April 15 - A new day dawns on Norway's royal family by norwegianamerican

Inside this issue: Meet Norway’s royal family stories on page R1–R8

Volume 133, #08 • April 15, 2022

Est. May 17, 1889 • Formerly Norwegian American Weekly, Western Viking & Nordisk Tidende

$4 USD

Title

See stories on pages R1-R8

Image: Mattea Bertling

The Royal Palace in the middle of Oslo stands as a monument to the monarchy’s past while also serving as a home to its present and future.

« Kongefødsel avler kongeplikt. » – Henrik Ibsen

Fyrstekake A royal Norwegian dessert

Profile of Crown Prince Haakon

Welcome to the Royal Palace

Page 11

Page R2

Pages R6–R7

NYHETER

2 • April 15, 2022

theNORWEGIAN american

Rekordmange flyktninger til Norge

Nyheter Måling: En av fem er usikker på norsk EU-medlemskap

Planer om å bosette 35.000 flyktninger i alle kommuner

21 prosent av nordmenn vet ikke om de er for medlemskap i EU, viser en fersk måling. 53 prosent sier “nei” til norsk EUmedlemskap og 26 prosent sier “ja”. Undersøkelsen er gjennomført av Norstat for Vårt Land, hvor 1.000 nordmenn fikk spørsmålet “ønsker du at Norge skal bli medlem av EU?” Den ble gjort i mars, tre uker inn i krigen i Ukraina. – Selv om EU nå samler seg og står fram som forsvarere av demokratiet i Europa, endrer ikke det nei-standpunktet, sier historieprofessor Lise Rye ved NTNU. Ja-siden styrkes ikke til tross for krigen i Ukraina. Årsaken er at nordmenn ser til NATO som det som sikrer Norge sikkerhetspolitisk, ifølge Rye. (NTB)

NTB Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet (IMDi) har anmodet alle landets kommuner om å bosette 35.000 flyktninger i år. Foreløpige tall viser at 275 kommuner har svart på anmodningen innen fristen. IMDi offentliggjorde det foreløpige antallet plasser kommunene har meldt inn at de stiller til disposisjon for bosetting av flyktninger i år. Svarfristen gikk ut 31. mars. Kommunene som har gitt endelig svar, har vedtatt å bosette til sammen om lag 23.292 flyktninger i 2022. Flere kommuner som ikke har svart, har meldt tilbake at de er positive til anmodningen, men at de venter på politisk behandling i kommunestyret. 60 kommuner har bedt om utsatt frist. — Jeg er glad for de positive signalene fra kommunene. Anmodningen på 35.000 er sju ganger høyere enn det kommunene

Justisministeren møtte pass-produsent: –Situasjonen er alvorlig

Justisminister Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) møtte fredag passleverandør Thales etter rapportering om råvaremangel og økt feilrate ved produksjon av norske pass. – Møtet var konstruktivt, men situasjonen er alvorlig. Thales har utfordringer med produksjonen, og leveringstiden inn mot sommeren er usikker, opplyser Mehl i en pressemelding. Thales kan ikke si hvor raskt de kan produsere norske pass i månedene som kommer. Ei heller kan de garantere normal leveringstid fram mot sommeren, ifølge departementet. Politidirektoratet satte i starten av mars inn tiltak som skulle gjøre det enklere for folk å få seg passtime, blant annet ved å åpne timer på kveld og helg. (NTB)

Foto: Javad Parsa / NTB Mange ukrainske flyktninger registrerer seg for norsk politi på Nasjonalt mottakssenter i Råde kommune.

tidligere i år ble bedt om. Dette viser at kommunene strekker seg langt, og at viljen til å ta imot flyktninger er stor, sa arbeidsog inkluderingsminister Marte Mjøs Persen (Ap) i en pressemelding.

English synopsis: The Directorate for Integration and Diversity has asked municipalities to take in 35,000 refugees this year, and most are receptive to this.

Dronningen ble tegnet av ukrainske barn Møtte ukrainske kvinner og barn som har flyktet fra krigen NTB

Miljøorganisasjoner positive til regjeringens oljefondsmelding

Dronning Sonja ble tegnet av fem år gamle Siuzanna da hun 1. april møtte ukrainske kvinner og barn som har flyktet fra krigen i Ukraina. — Det gjorde sterkt inntrykk å møte disse menneskene som har opplevd grusomme ting i Ukraina, sa dronning Sonja til pressen etter besøket. — Selv er jeg jo nokså gammel, så jeg har opplevd krigen hvor man måtte gå ned i kjelleren når man hørte flyalarm, så det er noe som tikker tilbake igjen. Dronningen, som flere ganger måtte tørke vekk tårer, fikk møte en gruppe ukrainske barn – blant dem fem år gamle Siuzanna, som stolt viste fram en tegning hun hadde tegnet av dronningen. — Alt var med, både hode, øyne, kropp

Oljefondet skal ha nullutslipp som langsiktig mål blant selskaper det investerer i, sa regjeringen 1. april. Det gleder miljøorganisasjonene. – Hurra, nå leverer regjeringa. Ved å inkludere et langsiktig mål om nullutslipp har de virkelig gitt oss et stort taktskifte for oljefondet, sa leder for Framtiden i våre hender, Anja Bakken Riise, til NTB. Også Verdens naturfond (WWF) er glade for at regjeringen ønsker at oljefondet skal investere i tråd med Parisavtalen. Generalsekretær Karoline Andaur sa det nå er viktig å tydeliggjøre hvordan det skal skje. (NTB)

Foto:Stian Lysverg Solum / POOL / NTB Dronning Sonja besøker hjelpeorganisasjon Caritas Norge.

og til og med sko. Så det var veldig søtt. Det er godt å vite at disse barna kan få noen friøyeblikk og føle at de er trygge, sa dronningen. Dronningen ble tatt imot av generalsekretær Martha Rubiano Skretteberg i Caritas og fikk en orientering om arbeidet de gjør i Ukraina, nabolandene og i Norge for flyktningene som kommer. Caritas har også lagt til

rette for at ukrainere som bor i Norge, kan bidra som frivillige for å hjelpe sine landsmenn her i landet. English synopsis: Queen Sonja met Ukrainian women and children who have fled the war when she visited the humanitarian organization Caritas Norway.

