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Past Events
Sons of Norway Leif Erikson Lodge holds events nearly every month. These events focus on the mission of Sons of Norway, which is to preserve Norwegian culture, language, and history as well as to provide service to our communities. We invite you to come each month to celebrate the wonderful connection we have to Norway. And we'd love you to bring your children, grandchildren, and others in your circle who want to know more about Norway and support the mission of Sons of Norway.
Norway Garden shared with World in Bloom guests
Thank you to all who joined in Saturday's World in Bloom parade and to all who helped set up and take down our displays in the Norway Garden. Special thanks to Kristen Birkeland for exhibiting her beautiful rosemaling and to Steve Birkeland for opening up the stabbur for tours. Both were big hits! We enjoyed getting to interact with our neighbors from Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and other countries as we learned more about their cultures and enjoyed seeing their national co
Stewart Shelline
Sep 211 min read
Dreaming of a bunad?
Master bunadtilverker Gina Nylund took us on a whirlwind tour over all of Norway, giving a broad overview of this iconic and beautiful clothing and its regional (and sub-regional) variations. With humor and enthusiasm, she shared tips for wearing, cleaning, and preserving a bunad using examples from the bunader worn by those who participated. Her presentation was a perfect example of what Sons of Norway is all about: Discovering more deeply and meaningfully the culture that c
Stewart Shelline
Aug 241 min read
Friluftsliv at Troll Hagen
You couldn't ask for better weather Saturday high in the mountains above the Heber Valley at Troll Hagen. Amid the cool air, wildlife, and scenery, we hunted for trolls, burned our names in wood using runic characters, and learned nålbinding. And to top it off, we had an amazing lunch of vafler, smørbrød, pølse med lompe, Ukrainian shuba (herring salad), and more. Thank you to LoriAnne, Anita, and Lisa for all the work they put into preparing the activities and food that made
Stewart Shelline
Jun 291 min read
Hurra for Syttende Mai!
Saturday's weather was perfect for Constitution Day: Cloudy and cool enough to wear a bunad! That may be the reason record numbers of participants showed up to honor the founding of the Norwegian Consitution and celebrate their Norwegian connections.
Stewart Shelline
May 181 min read
Putting a "springar" in your step: Learning to dance the Scandinavian way
Who knew Scandinavian dancing could be so much fun?! Tom Oesleby and Gwen Trefts managed to overcome the double-left-footed and rhythm-challenged among us to actually produce something like a dance--and we had a blast learning from them! Thank you to Tom and Gwen and also to June and Mary, who accompanied us on violin and had enough faith in us to speed up the tempo when they thought we could handle it (we sort of did). They taught us the Allemansmarsj, the Titityy Jenkka, an
Stewart Shelline
Apr 271 min read
The Nordic Heritage Center
We had a great turnout for our presentation on the Nordic Heritage Center, a proposal to establish an institution for the Nordic countries in Utah and the Mountain West where the past can be honored, the present explored, and the future anticipated. Chanel Myers also demonstrated how to make lefse and share tips from her experiences making this quintessential Norwegian staple. Special guests for the evening included: Niels Valentiner, honorary consul of Denmark in Utah Ceceli
Stewart Shelline
Mar 231 min read
To Grandma’s House We Go: Locating Your Ancestral Farm in Norway
Locating your ancestral farm in Norway can be as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack, but professional genealogist Torhild Shirley walked us through the intricacies of matrikkels , gårds , and løpenummer in this fascinating presentation. With the right understanding of how Norwegian farms have been identified over the years, as well as how those identifications have evolved, you too can find "grandma's house" and set the stage for one day visiting the places where yo
Stewart Shelline
Feb 231 min read
The First 60 Years
Saturday's presentation on the first 60 years of Sons of Norway in Utah was a nostalgic look back at the people and events that have helped the lodge fulfill its mission to preserve and protect Norwegian culture in Utah.
Stewart Shelline
Jan 261 min read
Jul i Norge
It's difficult to summarize last night's Jul i Norge event in just one word, but koselig comes closest. Between the rosemaling , the stabbur , the pine trees, the lights, and the amazing food, you couldn't get closer to a cozy Norwegian Christmas in Utah! Thank you to all who brought food to share or bid in the silent auction or just came out in support. Thanks also to Luke Stager for sharing his talent on the hardingfele (and sense of humor) with us. Most of all, thank you t
Stewart Shelline
Dec 13, 20252 min read
Julebakst
We love this tradition of gathering friends and family around to start the Christmas season off with baking! What could be better than sampling fattigman, krumkaker, rosetter, sandkaker, and brunepinner?
Stewart Shelline
Dec 1, 20251 min read
Let's do this again next year!
The first Scandinavian Christmas Market at BYU was a smashing success! We were able to talk to many students and families about the scholarships and grants available from the Sons of Norway Foundation and enjoy the festive (and crowded) atmosphere inside the Joseph F. Smith Building courtyard. More than double the estimated number of attendees showed up to sample Scandinavian treats and entertainment from vendors like these : Grandma's Norwegian Lefse Rebecca’s Baked Bliss To
Stewart Shelline
Nov 22, 20251 min read
Vikings and Sloopers and Explorers--oh my!
