when he was exiled.Later he was considered the Patron Saint and “Eternal King" of Norway.

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Immigrants from Norway came to America and founded St. Olaf College in 1874 in Northfield, Minnesota. This group of farmers and pastors, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus, named the college after Olaf II of Norway It became a four-year private liberal-arts institution now known world-wide. At St Olav, the language requirement can be fulfilled by taking a course of the Norwegian language.

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The death of King Olav Haraldsson in 1030 marked a decisive step in the growth of both Norwegian national identity and of Christianity. Kingly power was always the supreme power and the tie between religion and government was a unifying power for the people. As time went on, Norwegians found their individual identities growing, and the church began to lose influence. As the population has grown, membership in the Church of Norway has decreased. Approximately 80% still profess to be Lutheran, however only 20% of those members say that religion occupies an important place in their lives, according to a recent Gallup poll.

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Once the constitutional amendments become finalized, the Constitution will no longer prescribe that “the Evangelical Lutheran religion should remain the state’s public religion” , but only that the state’s basis will be “Our Christian and Humanist heritage” according to a statement from Minister Rigmor Aastrud ( Labour Party). He went on to say ”I hope we have now prepared a good basis for the Church of Norway to be an open and inclusive national church in a multicultural-religious setting.”

Next Stop--Finnmark!

"Our next stop....Finnmark!” Finnmark? You must have meant Finland! No, our destination, really, is Finnmark. Something is different about that territory. Apparently, time stops up there! Last winter, the sun went down and didn’t come up again for two months! The end of November until the end of January was nothing but dark. “Murky”, actually for the entire time!. The residents up there call it Morketiden”, or ‘Murky time’.

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“Every year, the city of Tromsø slows down, the people are tired, and pep pills and tranquilizer sales rise sharply, according to a psychologist. It happens every year 215 miles above the Arctic Circle. It’s all caused by the tilt of the earth. Now, something else is going on! The sun is not going down at all, and they don’t expect it to set until the end of July! For us North Americans, 24 hours is expected to be one day. 1,824 hours in one stretch of sun might become” a little much!”.

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Finnmark is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west,Finland (Lapland) to the south and Russia to the east, located at the Northernmost part of continental Europe, where Norway swings eastward. Finnmark has always been an area where east meets west, in culture as well as in nature and geography. Finnmark is on the same latitude as Siberia, Greenland and Alaska, but due to the Gulf Stream, the harbors along the coast don't freeze over, and this area enjoys relatively mild winters.

Tourists routinely come to this northernmost part of Norway in the wintertime to view the Northern Lights. Northern Norway is often described as the land of the northern lights during the time of “The Polar Night”.

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As the earth swings through it’s orbit, it creates the opposite effect in these northern areas known as “The Midnight Sun” The most popular Scandinavian location for travelers to experience the natural phenomenon of the Midnight Sun is in far northern Norway at the North Cape (Nordkapp). Seventy six days (from May 14 - July 30) of actual midnight sunlight with an additional few days with partial sun before and after, will be the tourist attraction.

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The North Cape is a 1,000 ft high cliff which is generally referred to as the northernmost point of Europe. A quarter of a million tourists visit the North Cape each summer, making it one of Norway's top travel destinations. Newly arrivals find it a bit difficult to tell time and get their allotment of sleep. In Norway and Greenland, locals often adjust to these changes naturally and require less sleep. For those who have problems sleeping due to the constant daylight during Midnight Sun, tourists darken their rooms by covering the windows. --------- Apparently, Scandinavians understand and do their best to help create “darkness” for sleepers. Golfers love it.They can play golf all night long. An excellent way to experience the arctic nature is to hike in the midnight sun. The light gives the mountains a magical look at night-time. As for the people who “just can’t find enough time to finish everything”, this may be for you. Finnmark is Sami Country. You may be able to find a few hours..during your day... to do some exploring. Enjoy your trip up north. Tell us about it.

Have a good day!

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Nasjonaldagen- National day! Syttende Mai

Nasjonaldagen- National day! Syttende Mai
 Grunnlovsdagen-Constitution Day.

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Every year on May 17th, Norwegians across the world celebrate on this day. This is the day commemorating the creation of Norway’s Constitution , May 17 probably the most important day on the Norwegian calendar. Everyone celebrates the occasion , but few of us are familiar with the provisions set into motion with the constitution, the reason for the celebration. Since the time of the Vikings, about the year 700, the territory of Norway had chiefs and kings. So, why did it take so long to form a constitution? Constant warfare between these chief/kings and their alliances kept their worldly affair in constant flux.Winners demanded, losers were forced to made deals.

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The new Norwegian constitution, signed in Eidsvoll in 1814 finally declared Norway to be free of territorial control by other countries. This new constitution consisted of 122 articles finalizing laws governing the form of government, executive powers, rights of citizens and judicial powers.Checking a few interesting sections:

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Article One described

The kingdom of Norway to be a free, independent, indivisible realm with a hereditary monarchy. There will still be a king.. or a queen. The newly elected king was “The Crown Prince of Denmark-Norway Christian Frederick!”
( That’s another story!)

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 Article Two concerns freedom of religion. This article states that all citizens have the right to freely exercise their religion. However, the king is the supreme governor and protector of the church of Norway and decrees bishops while overseeing the church. The Evangelical Lutheran Religion is the official religion of the state. The King must stay in this faith.
 ---- Article Five goes on to state that the King’s person is sacred, he cannot be censured or accused. The king has legal sovereign immunity. While the constitution of Norway grants important executive powers to the king, the legal decisions and power are almost always exercised by the council of state “in the name of the king”. The Norwegian king is said to be a “symbol of national unity, however ceremonial”. ---- This is in stark contrast to the powers of “kings past”. Norway has had the misfortune of being under another country’s control since the early days of Harald Fairhair and collections of petty kingdoms. At one time, Norway, Sweden and Denmark were one union. Norway, later, through battles and marriages came under the control of Denmark . Under Danish control, Denmark-Norway fought  England-Sweden. Denmark lost and had to give Norway to Sweden! Many combinations of kings, queens and princes created a confusing history. This finally brought things to a head and Norway declared their independence in 1814. The constitution was based, in part, on our U.S. Constitution with some interesting variations.
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Article 37 describes rights and privileges of royalty. The Royal Princes and Princesses shall not personally be answerable to anyone other that the King.

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Another article states that a princess or prince entitled to succeed to the crown may not marry without the consent of the King. The king has powers, if ratified by the “storting” or ruling parliament. ---- Other articles concerned liberty of the press and speech  similar to our rights including “Everyone shall be free to speak his mind frankly on the administration or on any other subject whatsoever.
 ---- Norwegian Constitution Day is a National Day of Norway and an official holiday observed on May 17th each year. Syttende Mai, May 17th, an official flag day, is not a patriotic or military celebration, but one based on the children of Norway and the nation’s future.