Sylvsmidja:

Superior Craftsmanship in Silver since 1940

Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church

Exhibit open through June 19.

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In-person & virtual worship every Sunday at 11 a.m.

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Coffee, treats, and fellowship every Sunday after worship

Meet Sylvsmidja silversmiths from Norway in an online event on April 28 at noon.

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Free monthly event featuring local musicians and artists 4th Sunday at 1 p.m.

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NEWS

theNORWEGIAN american

April 15, 2022 •

Package proposed for Ukrainian crisis Norway faces “historic trial” with Ukraine war Anders R. Christensen The Local

The Armed Forces, the police, and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) are among those the government will provide more funding for in its Ukraine package. “This will demand the best of us,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party) at a press conference on the Ukraine war on April 1. “The consequences of this war will put us to a historical test.” At the press conference, Støre and Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Center Party) presented a proposal for a crisis package at a total cost of NOK 14.4 billion. With it, the Armed Forces will receive an extra NOK 3 billion to quickly strengthen its ability to deter and defend Norway together with allies and partners. Støre emphasized that the invasion of Ukraine has shown that Russia is willing to use military force to achieve its goals. “For Norwegian and European security, this is a clear turning point. It is now absolutely necessary that we quickly strengthen our defense capability to meet a changed security policy situation,” said the prime minister.

Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre held a press conference on the effects of the war in Ukraine for Norway.

Offers settlement to the Storting The UDI, the police and Directorate of Integration and Diversity will also receive NOK 7.1 billion extra to handle increased asylum arrivals. The measures to deal with the flow of refugees cost a total of NOK 10.7 billion and will make it possible for Norway to initially receive 30,000 refugees from Ukraine in addition to 5,000 refugees from other areas. “As the atrocities continue and the numbers of refugees increase, there is no doubt: This will demand the best of us in what we can call the reception phase, and then in the

phase when people will find their place in society, become someone’s neighbor, someone’s colleague, and be part of a local community,” said Støre. During the press conference, Vedum invited the Storting to reach a broad agreement on the crisis package. “I want to emphasize the tradition we have in Norway that when things are extra demanding, we try to find broad, unifying solutions in the Storting,” said Vedum. “In Norway, we have a tradition of broad

See > CRISIS PACKAGE, page 4

Crown Prince Haakon tours Kirkenes Concern that war in Ukraine is affecting industry and tourism

On April 1, Crown Prince Haakon was on tour in Kirkenes to learn more about the situation in the municipality after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “This is an incredibly beautiful part of Norway. Usually a lot of tourists come here, but some are saying that there are fewer coming now, perhaps because they think it is too difficult to travel here right now,” he said to the press during his visit to the municipality, which shares a 122-mile long border with Russia. “I would like to encourage [tourism]. Just get here. It is an incredibly beautiful area in Norway,” the prince said. The ski-loving crown prince added that there are nice winter conditions, which is not the case everywhere in Norway at this time of the year.

Photo: Heiko Junge/ NTB Crown Prince Haakon visited the harbor in Kirkenes on his recent tour of the municipality. The Russian trawler Aleksey Anichkin is seen in the background

Society in shock On the Kirkenes trip, Crown Prince Haakon visited the Barents Secretariat, the confectionery Go’biten, the youth club Basen, and the hockey club Kirkenes Puckers. The city tour started with an orientation from, among others, the mayor of Sør-Varanger, Lena Nordum Bergeng (Labor Party). She

described a Kirkenes community in shock in the days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “On Feb. 24 this year, the whole picture changed for us here in Sør-Varanger. The war in Ukraine created great uncertainty and fear for the future,” Bergeng said.

See > KIRKENES, page 4

This issue’s news from Norway is brought to you through partnerships with: The Norwegian News Agency

www.ntb.no

The week in brief Defense spending in the north to increase by NOK 2 billion

Additional funds to the Norwegian armed forces in the north will go to artillery location radar, artillery systems, and infrastructure and development. “We will equip Værnes and Porsanger, strengthen the army with more artillery and provide domestic security with its own security forces. With these changes, the defense capability and especially the combat capability of the army will increase,” said Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen (Center Party) in a press release on April 1. At Porsangermoen, the project is aimed at property, buildings, and facilities for materials. At Værnes, it will go toward development of infrastructure, which needs to be modernized and adapted. In addition, three new artillery location radars will be acquired. There will also be spending on artillery systems. All projects are planned to be completed between 2024 and 2026. (NTB)

Mask requirements removed on Norwegian flights

On April 4, Norwegian Airlines removed mask requirements on all its flights. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) did the same, except for flights to the United States, China, and Italy. “Because of further easing of restrictions in most European countries, the company will remove requirements for the use of face masks on board all flights, regardless of destination,” Norwegian wrote in a press release. But at the same time, the airlines asked all travelers to be aware that there are still mask requirements at many European airports. SAS is also returning to procedures that were in place before the pandemic, the company stated in a press release. (NTB)

Twice as many women as men work part-time

Oda Ertesvåg NTB

www.thelocal.no

In 2020, 37% of working women in Norway between the ages of 20 and 66 were employed on a part-time basis. This is more than twice as many as men working part-time. According to Statistics Norway, large gender differences in education lead to differences in the workforce. A larger proportion of women than men have higher education, and since 2008, the disparities have increased in contrast to other gender equality indicators. In 2008, 24% of men and 31% of women had completed higher education. In 2020, this figure was 27% and 40%, respectively. Southern and western Norway have scored lower on many gender equality indicators. The least gender equality is found in these regions, where there is the least gender equality in part-time work. One explanation is that work is spread across fewer occupations among women. More than a quarter of all working women are found in the three most female-dominated occupations, where part-time work is widespread. Only one in 10 men works in the three most maledominated occupations. However, it is not necessarily true that most part-time employees are part time against their will. The labor force survey has shown that a minority of parttime employees are underemployed. (NTB)

