It's a Mystery

Everyone enjoys a good mystery with a happy ending, however, some mysteries remain... One hundred years had passed and it was time to open the “Mystery Package”. It was sealed in 1912 by the municipality mayor of Sel, Norway , Johan Nygaard, and labeled “Kan aabnes i 2012” – “Can open in 2012.” The package was almost discarded, but survived one hundred years and two world wars. It was time to have the contents revealed.

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In a ceremony attended by Princess Astrid of Norway, the parcel was opened by a white-gloved museum curator. Inside were packed some notebooks, yellowing newspapers, community council documents and swatches of fabric in the color of Norway’s flag. It was a time capsule of the past one hundred years. The current mayor of Sel, Dag Erik Prhyn, attempted to hide his disappointment. “Well, the package didn’t solve our financial problems,” he said, “but our history got richer.” Details of the documents will be revealed at a later date to the disappointed crowd who still didn’t know any answers.

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Meanwhile, Archaeologists contemplate another mystery concerning fifty-nine boulders that were apparently dragged by ancient Vikings to a seaside cliff, near what is now the Swedish fishing village of Kåseberga . These massive stones - each weighing up to 4,000 pounds are believed to be arranged in the outline of a 220-foot-long ship overlooking the Baltic Sea. Archaeologists generally agree that this megalithic structure, known as Ales Stenar ("Ale's Stones"), was assembled about 1,000 years ago. Many believe the stones are arranged as a Viking copy of an astronomical calendar."We can now say Stonehenge has a younger sister, but she's so much more beautiful," according to Nils-Axel Mörner, a retired geologist from Stockholm University. Other researchers familiar with the site are skeptical. They believe the site, built at the end of the Iron Age is a burial monument.

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The mystery remains unsolved.Some believe that this “Stonehenge-inspired” astronomical calendar was constructed by a Bronze Age Scandinavian community that regularly traveled and traded throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. "The first thing is to see that, yes, it's a calendar," according to Mörner.

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There are many mysterious sites throughout Scandinavia that have stones arranged in the form of boats that surround ancient burial sites. And there are several burial mounds, having been excavated , reveal articles believed to aid the departed warrior to their next after-life, including their weapons, slaves... and their boat. One famous burial mound is called Oseberghaugen ved Slagen . When excavated, the now-famous Oseberg ship (Norwegian: Osebergskipet) was discovered in a large burial mound , or Oseberghaugen) at the Oseberg farm near Tønsberg in Vestfold county, Norway. Tønsberg is generally regarded as the oldest town in Norway. The Oseberg Burial Mound (in “Old Norse haugr, is a mound or barrow) which contained numerous grave goods and two female human skeletons, also the ship that became known as The Osberg ship. It has now been reconstructed and has became Norway’s largest tourist attraction. In its time, this ship is not designed to withstand heavy seas and, although seaworthy, the ship was relatively frail, and it is thought to have been used only for coastal voyages. Due to this belief, perhaps this buried ship was a ceremonial ship, one for an easy after-life voyage to the warrior’s new world. Each modern-day discovery reveals more details of our ancestor’s lives, but the mysteries remain...

mysteries...

Sweden? What about Sweden?

"Have you heard the one about Sven and....?" - "Ole and Sven were.."

Jokes about Swedes and Norskies are probably the first things that come to people's minds, but what's the rest of the story? What is happening in Sweden?

Sweden seems to be a quiet country. There are no earth-shaking news releases about Sweden and all seems well. Even in the violent times of WWII, Sweden was able to remain neutral and escaped the rage of war that surrounded them as it devastated their neighbors.

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Sweden even enjoys a generally temperate climate, thanks to the Gulf Stream. However, above the Arctic Circle, winter can be crisp and invigorating. In the south, winter is generally mild with an average temperature above 0C/32F degrees. And because Sweden lies at a high latitude, much of the country has very long hours of daylight in summer and very long nights in winter. These winter nights might soon become very colorful while the recent solar-flares are expected to create excellent views of the famous Northern Lights this fall and winter.

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Visitors enjoying Swedish sights might find credit cards have become more handy than cash. Travelers’ checks are generally accepted as payment throughout Sweden. Change will be given in Swedish kronor.The monetary unit in Sweden is still the krona (plural “kronor”) and equals 100 öre. Bank notes are printed in values of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 kronor, coins 1, 5 and 10 kronor, but for the traveler, major credit cards (some restriction may apply to American Express) are widely accepted throughout Sweden at banks, hotels, stores, restaurants, taxis, car rental companies, and for air, ship and rail tickets.

