www.sonsofnorwaygb.com [email protected] Vol. 14, No. 11, Dec . 2008
Celebrate Norwegian Traditions Looking Ahead
Grønnvik Meetings “Are there any good children here?” That’s the question for all the youngsters, as well as the Jan. 20, 6:00 p.m., “young in heart,” when Dinner meeting, The the julenisse , Rite Place, Traveling in (Christmas elf) makes Dec. 16 Norway. his annual appearance 6:30 p.m. at our juletrefest. Feb. 17, 7:00, Trinity, (note earlier time)
Installation of officers. Singing while dancing Trinity Dec. Birthdays around the Christmas tree is another Lutheran Norwegian tradition observed that Gratulerer med dagen! evening. 330 S. Broadway Green Bay Larry Jacobs, 5 Bring an ornament to exchange if you Judy Beerntsen, 7 wish (optional), and listen while Mary James Fadden, 9 Swain entertains young and old with a Christmas story, using Delores Mueller, 9 her Braille printout. Dolores Mathies, 10 Ann Stiller, 16 It wouldn’t be a Christmas party be without Christmas cookies. Jackie Huff, 19* You may bring a few, which is also optional. Alf Holstead, 23 The gift shop will be open for you to finish your shopping. Pat Jacobs, 23 Lingonberries and just a few lefse are still available. Be sure to Colleen Griswold, 24 invite friends and the whole family! Hailey Vedvik, 30* *Heritage member Wearing appropriate t-shirts for A Taste of
Velkommen! Norway are left, Carrie Hendricks, daughter of Debra and Gary Doug Gjerde 4484 Wyandot Trail, Hendricks and right, Green Bay 54313, Kristine Vindheim, 920-490-9484 exchange student from the Bergen area, living Doug found us on the with the Hendricks this Internet. year. Kristine noted that at home there is rømmegrøt on May 17. Mange Tusen Takk What Is A Nisse?
Once again, Grønnvik members generously Nisser (plural of nisse) are among the most supported A Taste of Norway in so many ways: popular Christmas decorations in Norway. making a traditional dish, providing samples, Small and gnome-like, nisser have gray hair, a purchasing items at the Gift Shop as well as beard and are usually dressed in a sweater or lefse and lingonberries and inviting visitors. A vest, knee pants, knitted stockings, sturdy heartfelt mange tusen takk to everyone! shoes and a red knitted hat with a tassel.
It’s a fun evening. and we raise a fair amount of The nisse lives in the barn where he supervises money toward our operating expenses. The everything that goes on. Woe to the farmer who proceeds for the evening topped $700, but does not make friends with his nisse and show that’s before expenses are taken out. him respect. He is extremely mischievous and
Thank you to all the participants: plays all kinds of tricks on his adversaries. Nor- wegian lore is full of tales about people who Agurk med Krem Sauce, M. had to sell their farms or who suffered a fatal Bergum, accident, as a result of an unfriendly nisse. Fattigmann, Vera Dauffenbach Herring Cucumber Salad, Bonnie Originally, the nisse was the personified Vastag spirit of the man who first cleared the farm- Julekake, Karen Eiseth; land, and he was believed to always watch over Lapskus, Judy Beerntsen; the farm. In pagan times, food and drink were Rissengrøt, Marge Udvig; placed on the first owners burial mound or Sandbakkels with Apricot Cream, poured over the roots of a tree planted in the farmyard where the first farmer was buried. Pat Jacobs; Carl Lovlien Søtsuppe, Elvi Ruotsala; concentrates on In the same manner, the nisse was served a Troll’s Fruit, Nut, Rum Bread, dishing up his bowl of porridge in the barn on Christmas Eve, Geri Nilsestuen; rømmegrøt. a practice common well into the 19th Century. Tropisk Aroma Kaka, Karen Even after beliefs in the nisse and similar be- Vedvik; ings were abandoned, porridge is brought to Ham Balls, Mollie Bergsbaken; the barn to please the children of the family. Krumkake, Darlene Gast; The nisse cares especially for horses and is Rodkalsalat Mollie Bergsbaken; Rømmegrøt, famous for his horse-grooming skills. He braids Carl Lovlien; Tyske Skiver, Mollie Bergsbaken; tails and manes and keeps them shiny and Demonstrations, Darlene Gast; Bake Sale, well-fed. Often he steals hay from other farm Marcy Zabel, Marlene Bergum; Check out, animals to give to his favorite pets.