OPINION

4 • April 15, 2022 < CRISIS PACKAGE

An opinion column about current issues in Norway and the United States

From page 3

political consensus in demanding times. The extraordinary situation of war and millions of refugees in Europe means that the governing parties are taking the initiative to find a broad agreement on the immediate measures to meet the situation. That is why we are now inviting all the parties in the Storting to a meeting on the crisis bill,” said Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, fiscal policy spokesman in the Center Party and negotiator for the government for the crisis bill. Fuel taxes part of negotiations The Progress Party has warned that it will pull the high prices of gasoline and diesel into the negotiations in the Storting for the new Ukraine crisis package. “It is very disappointing that the government has presented a crisis package without doing more to help most people and companies in Norway to cope with the sky-high prices for fuel, electricity, and food,” said the Progress Party’s fiscal policy spokespreson Hans Andreas Limi. “The Progress Party will include demands in the negotiations to remove fuel taxes.” The government’s largest opposition party, the Conservative Party, said they are prepared to find solutions. “I expect that the government will also come up with proposals for a solution. For the Conservative Party, it is important that the package is constructed in a financially responsible way that does not create too much pressure on the economy that can lead to even higher interest rates,” said parliamentary representative Helge Orten (Conservative Party).

< KIRKENES From page 3

She also talked about the challenges for the business community, which works closely with the Russian market, with new sanctions introduced by the EU and Norway. Cancellations Several companies have been hit by the new sanctions. The mayor said that they have learned that some tourist bookings have been canceled because of the war. “People may not say it outright, but there is plenty of fear because we are so close to Russia,” she said. “Some cruise ships have canceled their ports of call here,” she said. “Some because they were originally going on to Russia, but in other cases, we don’t know the reasons, but it is easy to imagine why,” she said. Bergeng said she thinks it is difficult for people from other parts of the country to understand how close the relationship with Russia is in Sør-Varanger and sees the importance of the crown prince’s visit. “I think it matters to us that the crown prince actually sympathizes with us and wants to hear how we feel,” she said. Cooperation more difficult Crown Prince Haakon said that he has the impression that the Kirkenes community is doing a good job of talking about the problem, but he also shared that several he met on the trip told him that they feel a kind of grief. “[This is] because they have friends on the other side of the border that they may not get to see and it is difficult to keep in touch, but also because they have plans and hopes for future cooperation and contact across the border—which is now becoming more difficult,” he said. He pointed out that there are many Russians living in the area and that there are close ties and relationships. “It’s difficult when something like this happens. But then it’s important to say that it is still safe here,” he said.

theNORWEGIAN american

Join the conversation!

Why our public memory is key to post-pandemic recovery Knute Berger Editor-at-Large Crosscut

The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, but as vaccination rates increase, a desire to return to normalcy is, well, normal. What that normal will look like is a giant open question. In April 2021, a Crosscut/Elway poll in Seattle suggested that people are both eager to resume a regular routine but also cautious about taking public transit or shaking hands, among other things. Talking with friends and family, I heard a variety of post-pandemic predictions and plans. One single friend who works in health care told me she can’t wait to kick up her heels. Others I know plan to continue to wear masks in public places, like supermarkets or events. It’s not that they’re skeptical of vaccines, just that during the past year they haven’t been sick: no colds, no flu. A mask for many is a way to limit seasonal bugs. Things are not much different in April 2022. So, some are racing to the new normal, while others are tiptoeing. But for many people, even without true herd immunity, the American desire to move on has kicked in. This is taking shape in terms of large proposals for federal spending on recovery and in terms of denial. Too often, we pretend that the bad stuff never really happened. Even now, many have stopped mentally tracking the pandemic’s domestic death toll—closing in on 980,000 people in the United States—let alone thinking about the post-pandemic impacts on millions of others. All this makes the issues of “what’s next” and “what have we learned” more important than ever. An excellent recent article from the Smithsonian Magazine, “What Caused the Roaring Twenties? Not the End of the Pandemic (Probably),” looks at what the history of the 1918 pandemic has to teach us and draws on the knowledge of a couple of Northwest scholars. The aftermath of the Spanish flu of 1918 is inextricably connected with the trauma and triumph of World War I. But there were many societal complexities at play, many of which were in play long before: women getting the vote, the resurgence of racism and rise of the Ku Klux Klan, a surge in income inequality and the excesses of the Jazz Age, Prohibition, anti-immigration activism, a boom in urbanization, and rapid development and adaptation of new technologies. Cause and effect of the pandemic is tough to tease out. At best, the 1920s aftermath resulted from a hodgepodge of trends and developments. But one thing we do know is that the pandemic itself resulted in an unknowing. It took five or six decades for books to be written about it, and public memory was scant. One expert consulted by the Smithsonian is Nancy Bristow, history professor at the University of Puget Sound. Her book, American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, looks at a public health crisis that was largely written out of the history books. In 2012, Crosscut ran an interview with Bristow in which she talked about the American attitude of leaving the past behind: “We see again and again, in the aftermath of catastrophe, how quickly Americans want to look to their future and forget about their past. And that’s not a very healthy way to live. The reality is that you have to contend with tragedy, with losses, and with the nation’s past to build the brilliant future that we all want.”

Photo: National Archives Health authorities, historians, and sociologists are still studying the aftermath of the 1918 pandemic.

The victims are not just those who died, but bereft families left behind, orphans, those harmed by the inequities—racial and economic—of health care, the mental impacts of fear and isolation, or the effects of the virus itself on long-haulers. Remembering, Bristow argues, is an important part of healing and recovery. Tom Keogh, writing in The Seattle Times’ Pacific NW Magazine, weaves together Bristow’s pandemic work and her new book on the 1970 shootings of Black students at Jackson State College in Jackson, Miss., another case of collective amnesia. In the story, Bristow says it’s not just important to remember the past but to reckon with how we forget: “An important part of what historians do is not only explore forgotten moments, but [also] to try to figure out the process by which amnesia sets in and the past is erased. … This is work I have been trying to do, to literally look at the process of that erasure.” In other words, in moving on, we exercise selective memory. Some things we choose to remember—World War I—and other things we choose to forget, like the Spanish flu, or we focus on the killings of white students at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, rather than the murder of Black students at Jackson State. Normalcy involves selective memory. What does that say about us? When I wrote my first article about the pandemic, in March 2020, Bristow told me we should remember those who have suffered losses and to tend to those people during their “long-term healing.” And that might not be just a few people, as outlined by another Northwest scholar who was also consulted for the Smithsonian’s story. He is Steven Taylor, a professor and clinical psychologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, whose 2019 book, The Psychology of Pandemics, was ahead of the coronavirus. Taylor attempts to quantify some of the mental-health damage of the current pandemic, reports the Smithsonian: “[Taylor] expects the COVID-19 pandemic to psychologically impact between 10% and 20% of North Americans (a number sourced from ongoing surveys and past research on natural disasters). Typically, one in 10 bereaved people go through “prolonged grief disorder,” Taylor notes, and for every pandemic death, more family members are left mourning. Studies show that one-third