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Swedes brag about their water! When you come to Sweden, you are advised to bring a bottle, fill it to brim with Swedish water and enjoy it for free! If you’re out in the Swedish mountains, you can enjoy the water from flowing mountain streams and brooks. Swedish tap water is clean, tasty and free and doesn’t come in a plastic bottle.This is the country of 100,000 lakes, some of them very large (Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren) and you can’t go very far in Sweden without almost falling into one.

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If you become hungry and want a quick snack, there seems to be a plethora of Golden Arches. Sweden has the highest number of McDonald’s per person of anywhere in Europe- although it is half the number of McDonald’s per person in the United States. You might notice a lack of gasoline fumes...· The government has proposed a total ban on fossil fuel driven vehicles by 2025.

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While we, here in the USA are in the throes of political excitement that occurs every four years, Twenty-nine years ago, Sweden changed their leader. Carl XVI Gustaf (full name: Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus) was born 30 April 1946) and is now the reigning King of Sweden. The King’s duties are, according to the 1974 Instrument of Government, only of a representative and ceremonial nature. The 1974 document stripped the King of most of his formal political powers while retaining him as head of state due to the establishment of parliamentary government in 1917 ( much the same as Norway). His authority is formal, and symbolic.

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Sweden is famous for several things that we, in the USA, take for granted...

Sweden is the birthplace of many successful innovative companies. According to British Wired Magazine, Sweden has the most digitally connected economy in the world, and its forward-thinking culture fosters innovation.

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While people instantly recognize the name "Electrolux" on their kitchen appliances, many may not know that this Swedish company is the world's second largest home appliances manufacturer. Started in 1919, the company originally sold vacuum cleaners, and later added refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and a variety of other appliances to its product line.

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Another very popular product was produced by a company founded in 2003 by Swede Niklas Zennström and Dane Janus Friis. This brought people living on different continents closer together. The product was called "Skype" which allows people to make free voice and video calls over the internet through personal computers, laptops and a variety of mobile handheld devices, making it a tool for keeping in touch with family, friends and colleagues around the world. Skype was so revolutionary in its Swedish inception that eBay acquired it in 2005 and it was later sold again in 2011 to Microsoft for $8,500.000.00 US Dollars. A Swede did it!

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Then, there's the issue of "electronic music sharing"... Legally sharing and streaming copyrighted music online remains a hotly debated issue, and Swedish company "Spotify" bridges that gap by providing online music streaming services as a legal alternative to pirated music file-sharing sites. Started in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, Spotify allows users to freely listen to, stream and share millions of music tracks to their computers and mobile devices such as smartphones.

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And where does much of that "Scandinavian Look" furniture come from? IKEA.

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Home furnishing giant IKEA, founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, has grown to over 325 stores in more than 38 countries. Known for stylish home décor and furniture, IKEA continues to bring out the handy craftsman in people and is a must for many college students on low budgets. IKEA has been able to provide affordable Scandinavia-inspired furniture, even in the USA.

But lately.... Would you live in a town built by IKEA?

This is a model of the various complex locations of commerce, offices, etc.

A couple years ago, the question might have sounded silly: "Here's a plan to build a vehicle-free community outside London"! Those plans have since firmed up, with construction on 26 acres expected to start next year. Now IKEA is expanding its empire: "Landprop" of IKEA announced this month that it’s building another community in Hamburg, Germany--also virtually car-free. IKEA will be the owner,manager and landlord for everyone!

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Speaking of cars, all of us are familiar with the Swedish SAAB and the Volvo.

Volvo means “I roll” in Latin, while “volvere”, is in relation to ball bearings. "AB Volvo" is a Swedish manufacturer of trucks, buses and construction equipment, and a former manufacturer of cars. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, and ball bearings. The Volvo Group had its origin in 1927 when the first Volvo car rolled off the production line at the factory in Gothenburg.

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Maybe we could forget a company concerned with sanitation...

All of us dog owners usually (should) carry a little "doggie bag" used in emergencies.Now there’s a “People Bag”.

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Swedish company" Peepoople" is attempting to solve one of the world's biggest problems, with its ingeniously named Peepoo bag. The United Nations says roughly 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. The Peepoo bag is a self-sanitizing single-use and fully biodegradable portable toilet and rather self-descriptive.

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If you happen to be in the Stockholm area, you may hear the happy sounds of celebration in a very popular fall festival. Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival finds people experiencing the knowledge of beer, whiskey tastings as participants attend master classes, international competitions in direct connection to the Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival - with wine, champagne, rum, tequila, cognac, liqueurs and other delicacies - a given success!

While it appears quiet and unassuming, interesting things are happening in Sweden.

Twenty-one Years, and Holding.

