NORDIC TRADITIONS, FOOD, AND ARTS CELEBRATED AT OCTOBER FESTIVAL

Members of Embla Lodge No. 2 Daughters of Norway Leikkaring dance group. Photo by Sue Benz

Even if you don't have a drop of Nordic blood in your veins, you will feel as welcome as any Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finish, or Icelandic American at this delightful event. On October 8, 2016, Tacoma's Embla Lodge No. 2, Daughters of Norway, will again present the annual Nordic Festival at Edgemont Jr. High School,  2300  110th Ave. E., Edgewood, Washington, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For those living in the Puget Sound area's crowded urban environments, imagine a fun event for the whole family with plenty of FREE PARKING and an admission price of only $2.00. Better yet, children under 12 get in FREE. When was the last time you treated your loved ones, or yourself, to so much fun for such a low cost?

In addition to enjoying dance, live music, demonstrations, and more, you can eat and shop all day. Discover items you just don't see in stores (except for the few and disappearing Scandinavian specialty shops). Everything from imported foods and ingredients to handmade needlework and crafts, household items, vintage Nordic collectibles, sweaters, and even reproduction Viking artifacts will be available.

As a matter of fact, so are some Vikings (or at least those who preserve Viking history). 

Plan to have lunch at the Nordic Café, because it isn't often you can dine on freshly prepared traditional Nordic foods. Close your eyes and imagine the aroma of tender meatballs in savory gravy...mmmmm. For dessert, visit the baked goods table, where you can purchase those famous butter-rich cookies at a ridiculously low price, to take home.

These ladies have been busy preparing lefse, just for you.

Cookies for sale! Photo by Sue Benz.

Listen to the Normana Men's Choir as well as some lively folk music played in the authentic style. 

 

A warm welcome awaits you, so please put this on your calendar. 

You will thank me later!

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"NORDIC FESTIVAL" Makes its Debut This Weekend

Do you love lefse, crave krumkake, have a hankering for herring, or long for a longboat? Would you recognize a Hardanger fiddle, or Hardanger embroidery? Rosemaling? Do you like the taste of cardamom, lingon berries, butter and strong coffee? If you happen to be a descendant of any of the thousands of Scandinavian immigrants who settled in the Pacific Northwest starting in the 19th century, you probably know these symbols of Norse culture, along with many more. Even if you lack a singe drop of Scandinavian blood, you can still learn about all of this on Saturday, October 15, 2011, when Tacoma's own Embla Lodge No. 2 of Daughters of Norway presents:

 NORDIC FESTIVAL -- A CELEBRATION OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE

FREE ADMISSION AND  FREE PARKING

TRADITIONAL MUSIC BY NORDIC EXPOSURE AND THE NORMANNA MALE CHORUS PLUS TRADITIONAL DANCING BY THE EMBLA LODGE LEIKARRING DANCERS.

Members of the lodge began working on this event only a few months ago, but thanks to their great teamwork, they put together what will prove to be a delightful day, one you won't want to miss. And they want to stress that this festival celebrates SCANDINAVIAN culture, not just Norwegian.

Vice President Mardy Fairchild offered plenty of good reasons to attend:

"We will have 19 vendors selling a wonderful variety of arts and crafts including artwork, Scandinavian designed wrapping paper, knitted items, wheat weaving, Scandinavian antiques, books, clothing cookbooks,and rosemaling. We will also have food items to choose from including Julekake, Danish Pastries, Lefse, Norwegian cookies, Swedish Meatballs, and Split Pea Soup."

The enthusiastic vendors each donated an item from their inventory to add to the many prizes being awarded throughout the day, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For a map, click here.

photo credit Daughters of Norway website

Now, a little history . . .

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Scandinavian pride has always been strong. The hard working fishermen, shipbuilders, teachers, carpenters, loggers, farmers and other tradesmen and professionals who made this area their home helped to create civilization in the wilderness. Most importantly, they brought their rugged determination, admirable skills and values, and fine personal qualities (to say nothing of great pastry) and contributed all of these to our regional character. But lest you picture only a bunch of hearty men, let me remind you of the equally hard working, proud, and determined WOMEN who came with them.  Among those were the visionaries who formed the first of three independent lodges that joined to create the Grand Lodge of the Daughters of Norway a century ago, on February 20, 1908.

The first of these was Valkyrien #1, in Seattle, started in 1905, chartered by the Norwegian men’s Lief Eriksen Lodge #1. The men originally voted to charter the women’s lodge subordinate to their own, but those strong pioneer ladies would have none of that. They wanted, and got, their own organization. Two years later Embla #2 in Tacoma, which is now the largest D.O.N. lodge in the country, was chartered by the local Sons of Norway lodge, and in the same year this was repeated in Spokane with the formation of the Freya #3 lodge.

The aims of the organization are the same now as in the beginning:

"To unite into a sisterhood, women who wish to preserve Norwegian heritage,
to maintain among members a knowledge of the history, culture, and language of Norway, and to build a strong support system and bond of friendship within the sisterhood"

Nordic Heritage Museum
Scandinavian Cultural Center at PLU
Sons of Norway
Cyndi's List (Research your Scandinavian roots)

PLEASE COME ENJOY THE  NORDIC FESTIVAL