of intensive care COVID-19 survivors exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and first responders already report deteriorating mental health. Even people with a degree of insulation from this firsthand suffering might still experience what Taylor calls ‘[COVID-19] stress syndrome,’ an adjustment disorder marked by extreme anxiety about contacting COVID-19, xenophobia and wariness of strangers, traumatic stress symptoms like coronavirus nightmares, concern about financial security, and repeated information or reassurance seeking ….” In America, access to mental-health care is generally worse than access to regular health care and has been exacerbated by the pandemic when needs are high, but access is limited by cost, lack of insurance coverage, and diminished in-person sessions for treatment and therapy. We do know more about the effects of trauma and treating PTSD, which is a good thing if people can get the help they need. But we’re also still learning about the virus’ impact on the brain and the cause of neurological symptoms in some COVID-19 survivors. In other words, if Taylor is right and the scale of the crisis as predicted bears out, a large challenge looms that we are ill-prepared to deal with clinically. While we’re all interested in what comes next and putting the pandemic behind us, the future is inextricably tied to the past. This pandemic is much more extensively documented than the 1918 flu. We have much better numbers and statistical methods, more effective treatments, and a media that has vigorously covered it. Part of a strong new normal will require bringing what we’ve learned along with us to correct mistakes and re-envision a better, safer and, we might hope, saner world ahead.

Knute “Mossback” Berger is Crosscut’s Editor-at-Large and host of the Mossback’s Northwest TV series on KCTS 9. He writes about politics and regional heritage. Previously he served as editor-in-Chief of Seattle Weekly, editor & publisher of Eastsideweek, and as managing editor of Washington Magazine. He is editor-at-large for Seattle Magazine and has written two books, Pugetopolis and Space Needle, Spirit of Seattle. He is a regular commentator on KUOW-FM. Find him on Twitter @KnuteBerger or email at knute.berger@crosscut.com.

theNORWEGIAN american

OPINION

April 15, 2022 •

theNORWEGIAN american Published since May 17, 1889

PO Box 30863, Seattle, WA 98113 Tel: (206) 784-4617 Email: naw@na-weekly.com

Welcome to the Royals issue!

Publisher Norway House

Dear readers and friends, Welcome to our Royals issue! On its pages, we celebrate Norway’s royal family, both looking back and forward, as we introduce you to new generations. In a time of upheaval, it can feel comforting to honor an institution that has endured through time. The monarchy gives us a sense of anchoring with the past and a sense of stability to take us into the future. The idea to put together a Royals issue was first sparked when one of our long-time contributors, M. Michael Brady, who lives in Asker, Norway, floated the idea by me to do a profile of Crown Prince Haakon. As King Harald grows older, the crown prince has assumed more duties, as he prepares for his future as king. This idea was reinforced when I had the opportunity to be present at several events with the crown prince in New York and Washington, D.C., last December, including the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Union Station in the capital. It made an impression, and I got to thinking more about the role the royal family plays in Norwegian life today. I have to admit that, fundamentally, I am not a royalist. I am American born and raised, and notions of privilege by heredity are foreign to me and in conflict with a world view that holds that everyone is created equal. These are values that most Americans—and Norwegian Americans—hold dear. That said, it is hard not to admire and like the Norwegian royal family and acknowledge their service to their country and its people. The concepts of duty and service seem to be at the core of their existence; privilege is a perk that goes along with a very demanding job. Few would argue that over the years, King Harald and Queen Sonja haven’t performed in an exemplary manner. One of the highlights of my role here at the newspaper is King Harald’s New Year’s Eve speech every year. I pull it off the newswire and translate as soon as it appears. For me, it always feels like a beloved father or grandfather (depending on your age) is offering words of wisdom that only a lifetime of experience can offer. I am also always struck how King Harald keeps his message anchored in the moment—there is nothing anachronistic about this king’s outlook on life—how contemporary and forward-looking Norway’s monarch is. He is not afraid to touch on issues of racial and gender biases, social injustice, inequalities in society in general. There is always a good deal of compassion in his words and a love for his people and humanity. A few years ago in 2015, I had the pleasure to attend a gala dinner here in Seattle to celebrate the king’s visit to Washington and

Publisher Emeritus Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen Editor-in-chief Lori Ann Reinhall

loriann@na-weekly.com

Business & Sports Editor Michael Kleiner michael@na-weekly.com Taste of Norway Editor Kristi Bissell food@na-weekly.com Travel Editor Cynthia Elyce Rubin

travel@na-weekly.com

Editorial Assistant Ragnhild Hjeltnes ragnhild@na-weekly.com Copy Editor Becky Kruse Gjendem Advertising

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Subscriptions & Community Outreach Brenda Bard brenda@na-weekly.com

Photo: Jørgen / Det kongelige hoff Two generations of Norwegian royals stand together (left to right); H.M. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, H.M. Crown Prince Haakon, H.M. Queen Sonja, and H.M. King Harald V of Norway.