Many thanks to the Vikings of Utah Historical Group and the fantastic work they do to share their knowledge of authentic Viking age history and artifacts.
Stewart Shelline
Oct 11, 20251 min read
Kransekake (Wreath Cake)
The flour was flying and fingers were rolling as we managed to assemble not one but two kransekake on Saturday. A big thank you to all...
Stewart Shelline
Sep 22, 20251 min read
Days of ‘47 Parade
What an amazing day! On our way from the hotel to the float this morning in our bunader, we were told by passers-by that our float had won the President’s Award in the Business Class.
Stewart Shelline
Jul 24, 20251 min read
Days of '47 Float Preview
The Days of '47 Float Preview was a wonderful opportunity for Sons of Norway to share the message of the Crossings 200 Celebration with thousands of attendees. The level of interest in the float, our bunader, and Norway in general was high.
Stewart Shelline
Jul 23, 20252 min read
Friluftsliv at Troll Hagen
It couldn't have been a nicer day than last Saturday at Troll Hagen in Timberlakes. The weather was cool, the mosquitos were subdued, the...
Stewart Shelline
Jun 25, 20251 min read
Syttende Mai 2025
This year's celebration was one to remember. The cool weather seemed to invite participants to wear their festive clothes in greater...
Stewart Shelline
May 20, 20251 min read
Pilegrimsleden: A Walk Through Historic Norway
What could be more appealing than a walk through the Norwegian countryside of Gudbrandsdal? This presentation by Lisa Maddux, Leif...
Stewart Shelline
Apr 17, 20251 min read
Bunader: Norwegian folk costumes in Norway and the U.S.
From bunader to folkedrakt and festdrakt, Maren provided a well-researched, insightful, and thought-provoking discussion of bunader...
Stewart Shelline
Apr 3, 20251 min read
Crossings 200 presentation
Liv Marit Haakenstad gave a detailed presentation on the first organized group of immigrants to come to the United States from Norway....
Stewart Shelline
Feb 20, 20251 min read
Ski for Light 50th Anniversary
Thank you to all who volunteered to assist participants in this year's Ski for Light event this past week. We made many new friends as we...
Stewart Shelline
Jan 27, 20251 min read
Julefest
Come celebrate Christmas among classic Norwegian stabbur.
Stewart Shelline
Dec 19, 20241 min read
Julebakst
In Norway, the Christmas season (juletid) usually kicks off with baking
in November. Making cookies and baked goods is serious business for
Stewart Shelline
Nov 30, 20241 min read
Traveling to (and within) Norway
Lots of interest in traveling to and within Norway Thursday night as travel professional (and Leif Erikson Lodge vice president) Lisa...
Stewart Shelline
Sep 17, 20241 min read
Hygge (and kos)
Thank you to Kari and family for the perfect setting for our activity on Hygge (and Koselig). We enjoyed an evening of good food and...
Stewart Shelline
Sep 11, 20241 min read
Cultural Competence: Flatbrød and lefse
Share your skills or learn new ones while making homemade flatbrød and its close cousin lefse . We'll learn about the history and...
Stewart Shelline
Aug 15, 20241 min read
Cultural Competence: Friluftsliv
As a fervent hiker, Henrik Ibsen gave name to a concept already deeply rooted in the Norwegian psyche: friluftsliv (free-loofts-leave)....
Stewart Shelline
Jun 29, 20241 min read
Dugnad: A Day of Service
This year’s “17th of May” (Syttende Mai) celebration will be held on Saturday May 18th at the International Peace Gardens located at 10th...
Stewart Shelline
May 11, 20241 min read
Notable Norwegians
Come participate in Norwegian Family History Day in one of the following ways:
Stewart Shelline
Apr 18, 20241 min read
Norwegian 101
Leif Erikson Lodge of Sons of Norway has some fun and educational activities lined up for the next three months. We begin with “Learn to...
Stewart Shelline
Mar 20, 20241 min read
Scandinavian Dancing
This month we have the opportunity to learn about Norwegian Folk Dancing taught by our own Tom Oesleby and Gwen Trefts who are two of the...
Stewart Shelline
Jan 22, 20241 min read
Fun with Frozen
December and Christmas is a special time in Norway as well as here at home. We usually have our Sons of Norway Juletrefest somewhere in...
Stewart Shelline
Dec 18, 20231 min read
Syv Slag Julekaker
With December and Christmas just a few weeks away, we thought it would be fun to learn about some Norwegian baking traditions that are so...
Stewart Shelline
Nov 30, 20231 min read
Rosemaling
Come and enjoy hot chocolate and waffles in the “stabbur” and a discussion and display of many Norwegian rosemaling (rose painting )...
Stewart Shelline
Oct 20, 20231 min read
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