21 years to go

The Breivek saga is finally over, and according to Breivik--He’s the winner! Anders Behring Breivik fought charges of bomb and gun attacks on July 22, 2011, killing seventy-seven people as he detonated a car bomb at the government headquarters in Oslo and then opened fire at the annual summer camp of the governing Labor Party's youth wing.

"The 22nd July attack was a preventive attack in defence of my ethnic group, and I cannot acknowledge guilt," he told the court. "I acted on behalf of my people, my religion and my country. I therefore demand that I be acquitted."

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Breivik insisted that the attacks were meant to draw attention to his extreme right-wing ideology and to inspire a multi-decade uprising by "militant nationalists" across Europe. The trial ended with a verdict that Breivik was not insane and must serve a maximum jail term which, in Norway, is 21 years in prison. However sentences can be extended as long as an inmate is considered too dangerous to be released, and legal experts say Breivik will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in prison. There is no death penalty in Norway.

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Norway’s penal system differs from that of the American system. Their system is based on rehabilitation, teaching the inmate to respect life, and gain self-respect in order to find their place in society.Penal conditions are far different than that of U.S. prisons. A recent modern institution in Norway is Halden Prison at Halden, Norway.

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A cell in Halden prison includes amenities such as a television, a refrigerator, unbarred vertical windows that let in more light, and designer furniture and a sound studio. There are cooking and music classes offered. Half the guards are women and guards are typically unarmed because guns "create unnecessary intimidation and social distance".

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Prisoners receive questionnaires that ask how their prison experience can be improved. Due to this humanitarian attitude and rehabilitation programs, it has been said that only 20% of Norway's prisoners end up back in jail within 2 years (compared to 50%–60% in the UK and US). Prisoner governor Are Hoidal was quoted as saying, "In the Norwegian prison system, there's a focus on human rights and respect."

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However, Anders Breivek will not be lodging in one of the more-pleasing facilities. Instead, he will be spending the remainder of his life at high security, but still humanitarian Ila Prison, near Oslo. -----------------

Founded as a women's prison, Ila was used as a concentration camp during the Nazi occupation of Norway in the 1940s. Modernized, the prison has 12 wings and can hold 124 prisoners .Breivek will have no access to these fellow inmates for some time. At Ila, he will have access only to three relatively dingy and bare cells, each measuring eight square metres (86 square feet). One is for sleeping, one is for physical exercise with workout machines, and one is a workspace that has a laptop nailed to a desk. -----------------

During his earlier prison stay awaiting the trial, Breivek wrote and e-mailed a 1518 page manifesto that consisted of “cut and pasted” articles from web-sites, all condemning “multiculturism” and entitled “ A European Declaration of Independence”. Breivik has been curious to learn whether his manifesto, which was e-mailed to 1,000 addressees 90 minutes prior to the bomb blast, has begun to take root in society. Apparently, not..

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Because of this tragedy, and the slow response of police officials, there has been discussion of reviewing Norway’s judicial system. Changes may be in order, but, at this time, the case is closed. Breivek wins 21 years at Ila.

It's that time of the year, again....

It’s time , once again, to prepare for the up-coming school year. Stores have been advertising their wares and American youngsters are gathering the needed supplies. University and college students have already checked out their roommates and the annual migration to school soon begins.

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Our U.S. students are normally divided into lower education, secondary Middle School and finally High School where, after graduation, their education requirements are complete. Much the same is expected of Scandinavian students who are required to attend school from the age of 6 to age 16.

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However, Norwegian students who have completed their primary and secondary requirements have an option of continuing three more years of specialist studies free of charge.

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At the end of that time, the student is awarded a certification/ diploma in their chosen field of craft/apprenticeship/ vocational or trade. --------------

Many of our US high school grads will be going on to advanced schools. One well-known and respected Scandinavian heritage College is St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Their current web-site states 2012-2013 estimate of student expenses to be: Tuition..$39,560, Room and Board..$9,090, Books.. $1,000, Personal expenses.. $900.00

Total for the school year: $50,550.00.

Our school graduates face huge expenses to repay.

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Norway has thirty-eight institutions of higher learning divided into two sectors: the Unversity sector and the College sector.These are government-owned institutions serving students in popular fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, clinical sciences, biotech and pharmacology as well as other fields of interest.There is NO tuition fee or very cheap fees. A semester fee may be required, totalling around NOK 300-600 ( $55-110 US). Room-board and transportation are student’s responsibilities. Their expenses are nominal.