David Running, Harold Vastag, Today nisser don’t live in barns, but have moved Paul Gast. into homes all over Norway where they are sure signs Rita Running, Cultural Director of the Christmas holidays. The children love them, of course, and make quite a few every year. No one Sign the kids up as Heritage Members knows how many nisse varieties there are, but one (15 years and under). Then they will type of nisse is considered an extra welcome guest in receive the quarterly Viking for Kids , Norwegian homes - the julenisse who is a mix be- which includes a Pen Pals Club, brief tween the traditional nisse and Santa Claus. He language lessons, and features such as comes to people’s houses with a sack full of presents what's cool among Norwegian kids. on his back and is popular with the children. If you ask him where he comes from, he will says he lives in the Contact Myron Vedvik,497-0878, or sign barn or maybe at the North Pole. Wherever he up online at
advent advent child / children barn / barne gløgg – Norwegian mulled wine gløgg green grønn greeting hilsen Christmas jul Christmas Eve julaften Christmas Table – a traditional meal julebord Christmas present julegave Christmas pig, slaughtered for dinner julegris Christmas porridge julegrøtt Christmas decorations julepynt Christmas tree juletre cake kake lefse lefse lutefisk lutefisk red rød songs sanger relatives slektninger cookies småkaker snow snø .
ALERT! The new Minnesota quarters you have may be worth much more that 25 cents! The U.S. Mint announced that it is recalling all of the Minnesota quarters that are part of its program featuring quarters from each state.
This action is being taken after numerous reports that the new quarters will not work in parking meters, toll booths, vending machines, pay phones or any other coin operated devices. Lucky finder of the almond in the
The problem lies in the unique design of the Minnesota quarter, Rice Pudding at a Taste of which came from a couple of Norwegian specialists, Sven and Norway was Annika Osell. Marge Ole. Apparently the duct tape holding the two dimes and the Udvig, who made two bowls of nickel together keeps jamming up the machines. (Thanks to the treat, also thoughtfully Rita Running who read this in the Westby newspaper.) provided the gift. Elvi Ruotsala found the second almond. GRØNNVIK LODGE 995 HIGHLAND SPRINGS ONEIDA, WI 54155
PRESIDENT, Pat Jacobs, 351-0267 1110 Spring Lake Dr., De Pere, 54115
MEMBERSHIP, Myron Vedvik, 497-0878 1945 Wood Lane, Green Bay 54304
EDITOR , Bonnie Vastag, 494-5635 995 Highland Springs, Oneida, WI 54155
Grønnvik Lodge Meetings are usually the third Tues. of the month at Trinity Luth., 330 S. Broadway, Green Bay.
Cherishing our Past, Embracing our Future
F r a P r e s i d e n t e n Hav or Hvorfor? (What or Why?)
Kjære venner (Dear Friends) by Darlene Gast
Well, if you missed Taste of Norway, you missed a good meeting. We had a great crowd and the If you have a question about Sons of food was so-o-o delicious. So many things to try. Norway you’d like answered, contact I thank all who spent time making their specialty either Darlene, 465-1936, or President and agreeing to serve us. There were even reci- Pat Jacobs,351-0267. pes available for some of the things. There was plenty of food for sale the bake sale, and sales What happens at the International Convention? were brisk in the gift shop. The December 2008 “Viking Magazine” provides Our next event is the juletrefest on Dec 16. This a complete answer to this question posed by year we are bringing back the ornament ex- one of our members. It is a great article and change. We will have story time for the barne hope everyone reads it.
(children) and also a craft for them to make. We “Celebrate Our Heritage – Ensure our Future” will have fun singing and dancing around the was the theme of the 60th Biennial International jultre . This is another great chance to celebrate Convention held in San Diego, Ca. in August. a favorite time at Grønnvik. The julenisse may appear bearing a bag of treats for all those who The main purpose of the Biennial International have been good. Our gift shop will be open and Convention is to send delegates from all eight districts of the Sons of Norway to: we'll sell lingonberries and lefse. This is a great time to pick up something special for someone Help chart the future of our organization, special. Can you bring a plate of cookies to Discuss, vote on changes and resolutions, share? We'll provide a beverage. Provide breakout sessions to improve lodge ac-
With so many "things to do" at this time of year, tivities and membership, it is easy to forget the real reason behind this Recognize members for dedication and service, special time. Nå önsker jeg dere en velsignet jul. (Now I wish you all a blessed Christmas.) Elect officers and board of directors,
Announce winners in the Folk Art Competition Ha det fra na (So long for now) Pat Jacobs Enjoy fellowship and fun.