Bunads Bernt Balchen Lodge No. 2-046 Hurrah – for what? There is something special about owning a bunad and wearing it on Syttende Mai, ’s National Day. Let’s take a look at On the meaning of the Syttende some of the history behind Norway’s national costume. Its roots Mai celebration date back to the Norwegian Romantic Nationalism period in the mid-19th century when, at that time, Norway was determined to Syttende Mai is Constitution Day – the Constitution that was secure a solid cultural identity. The Norwegian bunad is unique in ratified by the National Assembly at Eidsvoll in 1814, and has that it is recognizable as Norway’s official dress, but it is individual- through some changes seen us through to today. As a symbol the Constitution represents also two great themes, national ized based on regional characteristics of color, pattern, style, and independence and political freedom – accessories. The men’s vests and the women’s bodices, aprons, democracy and the rights of citizenship. bonnets and capes may be contingent on what was available when the bunad was first designed, but silk materials and lustrous Norwegian patriotism of the 1800s tied woolen fabrics are most common, these two aspects together as the idea Meeting Place ”Norwegian freedom.” Later on this con- and don’t forget the cotton blouse to cept of freedom took on new meanings, go underneath. The embroidery, color Viking Hall for example international peace work. and shape give the bunad the most 8141 Briarwood Street Syttende Mai is also a , distinction and character, followed, but the difference from all other of course by the accessories and Anchorage, Alaska 99518 Norwegian holidays is first and fore- unique jewelry called sølje that are most this: it is the only day the most key to any genuine bunad. 907-349-1613 important events take place out in the public space rather than in the Today the bunad is widely recognized as one of the most authen- four walls of the home. Syttende Mai tic and popular traditional folk costumes in the world. It is truly a 2021 Calendar of Events 2021 has become a day for the children, even though it was not originally. beautiful sight to see all the beautiful bunads out in Norway on Syttende Mai. Folks line the streets waving flags, proud to show off Website: www.sofnalaska.com The children’s parades became a big success from 1870 on, their regional costume and excited to celebrate their enduring Email: [email protected] and have become the most popular event on Syttende Mai. cultural identity that their ancestors fashioned so long ago. And with the children in the city center, many other things www.instagram.com/sonsofnorwayanchorage/ follow: ice cream, soda and sausages.

Publication Sons of Norway May, June 2013 Newsletter Service www.facebook.com/BerntBalchen Publication Sons of Norway May, June 2013 Newsletter Service

APRIL The EBLAST is the primary source for JANUARY

8-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting members to receive the latest Lodge 14-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting The E-BLAST provides a link 10-Saturday information. Officer Installation 5:30 pm Norwegian Fish Dinner 14-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe to the most recent newsletter, event notices, 24-Sunday Noon AMH Kincaid Classic 28-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe special announcements, and more. Including The Wooden Ski To receive the E-BLAST you must subscribe

MAY to the email list. FEBRUARY There are two ways to sign up. 9-Sunday 10 am1:30 pm Mother’s Day Brunch 7-Sunday 2 pm Super Bowl Party 12-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe 1. Email [email protected] and request 10-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe 13-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting your email address be added to the list. 11-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting 17-Monday 6 pm Syttende Mai Parade and 24-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe 2. Go to the Lodge Website Homepage at Celebration www.sofnalaska.com and Click On

MARCH JUNE JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST

10-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe 10-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting

11-Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting New Member Welcome JULY Note: Listed Events may be Cancelled 24-Wednesday 7-9 pm Strikkekafe th 4-Sunday 10 am July 4 Parade Due to COVID19 Public Health Concerns or Mandates

PLEASE SEE NEWSLETTER,PLEASE SEE NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, WEBSITE,FACEBOOK, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM INSTAGRAM OROR E E-BLASTBLAST FOR ADDITIONAL FOR ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION EVENT & INFORMATIONUPDATES & UPDATES