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How can they do that?! Education is the top priority in Norway, as well as the other Scandinavian countries and they consider themselves “A Welfare State. A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the “state” plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens”. In Norway, for example, probably more than half the population has welfare benefits as their main source of income.This includes health care, disability payments, pensions and survivors benefits including the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

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The pension system in Norway consists of pensions from the national insurance scheme to which everyone is entitled. The “State” remains responsible for nearly all schools and hospitals, and there is a high degree of consensus among political parties and voters regarding the desirability of continuing an active and powerful welfare state.The country has a high rate of employement and generous welfare schemes, and is spending more money on welfare-related measures than ever before. In Sweden, Denmark and Norway, many people pay 50% of their income in taxes – with some even paying 60% – Many Scandinavians feel that the benefits of their system is far superior to that of the low-tax and low-welfare USA system.

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In a July survey, Danes cited their country's welfare system, based on that of the Norwegians', as their society’s proudest achievement.

Another recent U.N. survey stated “ Norway is the best country in the world in which to live”.

"Last boat leaving for..."

If you are one of those wishing to experience the Scandinavian sights, you’d better hurry. The summer is coming to an end. The sun that hasn’t set for 60 days is going down. Everyone has been going to Norway, but you might catch a glimpse of the setting Midnight Sun in the northern regions of Sweden.If not, there are other things going on above the Arctic Circle. The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at places north of the Arctic Circle where the sun remains visible at their local midnight. If you should miss it, spend the night in the “Ice Hotel in Kiruna..” One of the famous Scandinavian Ice Sculpture buildings that tourists enjoy in Northern Scandinavia. Check out the cozy fur covering on the bed in your room!!

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On your way down south, stop off at Stockholm. If there is any Swedish blood in your family, you will be happy to see how easy it may be to check your family tree at the SVENSKA EMIGRANTINSTITUET. That’s the Swedish Emigration Institute, established in 1965. It’s original purpose is to preserve records, interviews and memorabilia relating to the Swedish emigration between 1846 and 1930. During this period of time, 1.3 million Swedes left the country. That’s about 20 percent of the Swedish population at that time! Included in their vast collections are Swedish church records from the 17th century, the Swedish census of 1880, 1890,1900, the Swedish death Index of 1901-2009, passenger lists, and data bases of more than 1.2 million immigrants

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The basis of the exhibits is called “The Dream of America” consisting of sound recordings , pictures, models, and artifacts of the background, causes and results of Swedish emigration to America. (When you return home and wish more information, you are asked to enclose sixty US dollars for each individual to be searched. This is due to the very high exchange rate in Swedish banking)..They do not accept checks! Please note that the dollar bills must not be marked with any dye!) Sooo, do your research work at The Institute.

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During the Swedish immigration to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Swedes left Sweden for the United States for various reasons, the main reason was due to famine caused by several poor harvest seasons, plus lack of land and news that earlier immigrants wrote, telling of the availability of low cost, high quality farm land in the upper American midwest (the area from Illinois to Montana), along with high paying jobs in mechanical industries and factories in Chicago, Minneapolis, Worcester and many smaller cities. The American environment also provided low taxes and no established state church or monarchy! Add to this, the increasing population growth in Sweden made the “New World” look inviting.

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However, the voyage often left much to be desired for early travelers. Families were forced into very crowded conditions with poor food, no privacy and rampant diseases that caused many deaths enroute to the new world.

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Once the immigrants landed, they sought their earlier relatives or friends for guidance. By 1910, one fifth of all Swedes had their homes in America. Most immigrants became classic pioneers, clearing and cultivating the prairies of the Great Plains, while others remained in the cities, particularly Chicago. Single young women usually went straight from agricultural work in the Swedish countryside to jobs as housemaids

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One major Swedish settlement developed at St. Paul, Minnesota. Lumber mills were hiring, a major brewery was in the area among other industries and these early industries attracted Swedish immigrants who settled into a valley area that became named as Svenska Dalen or Swede Hollow. ------------------------

The first settler to the valley was Edward Phalen in 1841. He sold his claim in 1844 to William Dugus who built Saint Paul's first sawmill on the creek. Other businesses followed and in 1865 the first train rolled through the valley heading to Duluth. -------------------------- Conditions were poor. There was no sewer or water service. When conditions for the family members improved, they moved out or “ Up the Street”. The vacant house would then be found by the next immigrant who would be happy to find a place to sleep and be able to converse with people they could understand. As the Swedish settlers moved "up the street", other immigrant people moved into the empty houses: the Polish, Italian, and then the Spanish Americans.

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In December, 1956, the City Health Department found that Swede Hollow still did not have city water or a sewer system and declared the area a health hazard. The last fourteen families were moved out and the remaining homes were destroyed. In 1973, Svenska Dalen was designated a Saint Paul Park.