Alaska, and his speech there made a lasting impression on me, sealing my admiration for him. King Harald spoke on a very personal level about his connection to our country, which began when he spent the duration of World War II in exile here as a young child. Many of you recently thought about this time, too, with the event of the PBS miniseries Atlantic Crossing, which is a fictionalized drama of this period of time and the royal family’s years in residence here. For him, his formative years in the United States created a lasting tie that binds him to us. The king spoke in a very sincere and touching manner. For him, it is a friendship that can never be broken. He felt welcomed and at home here. It struck me that this has also been the experience that many of us have had when we have gone to Norway. With the current geopolitical situation in the world, we know that this friendship is more important than ever—and it is something that the royal family works to maintain. They are patrons of numerous NorwegianAmerican organizations in the United States, and they work tirelessly to support them. As a journalist who covers the many formal receptions and galas, I can tell you that these kinds of occasions are very hard work. It is also work that goes on in other countries and at home in Norway throughout the year, and the royal family is to be commended for their unfaltering dedication. After three decades of loyal service on the throne, King Harald and Queen Sonja will be passing the torch to the next genera-

tion, as new day dawns on the royal family. Without a doubt, the next generations of royals will bring a new perspective to the monarchy, with a different frame of historical reference and experience. The monarchy is changing with them—not always without controversy—and will continue to evolve over time. As usual, there are many to thank for all the hard work that goes into an issue like this. When I see the pages come together, it is always a magical moment. There are so many pieces to coordinate, so many hours put in to make it all come together. In particular, I would like to call out my colleagues, David Nikel of the Life in Norway blog, and Daniel Albert, who so generously shared their content. David, who now also writes for Forbes, has been a long-time contributor to The Norwegian American as a travel writer, and we greatly value our collaboration with him. I would also like to thank Terje Leiren, my former professor and good friend, for his continual support and invaluable contribution to this issue. With the Royals issue, we wish you many hours of happy reading. We hope you enjoy it and that it will enrich your life in the coming weeks.

Lori Ann

Lori Ann Reinhall

Editor-in-chief The Norwegian American

Please note that our next issue is our annual Syttende Mai edition on May 6.

Executive Board of Directors Ragnar Meyer-Knutsen President, Sealift Inc. Lori Ann Reinhall Editor-in-chief, The Norwegian American Christina Carleton Executive Director, Norway House Robert Tunheim Partner, Ballard Spahr, LLP, Loren Anderson Former President, Pacific Lutheran University

The Norwegian American strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage call (206) 784-4617. • The Norwegian American reserves the right to edit any and all submissions for style, grammar, accuracy, and/or space, and the right not to print submissions deemed libelous, in poor taste, or not suited for publication in this newspaper. • The opinions expressed by opinion writers and letter writers are not necessarily those of The Norwegian American, and our publication of those views is not an endorsement of them. Comments, suggestions, and complaints about the opinions expressed by the paper’s editorials should be directed to the editor-in-chief. • The Norwegian American (USPS 679-840) (ISSN 2473-1293) is published every other week except during the month of August by Norwegian American Weekly, INC. PO Box 30863, Seattle, WA 98113 • Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, Wash. and at additional mailing offices. • POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The Norwegian American, PO Box 30863, Seattle, WA 98113 • Annual Subscription Cost: US $70 Domestic, US $94 to Canada, US $212 to Norway and all other foreign countries. SINCE MAY 17, 1889. Formerly: Norway Times / Nordisk Tidende, Western Viking & Washington Posten Comprising Nordisk Tidende, Decorah-Posten og Ved Arnen, Minneapolis-Tidende, Minnesota Posten, Norrona, and Skandinaven

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6 • April 15, 2022

RESEARCH & SCIENCE

theNORWEGIAN american

Profiles in Norwegian Science

New UN climate change report released Ilan kelman

Agder, Norway

At the end of February, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its new assessment report on “Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.” Several scientists in Norway contributed to the report. What is the IPCC and why is it relevant? The panel is the U.N. body for assessing the science related to climate change, and all scientists and technical staff are appointed by member states, including Norway. For the IPCC, “Climate change” covers natural and human causes of long-term changes to average weather. The IPCC’s process and reports do not provide science that is new or original. Their mandate is to summarize the tens of thousands of scientific papers that have been published on climate change since the last assessment. They must then revise their draft based on thousands of review comments they receive. The First Assessment Report from the IPCC was released in 1990, and this new report is the Sixth Assessment Report. They have been going on for a long time, with so much research available that the process involves three working groups. Working Group I, “The Physical Science Basis,” was published last year in August. It provided little new in explaining that human actions are changing the climate rapidly and substantively leading to major, damaging impacts. Working Group III is on the “Mitigation of Climate Change,” which aims to stop climate change and should have come out at the beginning of April. The Working Group II report produces a politically acceptable summary of the science

Photo: Live coverage screen capture U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Feb. 28.

on effects of and responses to climate change. It entails three main packages. First, the full technical report amounts to 3,675 pages and details what the scientists indicate is the synthesis and assessment of the science. Second, the Summary for Policy Makers which, here, is a 35-page report and typically diverges from complicated and nuanced statements in the full technical report. Third, the press release dramatizes the sci-

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ence, selecting the most extreme statements. This time, the press release’s first page was doom-and-gloom catastrophism followed by subtleties and positive ways forward on Page 2. Media indicated examples of political influence aiming to remove or tone down some of the scientific content, a process in line with the IPCC’s political terms of reference. Norway’s government was reported as trying to de-emphasize fossil fuel phaseouts in favor of technologies removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Around 300 scientists were directly involved in some capacity in the technical report. They hail from all inhabited continents and are balanced between men and women. Seven list Norway as their institution’s country. Two with Norway as their country are authors of the Summary for Policy Makers. Multiple levels of confusion remain in trying to go through and interpret the technical report. Eighty-four pages of corrections are in the process of being completed. The footer reads “Do Not Cite, Quote, or Distribute” even though the document is openly available online. A “Summary” of 35 pages for policymakers is long enough, but the Technical Summary is 96 pages! What does all this documentation tell us? Not much. All the core messages in terms of science and action have been known for decades and this round provides nothing different.