– Bernt Balchen Lodge No. 2046 n official .S. holiday, Leif rikson Day commemorates the achieve- hether you love it or you hate it, lutefisk is a closely held tradition ments of famous Norse eplorer, among Scandinavian mericans. wintertime rite of passage among Leif rikson. redited with being many Sons of Norway lodges, lutefisk dinners remain a popular and the first uropean to reach the important means of connecting with Nordic culture and heritage. ut North merican continent, rikson how did something as bizarre as fish treated with lye become such a arrived almost four centuries be- cultural icon fore olumbus. hile no one is certain how or where lutefisk originated—whether in Sweden or Norway—there are a couple of legends regarding its Leif was the second son of legendary Norse eplorer, rik the creation. ed, who is believed to have established the first uropean settlements in reenland around .D. 80. rik the ed was hat is known is that lutefisk gained its popularity supposed to join his son’s expedition to but a Meeting Place in the .S. after a sharp increase in Scandinavian fall from horseback prior to the ship’s boarding left Erik with immigration in the late 1th and early 0th centu- misgivings about the voyage. elieving his fall to be a sign of Viking Hall ries. riginally a food born out of poverty, de- an ill-fated trip, rik stayed behind. scendants of immigrants now view it as a con- 8141 Briarwood Street nection to their ancestors and their heritage. hy ctober - The official date of Day doesn’t Anchorage, Alaska 99518 “These dinners represent important traditions in directly correlate to Erikson’s arrival in North America. In- both families and communities, and for some, stead—in a nod to the same eplorative spirit that fueled 9073491613 they are a valued connection to culture and Erikson’s journey—the date marks the arrival of the very first heritage. hile the food tradition certainly origi- immigrant ship from Norway, the estauration, to New ork in nated in Scandinavia, the immigrant communi- 18. actly 100 years later, resident oolidge declared 2021 Calendar of Events 2021 ties—especially their churches and cultural herit- rikson the first uropean to discover merica during a com- age lodges—have played a maor role in devel- oping the phenomenon of lutefisk dinners,” says memorative address in . In the years that followed Website: www.sofnalaska.com several .S. states adopted the date as a state holiday and in arrie oy, a Scandinavian cultural scholar and Email: [email protected] creator of the short documentary ‘Where the September of 1 ongress approved a public resolution Sacred Meets the uivering rofane ploring authorizing resident ohnson to declare ctober as Leif www.instagram.com/sonsofnorwayanchorage/ the Public and Private Spheres of Lutefisk.’ rikson Day nationwide. Publication Sons of Norway Sept., Oct. 2014 Newsletter Service www.facebook.com/BerntBalchen Publication Sons of Norway Jan., Feb. 2015 Newsletter Service

AUGUST NOVEMBER

16Monday 4 pm Fish Boil, Dinner at 6 pm 1Friday 36 pm Lefse Making for Market 2Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 2Saturday 9 am6 pm Lefse Making 6Saturday 3 pm & 6 pm Lutefisk Dinner 3Sunday 9 am6 pm Lefse Making 10Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe SEPTEMBER 5Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 11Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting 8Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe 9Saturday 10 am4 pm Nordic Market Election of 2022 Officers 9Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting (formerly Scandinavian Bazaar) Announcement of 2021 Lucia 18Saturday 5:30 pm FaariKaal Dinner 13Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe 16Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 21Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 14Thursday 6:30 pm Potluck Social 21Sunday 2:30 pm First Lucia Practice 22Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe 7:30 pm Board/Membership Meeting New Member Welcome 24Friday 36 pm Lefse Making for Market Nominating Committee Report DECEMBER 25Saturday 9 am6 pm Lefse Making 19Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 26Sunday 9 am6 pm Lefse Making 5Sunday 11 am2 pm Nordic 27Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe Brunch

29Friday 36 pm Lefse Making 4 pm Second Lucia Practice 30Saturday 9 am6 pm Lefse Making 7Tuesday 10 amNoon Needle Crafts 31Sunday 9 am3 pm Lefse Making 8Wednesday 79 pm Strikkekafe

9Thursday 7 pm Board/Membership Meeting 12Sunday 36 pm Lucia Family Christmas Party

PLEASE SEE NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM OR EBLAST FOR ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION & UPDATES