FJELL-LJOM.. (MOUNTAIN ECHOES).. BLÅFJELL LODGE 3-646 December 2017 Co-President: Joann Barfield 540-380-2926 Co- President/Secretary: Kathy Clark 540-977-2349 Treasurer: Cheri Johnson 540-989-6330 Editor: Robin Lambert 540-904-1817 Lodge Counselor: Sharon Rohrback 540-774-0006 ======================================================================================================= Blåfjell's website: sonsofnorwayblafjell.org Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/SonsOfNorwayBlaFjell ======================================================================================================= Mission Statement: The mission of Sons of Norway is to promote and to preserve the heritage and culture of Norway, to celebrate our relationship with other Nordic Countries, and provide quality insurance and financial products to our members. ======================================================================================================= Regularly scheduled meetings: Fourth Saturday of each month, 1:00 PM, College Lutheran Church, 210 South College Avenue, Salem (Except for special events) ======================================================================================================= NEXT MEETING: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1-3 PM COLLEGE LUTHERAN CHURCH Program: Yulefest Annual Dinner and St. Lucia procession ======================================================================================================= CO-PRESIDENT MESSAGE: Our November meeting (just a few short days ago!) certainly put us in the holiday spirit, with Cheri's interesting comparisons of traditions of the five Scandinavian countries and the delightful variety of ornaments that were exchanged. Sharon has Julefest plans well under way, and we look forward to seeing the full complement of our membership for this ultimate celebration of our Nordic heritage! In this season of Thanksgiving and gift-buying, it is good to remember the reasons we share our bountiful blessings with those less fortunate in our world, even in our own communities. The November 2017 issue of the Points to Ponder newsletter of the Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry includes the following shocking statistics: "Although economic poverty and food scarcity is not the same thing, they are closely related. Impoverished families in the United States tend to have less access to nutritional food, have a low intake of fruits and vegetables, and are more likely to fill up on junk food. A poor diet can lead to long-term health effects like cancer, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. All these health problems are more prevalent in people who live in poverty. In Roanoke County, 7.3% of the population lives in poverty, according to the US Census Bureau, and 10.2% of the population of Salem. Ninety per cent of the people the Food Pantry serves live below the poverty line. The Food Pantry makes sure fruits and vegetables are part of every food order we give away. We also work closely with the Salem Fresh Ideas Garden to make sure those we serve have everything they need to live healthy lives." Let us, with renewed commitment, continue our monthly collection of canned goods for the Food Pantry, with confidence that we are making a difference! We wish you all the Richest Blessings of the Holiday Season .. from Co-Presidents Joann Barfield and Kathy Clark ======================================================================================================= MEMBER NEWS: Gratuleer Med Dagen December birthdays: Cheri Johnson 12/8 Bob Rohrback 12/13 Helene DeVries 12/23 Cecilie Holmes 12/27 ===================================================================================================== MINUTES OF OCTOBER MEETING: THE NOVEMBER 18th MEETING OF BLÅFJEL LODGE WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY JOANN. SHE WELCOMED MEMBERS AND FOUR GUESTS. WE SANG THE NORWEGIAN, CANADIAN AND UNITED STATE NATIONAL ANTHEMS. THE OCTOBER MINUTES THAT WERE PRINTED IN THE NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER WERE APPROVED. THE TREASURERS REPORT WAS GIVEN BY CHERI. WE NOW HAVE $100.00 IN THE WORTHY CAUSE PURSE TO BE GIVEN TO A NEEDY FAMILY. CHERI GAVE A REPORT ON THE LEIF ERICSSON DAY AT OUR ADOPT A SCHOOL. FOUR MEMBERS ASSISTED WITH THE DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE LIVES AND TRADITIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIAN AND NORDIC COUNTRIES. WE HAD A SPECIAL VISIT FROM A NATIVE ICELANDIC LADY WHO SPOKE WITH THE CHILDREN. A DELICIOUS TRADITIONAL LUNCH WAS SERVED TO THE CHILDREN AND LODGE MEMBERS. NEW BUSINESS: A FIVE YEAR MEMBERSHIP PIN WAS GIVEN TO ROBIN LAMBERT. ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE UPCOMING EVENTS: OUR LODGE IS WORKING WITH ST ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE SANTA LUCIA EVENT ON DEC. 13TH AT 7:30PM. WE HAVE SEVERAL GIRLS FROM OUR LODGE PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT. OUR LODGE IS ALSO HAVING A SANTA LUCIA PROCESSION TO START OUR JULEFEST ON DEC 9th FROM 1-3PM. THIS IS POTLUCK WITH THE LODGE FURNISHING PORK, SALMON, MEATBALLS, LEFSE AND LUTEFISK. RSVP IS IMPORTANT SO WE CAN PLAN ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING. THE COST IS $6.00 FOR ADULTS AND $3.00 FOR CHILDREN UNDER 12. THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED FOLLOWED BY PEA SOUP AND SNACKS. CHERI GAVE A PROGRAM ON THE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS OF NORWAY, SWEDEN, DENMARK, ICELAND AND FINLAND. WE HAD AN ORNAMENT EXCHANGE BETWEEN OUR MEMBERS. Submitted by Kathy Clark, Blåfjell Lodge Co-resident/Secretary ====================================================================================================== YOU ARE INVITED TO BLÅFJELL LODGE JULEFEST DECEMBER 9, 2017 1-3 PM College Lutheran Church Cost: $6.00 above age 12; $3.00 age 3-12; free for age 2 and under. Pay at the door. RSVP: by December 6, 2017 to Sharon Rohrback at (540) 774-0006 or [email protected]. Let Sharon know: if you are coming and the number in your group what side dish you plan to bring if you can come at 10:00 am the day of the event to set up if you can stay after the event to clean up (about one hour) The Lodge provides the pork loin, meatballs, salmon, lutefisk, boiled potatoes, rolls and beverages. Attendees bring a side dish to share. All beverages are alcohol free. We hope to see you there. Submitted by Sharon Rohrback, Julefest event chair ====================================================================================================== CHRISTMAS IN 5 NORDIC COUNTRIES Denmark Merry Christmas – Glaedelig Jul Danish enjoy advent calendars, the advent wreath, TV series with 24 episodes, and buying special Christmas cards at the Jule market because the money is given to charities. Julemanden comes on Christmas with his reindeer sleigh and nissers. The Christmas tree has a gold/silver star on it, is decorated right before Christmas Eve, and everyone enjoys dancing around it. St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated Dec. 13. The big meal is on Christmas Eve. It consists of roast duck/goose, boiled and sweet potatoes, red cabbage, cranberry jam/sauce, rice pudding with an almond hidden in it and gingerbread or vanilla butter cookies. The animals and birds are always given wheat/nut treats. Finland Merry Christmas – Hyvää joulua Everyone tries to be home for Christmas, even the fisherman. Cleaning the whole house is very important. The tree is put up the day before Christmas. Animals are always given treats. It is common to visit the cemeteries to remember family/friends. Candles in hanging lanterns are left there. Joulupukki gives the children presents in person while parents watch. Santa Claus actually lives in the Northern part of Finland in a Christmas Village called Korvatunturi. He rides with a Christmas goat and a reindeer. It’s a tradition to have a Sauna on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is quiet. The next day is Boxing Day and everyone goes skiing or skating. Christmas food is lutefisk, pork, mash potatoes, rutabaga, carrots, salmon, rice pudding with plum jam/juice. Iceland Merry Christmas – Gleðileg jól Icelanders eat, skate, and decorate their tree right before Christmas. They decorate the tree on Dec. 23. Gifts are opened on Christmas Eve but the big meal is on Christmas Day with family and friends. Bonfires are lit on New Year’s Eve and Epiphany. Christmas trees are evergreens with a star or crown on top. It’s a tradition to visit the cemeteries to honor the dead. The 13 Yule Lads of Iceland come from Dec. 12 to the 24th. They have been doing this since the 1600’s. These guys are playful elves who love to eat and play tricks. They leave small gifts for children in shoes on window sills. Everyone has new Christmas clothes and books at Christmas time. Christmas dinner is always roast lamb, rock ptarmigan, and leaf bread, which is dough cut in patterns and fried. Fish is also popular to eat. Norway Merry Christmas – God Jul or Gledelig Jul In Norway, a huge heap of wheat is left outside for birds to eat during the winter. Everyone likes to go caroling dressed as Wisemen and Shepards. Norweigans light a candle every night from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. It’s a fun tradition to write notes on each present and read them before opening the presents. Julenissen (Nisse) is Santa Claus. The Nisse are small gnomes, who have a goat pulling a cart. Huge Christmas trees grow in Norway and are sent to other countries like England and the USA as gifts. Traditional paper heart baskets are on the trees with candles in them. Christmas dinner is pork/mutton ribs, red or white cabbage with caraway seeds/vinegar, potatoes, carrots, rice porridge with butter, cinnamon, sugar and an almond. Julekake with raisins, cardamom, fruit candies is popular. Making 7 kinds of cookies is traditional in Norway. Sweden Merry Christmas – God Jul Straw ornaments fill the Christmas trees. They remind the Swedes of Jesus in the manger. Goats of straw in the house guard the tree. Presents are opened on Christmas Eve but people go to church on Christmas Day. Everyone watches Donald Duck on Christmas Eve. Jan. 13 is the last day of the season and the tree is taken down. Jultomten is the Christmas gnome. He is often left porridge to eat. St. Lucia is celebrated every Dec. 13th. St. Lucia awakes early in the morning and serves coffee and “Lussekatts” buns made with saffron and raisins, to her parents. She wears a crown of candles and lingonberries, a white gown with a red sash, and sings the Lucia song. Other maidens and star boys follow behind her. Monks told the story of the real St.