And what exactly has Norwegian science provided, for all the hours, weeks, stress, frustration, and annoyance that goes into this eight-year process? Again, not much. Apart from all the hours, weeks, stress, frustration, and annoyance. In fact, Norway’s main contribution to the IPCC might actually be funding from the government. Perhaps Norway’s IPCC scientists could more effectively place their efforts by conducting fundamentally new science about convincing society to wean itself off fossil fuels without hurting ordinary people. While pursuing more public education, government lobbying, and industry influence to counter the masses of anti-science material. Because, in the end, who is really going to read these reams of technicalities or lengthy summaries? The IPCC provided plenty in its early years and now might have outlived its usefulness. Ilan Kelman is Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London, England, and Professor II at the University of Agder, Norway. His overall research interest is linking disasters and health, including the integration of climate change into disaster research and health research. Follow him at www.ilankelman. org and @ILANKELMAN on Twitter and Instagram.

BUSINESS

theNORWEGIAN american

A new kind of cruise vessel

Hurtigtruten to build zero-emissions ship NTB Hurtigruten Norway will collaborate with SINTEF, an independent research organization in Trondheim, to find out how they can make emission-free coastal ships. According to the plan, the first ship will be launched by 2030. “We have followed developments in technology and have seen that the infrastructure has come so far that now it was right to give full throttle,” said Hurtigruten’s CEO Daniel Skjeldam to E24. “The ship will be built in 2026–2027 for it to be ready by 2030,” he said. Skjeldam did not say what the financial framework for the project is, but it is known that it will cost more than building a conventional ship, and the project cost will be higher than a normal construction project. Hurtigruten, however, expects more people to share the bill for the new ship’s development. Hurtigruten said that they will develop the technology needed. Hydrogen or ammonia may be the solution, but other solutions may also be relevant. SINTEF will now carry out a feasibility study and find out which technology is available today, which technology must be developed, and who can contribute to building the ship. The study will probably be completed

Business News & Notes

Economists believe in a steeper interest rate increase than forecasted

There is reason to believe that Norges Bank will implement four interest rate hikes this year, according to chief economist Kjersti Haugland at DNB [financial services group]. In connection with the state budget conference for 2023, Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Center Party) emphasized the need to avoid overheating of the economy. Vedum suggested that the government introduce a tight budget to avoid higher inflation and higher interest rates. Haugland in DNB markets told Dagens Næringsliv that the signals from the government are wise. “The message is very clear: We will not risk becoming a government that contributes to Norges Bank having to tighten the interest rate screw,” she said. “Our estimate of 2% by the summer of next year seems reasonable,” she said. (NTB)

War in Ukraine will accelerate the green shift in Norway Photo: Rune Stoltz Bertinussen / NTB Hurtigruten’s MS Roald Amundsen comes into port in Tromsø in northern Norway.

by the summer, but it may take two to three years before a finished design is completely ready, according to SINTEF.

“Achieving this in practice is a very big challenge, so we think it is very exciting.” said SINTEF’s CEO, Alexandra Bech Gjørv.

Energy for the future

Conservatives promote wind power NTB

Strong investment in offshore wind, together with hybrid cables, gas exploration, and more CO2 storage on the Norwegian shelf are among the measures in the Conservative Party’s new energy plan. “In particular, offshore wind is an important area of focus, and hybrid cables must be part of this,” said Nikolai Astrup, the party’s energy and environmental policy spokesperson. “If offshore wind is to be profitable, it must be expanded with hybrid cables, but the cables must be organized in a way that they do not lead to higher electricity prices in Norway,” he added. The discussion about foreign cables has picked up in recent months, as electricity prices have risen sharply. The Conservatives believe that there are solutions to protect Norwegian consumers, industry, and business. Earlier this winter, the government announced that it was embarking on the development of offshore wind in the North Sea in the Southern North Sea II field, but they postponed the question of foreign cables. The Conservatives insist that hybrid cables are needed to make offshore wind pay off. “The problem with a subsidized investment, which is what the government proposes, is that you will not get enough volume and the jobs that are associated with producing floats. They will end up in other countries, despite the fact that Norway has the very best conditions for building industry based on offshore wind, which can both give us enough power for what we need and make a significant contribution to the European energy transition,” said Astrup.

April 15, 2022 •

of oil exploration to becoming a main product, while exploration policy is still geared toward exploring for oil,” Astrup said: “We are concerned that we must now assess whether the exploration policy should be adjusted for what the reality on the Norwegian shelf is, namely, that we are producing a lot of gas and that gas has become very valuable, that gas becomes important also in light of the green shift, because it can be used to produce emission-free blue hydrogen,” he said.

Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB Nikolai Astrup is the Conservative Party’s spokesperson for energy and environmental policy.

He stressed that the development of offshore wind also requires a good dialogue with the fishing industry, as well as starting environmental surveys on the shelf to uncover which areas are relevant to highlight. Switching from oil to gas It should also be taken into consideration whether gas should take priority over oil in an exploration policy. The war in Ukraine emphasizes the importance of stable gas supplies from Norway, the Conservatives argue. The Norwegian continental shelf will be further developed as an energy resource for Europe, and Norwegian gas will be a necessary bridge to a renewable future, the energy plan states. “Gas has gone from being a by-product

Industry support It has only been 10 months since the Conservatives presented their energy report, which has now been updated. Astrup pointed out that much has changed since last summer and that the situation is currently different. “The need for power is greater than we first thought, and we have had a power price crisis throughout the winter. We now have a war in Ukraine that will affect the energy market for a long time to come. All this means that it is important that we think through how Norwegian energy policy will look in the future,” he said. “The government’s energy report will soon be presented,” said Ole André Myhrvold, energy policy spokesperson for the Center Party. He is happy to receive support from the Conservatives. “It is good that the government can expect support from the Conservatives in the offshore wind development when we soon come up with an aggressive energy report. The Conservatives did nothing when they were in government, but now they have realized that we must expand offshore wind,” Myhrvold said.