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Swan J. Turnblad , who was born October 7, 1860, became an American newspaper publisher. Turnblad is most associated with Svenska Amerikanska Posten, a very popular Swedish language newspaper published in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Posten was well-read and the family prospered.His family in Sweden were farmers but following a series of bad harvests decided to immigrate to the United States in 1868 when Turnblad was the age of 8. The family settled in Vasa Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota, where there was already a community of Swedish immigrants. About 10 years later, he headed to Minneapolis, where he worked as a typesetter at several Swedish-language newspapers.In 1903 Turnblad commissioned the building of a mansion in Park Avenue in Minneapolis. Turnblad had a firm design a 30-room mansion for him, his wife, and their daughter. After Turnblad's wife died in 1929, he and his daughter moved across the street and turned their former castle-like mansion home into a museum located on Minneapolis’ Park Avenue. Just twenty-one years later, they gave it all away to the community, founding the organization that would become the American Swedish Institute. Since then, the community has added a welcoming reception area, café, gallery, event center, studio craft classroom, terrace, courtyard, and new Museum Shop space open to visitors who can tour the Turnblad Mansion, enjoy exhibitions in the Mansion and Osher Gallery, and experience contemporary Swedish and Nordic culture .

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The Swedish experience lives! Svenska Dalen has become a beautiful Minnesota scene.

Welcome home!

Fire!

“ I want to report a church on fire. It’s the white Lutheran Church on Highway O at the intersection at 17 1/2 street near Dallas”. This report came into the Barron, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Department at 6:40 AM, December 10th, 2010. Area fire department units reaching the scene found the rural New Scandinavian Lutheran Church in flames. Investigators later determined that the fire was arson, caused by two area men, ages 17 and 20. One stated that they went to the church to find something to steal, pawn or sell. The other declared that he was mad at everyone and went to the church to destroy the place.

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Places such as monasteries and churches are sacred to those wishing consolation and spiritual guidance, but also for those seeking an unguarded source of gold and silver ornaments that can be taken at little or no risk.---In the 800s, Vikings were well-known and feared for their quick and violent raids, where looting was the prime purpose. History records the most notable Viking attack on a monastery at Noirmountier, France. This island monastery was attacked every summer. The monks tried many defenses, but they eventually left the island for safer lands.

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Other than for reasons of personal safety, Scandinavians left their countries for other reasons. The earliest immigrants from Norway to the United States emigrated mostly because of religious motives, while 1825 marked a time of particularly fierce religious strife in Norway. In July of that year, a group , seeking a haven from the official Norwegian state church, set sail from Stavanger in an undersized sloop, the Restaurationen

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Until just lately, the Lutheran religion was the official, state-supported church of Norway religion and Norwegian authorities did not approve of any other religious direction than Lutheran. Religious dissenters were persecuted and threatened by the government causing some dissenters to seek freedom elsewhere. Probably many of this group belonged to a Norwegian local movement called the Haugeans, a Lutheran sect which derived its name from Hans Nielsen Hauge. Persecuted in Norway, Hauge had a large influence on both secular and religious history in Norway and brought that religious zeal to America. Today, more than 4.5 million people of Norwegian ancestry reside in the United States . Of these, approximately three million claim "Norwegian" as their sole or primary ancestry. Their religion was practiced in small groups as they settled in their new,often isolated rural areas and their church served as their social and spiritual center. Each group being very focused in their doctrine and beliefs often differing from that of another group or synod.

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Recently we were enjoying a family drive in our home area of Western Wisconsin, visiting the sights of the area we knew as youth when we noticed several cars on a usually very quiet rural road. Then we noticed people leaving their cars while carrying special golden painted shovels. They were gathering for a ground breaking for The New Scandinavian Lutheran Church to replace that which was destroyed by fire a year and a half earlier. Congregation members, Pastor Briese and TV cameras were there to record the happy event. The December, 2010 fire left them without a church and they decided to join a sister church in Dallas, Wisconsin to worship for the next year and one half. July 2012 marked the rebirth of The New Scandinavian Lutheran Church for the waiting congregation of 230 members.

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New Scandinavia has been part of a parish with other congregations, including Barron and Dallas. Since 1913 it has been part of a two-point parish with Dallas Lutheran Church which was organized in 1892. With this new beginning in July 2012, they hope to have their new church completed enough to hold a Christmas Eve service this year after breaking ground for their new building that will replace their 135 year old historic church.

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This devote group of Lutherans may have mixed feelings about their loss, but after meeting with the two men accused of the burning, church officials have offered their forgiveness and New Scandinavian Lutheran Church is moving on.