Community

A women’s choir that shares the music, culture, and language of Sweden. The Cloudberries welcome and encourage new members. Rehearsals are held at ASI every Thursday from 6:30-8 pm. For additional information, contact Gloria Rosen at (952) 240-7523

A men's choral group that performs regularly in both Swedish and English. New members welcome. The Chorus is planning a singing tour to Scandinavia in 2024. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30PM. Contact Chuck Upcraft at (612) 371-3731, Ted Johnson at tdreamintl@mindspring.com or visit asimalechorus.org.

This group supports the ASI Male Chorus through promotion and fundraising. To join or contribute contact us at ASIMCCF@gmail.com

The ASI Spelmanslag will continue regular practices on the 2nd and 3rd Thursdays of each month. Practice is at the ASI in the Stuga from 6:30-8 pm. New members are always welcome. For information, visit asispelmanslag.org or contact Suzanne at swedishsuzie@gmail.com

Open to all present and former ASI volunteers, this club meets in ASI’s Kaffestuga on the last Wednesday of the month from 1–3 pm. Contact Margareta Beyer at (651) 644-5116.

Friends of the Karl Oskar House in Lindstrom will reopen for tours in mid-May of 2023. Contact friendsofkarloskarhouse@gmail.com to plan your summer outing.

Do you want to speak Swedish? Join us in the "Chat in the Swedish community" hosted by Sven Sjosted and the

Friends of the Karl Oskar House on Zoom the second Monday in the month, at 7 pm CDT. There is not a special topic we are talking about, but just a nice chat between friends. You do not need to be fluent in Swedish. This is mainly for second and third generations or not Swedish at all trying out their Swedish language. Zoom Details: Meeting ID: 815 2431 9160; Passcode: NWW2021

Lilla Spelmanslag

Learn and perform traditional Swedish folk music in this youth string instrument music group for ages 8–18. New members welcome. Contact Ingela Haaland at ingela_eilert@yahoo.com or visit asispelmanslag.org.

Minneapolis-Uppsala Friendship Committee

We continue to meet by Zoom at 4:30 on the second Thursday of odd-numbered months. Please contact Katie Fournier, kandrfournier@msn.com, for the Zoom link. We are beginning a new tradition on June 1st, a Swedish Forest March, an opportunity for fundraising through march pledges. Watch for more information in May. (Skål, our traditional fundraiser will not be held in 2023).

In February we will be hearing from Leanna Swanson, Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Northwestern. She will be sharing a program about Swedish Domestics, the story of many of the early Swedish immigrants. In March Charmin Michelle will be with us. She is a traditional jazz singer who sings from the Great American Songbook. Our April guest will be Natalie Norman. She will share stories and history concerning pockets. These are pockets you would carry like a purse. A very large example hangs at The Institute on the far wall by the Fika Cafe. Each month we have a lunch that begins at 12 noon followed by entertainment. Reservations are required one week in advance. Contact Muriel Johnson at (952) 831-4180 or murjo366@gmail.com

Waltz, schottische, polka, hambo, and more to music from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Dance to live music from 7-9 pm on the second Sunday of each month at the Danish American Center. Easy to follow, non-gendered dance lessons included from 6-7 pm. $10 entrance. Look for event notices on Facebook (search for Scandinavian Social Dance) or https://www.reneevaughan. com/scandinavian-social-dance.html. Contact Renee Vaughan renee.vaughan@gmail.com

SWEA International in Minnesota

Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA) is an opportunity for Swedish-speaking women to embrace Swedish language, traditions, and provides a strong personal network and support to Swedish families abroad. For more information contact sweaminnesota@gmail. com or visit our website at minnesota.swea.org

Swedish Cultural Society of the Red River Valley, Fargo, ND

Swedish Silent Film Night, Sunday February 12, 2023, time and location to be determined. Terje Vigen, a 1917 Swedish Silent movie, was released in the US with the title “A Man There Was’. Live original music to accompany the film is performed by the Minneapolis based septet, The Poor Nobodys. Further information available at: www.swedishsocietyrrv.com

Finding the Home Parish of Your Swedish Ancestor

March 25, 2023; 10 AM – 12 PM; Hybrid meeting

Presenter: Janet Johnson has been an avid genealogical researcher for more than 45 years. Her specific interests are Sweden, Finland, Nova Scotia and New England. She has completed ProGen 56, Boston University Genealogical Certification course, the SLIG session on Swedish and Finnish research. For more than 20 years she has led a group of researchers in the metro DC area with monthly meetings relating to their Swedish research, where we discuss problem solving and breaking through brick walls. A member of the Swedish Genealogy Conference, the NEGHS, NGS, Mainland Heritage Society, DIS, and Swedish Finns Society.

SGSM 40th Anniversary Celebration

April 22, 2023; 11 am – 2 pm; American Swedish Institute, Larson Hall

Entertainment: Ross Sutter & Art Bjorngjeld Program, smörgåsbord buffet, sharing of memories & fun facts, and tours of Turnblad mansion. For more information, please visit www.sgsmn.org

Twin Cities Nyckelharpalag meets for Lagspel rehearsals at ASI Saturday February 4, March 4 & 18, and April 1 & 15, 10:15 am - noon. Check the TCNL website tcnyckelharpalag.org for 5th Saturday plans April 29.

February 18, TCNL will participate in a nyckelharpa workshop by Amy Hakanson as part of ASI Midwinter Folk Music Festival.

For further information about the group, please contact Cheryl Paschke at (612) 670-6356 or email inquiries@tcnyckelharpalag.com

The Twin Cities Swedish Folk Dancers are unable to meet at this time because of the pandemic. Notice will be given when we can meet in the future.

The Vasa Jr. Dancers welcome new members (ages 3-18). We rehearse at ASI on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9-10:30 am. Please contact Erica Reiff at Info@vasajrdancers.org or jafra4erica@yahoo.com

The Västergötland Society will meet on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the Lindberg Stuga. Christy Stolpestad and Peggy Korsmo-Kennon of ASI will present on “Historic Discoveries of the Turnblad Mansion.” The Västergötland Society will meet on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the Lindberg Stuga. We will have another program featuring stories about the Turnblad Mansion and its late curator, Curt Pederson. The Västergötland Society does not meet in the month of March. Please contact Gordon Anderson, at 763-788-8532 with all questions.

VALKOMMEN TO ALL!

Davvisámegiella :: North Sámi language.

Sámi National Day is February 6th

Folkmusik :: folk music. ASI’s Midwinter Folk Music Festival is in February

Glasriket :: the Kingdom of Glass — an area of Sweden which has historically produced glass

Påsklilja :: daffodil

For pronunciation, visit The People’s Dictionary: folkets-lexikon.csc.kth.se/folkets/folkets.en.html

Follow ASI on Instagram and TikTok to watch the weekly Word of the Week, and other fun video series.

Now available at the ASI Museum Store

Explore a selection of beautiful glass pieces by Jo Andersson, featured artist for ASI's new exhibition, Fluidity: Identity in Swedish Glass.