Norwegian Christmas Weekend

Check here for a schedule of events and list of folk artists.

 

Experience the living traditions of a Norwegian Christmas at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum on December 6 and 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. A lively event that appeals to all ages, the Norwegian Christmas Weekend features folk-art demonstrations, live music, theatre performances, book signings, Scandinavian food, and many holiday traditions, both old and new. Museum admission is free.

Norwegian Traditions
A favorite activity throughout the weekend is the juletrefest, when young and old join hands and sing Christmas songs while they march around the tree. They also hear about Christmas in Norway while they await a visit from the julenisse (the Christmas elf, who roams through the museum complex). Traditional folk beliefs are brought to life by julebukker (costumed folk who scare away evil spirits.)

Crafts
Hands-on activities for children include making traditional ornaments from simple materials like straw, paper, and yarn. Children in both Norway and America still enjoy the Norwegian custom of making woven paper hearts.

Folk Art
Artists demonstrate figure carving and other forms of woodworking, rosemaling, rug hooking, straw-ornament making, spinning, and weaving. Christmas trees decorated with examples of the folk arts of Norway are integrated into the museum’s exhibitions.

Music
Several Decorah-area musicians and vocal groups will create a festive atmosphere throughout the museum’s main building. Local groups performing in the museum’s Ship Gallery include The Decorah Chorale on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.; A Touch of Brass on Sunday at 12:15 p.m.; the Luren Singing Society on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.; and Northern Lights on Sunday at 1:45 p.m.

Connie Bolson will lead a sing-along with the museum’s pipe organ in the Church Gallery from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Also, regional radio station KVIK/KNEI will broadcast live from the museum.

Book Signings and Talks
Five authors will be at Vesterheim during the Christmas celebration to greet visitors and sign their books, and some of them will give presentations about their stories.

Odell Bjerkness, professor emeritus of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and formerly executive director of Concordia Language Villages, will be at the museum on Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:30-3:00 p.m. He will be signing his new publication The Prince and the Nanny: the Life of Prince Harald, Now King of Norway, Told in Historical Context and Through the Journal of his Nurse, Inga Berg. This book is based on the journal that Bjerkness’s aunt, Inga Berg, a pediatric nurse, kept during her 18 months at the Norwegian royal residence near Olso. The journal depicts the growth of the prince and the relationships and activities of the Norwegian royal family.

Hazel Thorson Stoick Stoeckeler, an artist whose work is represented in Vesterheim’s fine art collection, will sign copies of her new book Porthole Views of the World on Saturday, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:00 p.m. This book features watercolor paintings by Stoeckeler and poetry by Elizabeth Weber.

On Saturday at 12:30 p.m., Marv Slind, Luther College associate professor of history and director of museum studies, will give a talk about the books Linka’s Diary: A Norwegian Immigrant Story in Word and Sketches and Luther College Goes to War: Scuttlebutt and the World War II Letters. Slind translated Linka’s diary and co-edited the book with Gracia Grindal. Linka Preus was the wife of Herman Preus, one of the founders of Luther College. Published this fall, “Luther Goes to War” is a history of Luther alumnus and professor Chellis Evanson’s World War II “Scuttlebutt” newsletter, which linked more than 800 Luther men and women serving in the armed services.

On Saturday at 3:00 p.m., author Eric Dregni will present a reading and slide show featuring experiences he wrote about in his new book In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream, a vivid portrayal of modern Norway through the eyes of a fourth-generation Norwegian American from Minnesota.

Geri Schwarz, who teaches minority literature at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, will be available on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to sign copies of her new book Our National Treasure: Genevieve Kroshus. Genevieve Kroshus was a descendant of Norwegian immigrants and lived her entire life in Winneshiek County. The book is a collection of stories based on Schwarz’s conversations with Kroshus during their friendship from 1970 until 1990, when Kroshus passed away at the age of 94.

Film
Decorah Nisse, an award-winning short documentary by aspiring filmmaker Trisha Stortz, will be featured throughout the museum’s Christmas weekend. It explores the origin and meaning of the painted nisses of Decorah. The film won third place in AFI Screen Nation’s “Hometown Claim to Fame” contest this summer. Watch the film and meet the filmmaker.

Theatre
Upstart Crow Theatreworks will present a special holiday production of Dylan Thomass’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Performances will take place in the Bethania Lutheran Church in the museum’s Open Air Division at 2:00, 5:00, and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Upstart Crow Theatreworks is a Decorah theatre company led by Kristen Underwood and this performance includes a cast of local children.

Exhibitions
Norwegian Christmas Weekend is a great time to view the museum’s special exhibitions. The exhibition “Fire and Wood” explores the intersecting traditions of woodworking and metalworking. The exhibition “Kubbestol: From Seating to Symbol” looks at the changing role of the Norwegian log chair, from utilitarian piece of furniture to a symbol of Norwegian-American identity.

Food
The special activities of the Norwegian Christmas Weekend always give visitors an appetite for some good Norwegian food. Vesterheim’s kaffistova (coffee shop) will offer an a la carte menu of traditional tastes such as lefse, ertersuppe, smørbrød, tyttebær saft, and a variety of desserts, including rømmegrøt, søtsuppe, julekake, krumkake, rosettes, and sandbakkels.

Gifts
In both Norway and America, finding special gifts for friends and family is an important part of the Christmas season. Many of the artists demonstrating throughout the museum complex offer their work for sale during the weekend. Shopping at the museum stores is a great way to support the museum’s mission. Visit Vesterheim’s Museum Store and Folk Art Supply Shop, which will have special holiday offerings during the Norwegian Christmas Weekend.