The green shift in Norway will happen faster as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the head of the Confederarion of Norwegian Enterprise, Ole Erik Almlid. “I don’t think everyone has acknowledged that we will see a completely different energy situation in Europe. We will see progress in renewables, that Norwegian gas is important, as well as offshore wind investments,” said Almlid. He pointed to the production of socalled blue hydrogen, where hydrogen is produced from natural gas and most of the CO2 that is released in production is captured and stored. He also mentioned battery production, offshore wind, and carbon capture and storage. Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre (Labor Party) predicted that there will be a need for Norwegian gas for another 100-150 years. He said that it is absolutely crucial for Europe that natural gas has a future through blue hydrogen. (NTB)

Seafood industry demands electricity subsidies from the government

Electricity prices have become an added burden for several seafood companies, and the industry fears a loss of jobs. At the beginning of February, the government and the Socialist Left Party (SV) agreed to provide NOK 500 million in financial support to farmers struggling with high electricity bills. The organization Sjømatbedriftene now demands a similar program for their industry. “The Norwegian seafood industry is already struggling to get access to enough raw materials of good quality. We also see that an increasing proportion of fish caught in Norway go straight to auction in Denmark. Naturally, this happens because the fishermen get paid better there than here at home. Sky-high electricity prices will further weaken competitiveness,” said director Robert Eriksson of Sjømatbedriftene. According to him, up to 30,000 jobs in the seafood industry have been moved to Europe in the last 25 years. He fears that even more jobs will be lost if the industry does not receive support now. (NTB)

SPORTS

8 • April 15, 2022

theNORWEGIAN american

Norway’s winter wonders

Celebrating 10 World Cup champions Michael Kleiner

Thingnes Bø (13th) and Filip Fjeld Andersen (21st) gave Norway six in the top 21. The relay and Nations Cup ranked Norway first.

Business and Sports Editor The Norwegian American

Another sports season in Norway has ended. Even as restrictions were relaxed, the pandemic still made its mark. We had another Olympics in Beijing with empty stands, a 70page playbook of COVID-19 protocols and “closed loop systems” for fully vaccinated people. It’s amazing the athletes were able to compete and provide thrills and agony. Norway finished as the top medal winner for the second straight Olympics and ninth time in 24 Winter Olympics and set a record with 16 gold medals. Before leaving for the Olympics, women’s cross-country runners Heidi Weng and Anna Kjersti Kalvå tested positive. Cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo tested positive upon his return from the Olympics. However, he wrestled the World Cup trophy back from Russian rival Alexander Bolshunov by 497 points in the FIS World Cup Nordic in Holmenkollen. The Russian athletes were barred from participating in Holmenkollen because of its country’s invasion of Ukraine. Men’s and women’s biathlon dominated the Olympics, but after Holmenkollen, the final competition of the season, 10 athletes and a coach tested positive for coronavirus, meaning they couldn’t compete in the Norwegian Championships. Norway had 10 World Cup champions out of 28 sports and events. It also saw the retirements of two legends, whose impacts will be everlasting, women’s cross-country skier Therese Johaug and alpinist Kjetil Jansrud.

Men’s Cross-Country: Besides Klæbo, Norway had nine others ranked in the top 21: Erik Valnes (5th), Didrik Tønseth (6th), Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget (7th), Harald Østberg Amundsen (8th), Pål Golberg (9th), Sjur Røthe (13th), Håvard Solås Taugbøl (18th), Simen Hegstad Krüger (20th), and Hans Christer Holund (21st). Women’s Cross-Country: Johaug finished her career with three golds at the Olympics and a gold at Holmenkollen but did not win the World Cup title for the second straight year. She was fifth, with Heidi Weng sixth and Tiril Udnes Weng 16th. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB Marte Olsbu Røiseland kisses the overall World Cup women’s biathlon trophy following the Holmenkollen competition on March 20.

Women’s Ski Jumping: Maren Lundby took the year off, opening the door for Silje Opseth (6th), Thea Minyan Bjørseth (16th), and Anna Odine Strøm (17th). Men’s Alpine: Aleksander Aamodt Kilde ranked first in downhill and Super-G and finished second overall. Henrik Kristoffersen ranked first in slalom, second in giant slalom, and fourth in parallel, earning bronze. With Lucas Braathen and Atle Lie McGrath, Norway had four skiers in the top 12. Women’s Alpine: After recovering from a knee injury the last two seasons, Ragnhild Mowinckel finished fourth.

Here’s a rundown: Men’s Nordic Combined: Jarl Magnus Riiber won his fourth straight World Cup title by 21 points over Johannes Lamparter (Austria). Riiber’s Olympics were disrupted by coronavirus. He still won Holmenkollen and Norwegian Championships and has seven career Kings Cups, three in the last five months. He was the top-ranked jumper. Jørgen Graabak (4th), Jens Lurås Oftebro (6th) and Espen Andersen (14th) gave Norway four in the top 14.

Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Therese Johaug (right) alternates with cousin Gyda Westvold Hansen during the women’s 3x5km relay at the Norwegian Championships on March 27. Johaug shortly thereafter announced her retirement.

Freeski, Snowboard: Birk Ruud captured the World Cup title in freeski, while Mons Røisland had a great final weekend to win snowboard park and pike by two points over Tiarn Collins (New Zealand) and three points better than Ayumu Hirano (Japan). Røisland took the lead on his last run, then teammate Marcus Kleveland surpassed him, but Røisland still had enough points to win the cup. Women’s Speed Skating: Ragne Wiklund was second in long distances, fourth in 1,500m.

Women’s Nordic Combined is still in its infancy. Gyda Westvold Hansen won her second straight title, with Ida Marie Hagen earning silver, and sisters Marte Leinan Lund and Mari Leinan Lund finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Men’s Speed Skating: The highest ranking was second in the team pursuit and fourth in the 1,000m by Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen.

Women’s Biathlon: Marte Olsbu Røiseland had a breakout season winning her first World Cup title, ranking first in sprint and pursuit and fourth in mass start. Norway was first in the mixed relay and Nations Cup, and second in the women’s relay. Men’s biathlon: Three-time defending champion Johannes Thingnes Bø fell to 13th, but Sturla Holm Lægreid was in the silver position for the second straight year, Vetle Sjåstad Christensen (4th), Tarjei Bø (6th), Sivert Guttorm Bakken (9th), Johannes

Men’s Ski Jumping: Marius Lindvik had a good performance at Planica, vaulting him to third place, and dropping last year’s World Cup champion Halvor Egner Granerud to fourth. Robert Johansson was 12th, DanielAndre Tande 21st.

Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Nordic Combined’s Jarl Magnus Riiber is getting used to winning the King’s Cup, showing off the one he won at the Norwegian Championships March 27.

Michael Kleiner has more than three decades of experience as an award-winning journalist and public relations professional. He has operated his own PR and web design business for small businesses, authors and community organizations in Philadelphia since 1999. Not of Norwegian descent, he lived in Norway for a year with his family at age 11 and has returned as an adult. He is the author of a memoir, Beyond the Cold: An American’s Warm Portrait of Norway, and a member of the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce Philadelphia. Kleinerprweb.com; beyondthecold.com

Did you miss our special WINTER OLYMPICS issue? Visit our website at norwegianamerican.com/category/sports for complete coverage and other exciting sports features.

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FINAL WORLD CUP STANDINGS

SPORTS MEN’S FREESKI FREESTYLE

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo: 1,375 pts (#3 Distance, #2 Sprint)

Alexander Bolshunov (Russia): 878 pts (#2 Distance, #15 Sprint)

Livo Niskanen (Finland): 744 pts (#1 Distance, #73 Sprint)

Erik Valnes: 559 pts (#21 Distance, #7 Sprint, )

7..

Martin Løwenstrøm Nyenget: 501 pts (#4 Distance, #75 Sprint)

Didrik Tønseth: 527 pts (#5 Distance)

Pål Golberg: 489 pts (#18 Distance, #13 Sprint)

13. Sjur Røthe: 412 pts (#12 Distance)

18. Håvard Solås Taugbøl: 324 pts (#5 Sprint)

20. Simen Hegstad Krüger: 304 pts (#8 Distance)

Points

Birk Ruud

386

Ailing Eilleen Gu (China)

580

Andri Ragettli (Switzerland)

310

Kelly Sidaru (Estonia)

469

ALEXANDER HALL (USA)

273

Tess Ledeux (France)

364

7. Johanne Killi 13. Sandra Eie

Points

Mons Røisland

253

Tiarn Collins (New Zealand)

251

Kokomo Murase (Japan)

456

Ayumu Hirano (Japan)

250

Anna Gasser (Austria)

340

Marcus Kleveland

162

Jasmine Baird (Canada)

310

MEN’S SKI JUMPING

Natalya Nepryaeva (Russia): 973 pts (#8 Distance, #10 Sprint)

JESSIE DIGGINS (USA): 793 pts (#9 Distance, #4 Sprint)

Ebba Andersson (Sweden): 772 pts (#4 Distance)

5..

Therese Johaug: 735 pts (#1 Distance)

Heidi Weng: 704 pts (#5 Distance, #43 Sprint)

16. Tiril Udnes Weng: 441 pts (#16 Distance, #11 Sprint)

MEN’S BIATHLON NATIONS CUP Points

Norway

276

Norway

7,277

France

239

France

Germany

231

Germany

Overall Points

MEN’S NORDIC COMBINED

Rank in Jumping

WOMEN’S SNOWBOARD PARK & PIPE

Points

16. Hanne Eilertsten

WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

MEN’S BIATHLON RELAY Points

209 143

21. Hans Christer Holund: 291 pts (#10 Distance)

6..

WOMEN’S FREESKI FREESTYLE Points

MEN’S SNOWBOARD PARK & PIPE

Harald Østberg Amundsen: 493 pts (#9 Distance, #29 Sprint)

Points

132

WOMEN’S SKI JUMPING

Points

Ryoyu Kobayashi (Japan)

1,621

Marita Kramer (Austria)

1,316

Karl Geiger (Germany)

1,515

Nika Kriznar (Slovenia)

1,191

Marius Lindvik

1,231

Ursa Bogataj (Slovenia)

1,151

Halvor Egner Granerud

1,227

Silje Opseth

12. Robert Johansson

531

21. Daniel Andre Tande

339

WOMEN’S BIATHLON RELAY Points 1.

Sweden

243

6,954

Norway

235

6,707

France

216

Rank in Time

MEN’S SPEED SKATING 500M

731

16. Thea Minyan Bjørseth

311

17. Anna Odine Strøm

292

WOMEN’S BIATHLON NATIONS CUP Points

MIXED BIATHLON RELAY Points

Norway

6,856

Norway

205

Sweden

6,765

Sweden

191

France

6,572

France

169

Points

MEN’S SPEED SKATING 1,000M

Points

Laurent Dubreuil (Canada)

614

Thomas Krol (Netherlands)

282

Tatsuya Shinhama (Japan)

586

Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands)

270

Jarl Magnus Riiber

1,383

Johannes Lamparter (Austria)

1,362

Wataru Morishige (Japan)

555

Hein Otterspeer (Netherlands)

238

Vinzenz Geiger (Germany)

979

Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen

346

Håvard Holmefjord Lorentzen

230

Jørgen Grabak

783

450

Jens Lurås Oftebro

618

14. Espen Andersen

Overall Points

Rank in Jumping

Rank in Time

Gyda Westvold-Hansen

Ida Marie Hagen

700

Ema Lovasek (Slovenia)

387

WOMEN’S NORDIC COMBINED 1.

411

Marte Leinan Lund

290

Mari Leinan Lund

205

4 9 6

2 5

KEY: Norwegian Medalists, Norwegian Athletes, United States: USA

MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

April 15, 2022 •

MEN’S SPEED SKATING 1,500M 1.

JOEY MANTIA (USA)

Points 280

15. Allen Dahl Johansson

MEN’S SPEED SKATING MASS START

130

Points

Connor Howe (Canada)

256

Kjeld Nuis (Netherlands)

224

Bart Swings (Belgium)

652

210

Andrea Giovannini (Italy)

550

Ruslan Zakharov (Russia)

425

Peder Kongshaug

11. Kristian Ulekleiv

174

13. Allan Dahl Johansson

156

MEN’S SPEED SKATING TEAM PURSUIT 1.

UNITED STATES: 312

Norway: 302

10. Kristian Ulekleiv 14. Odin By Farstad 3.

287 266

Canada: 284

MEN’S BIATHLON WOMEN’S SPEED SKATING 1,500M

Points

WOMEN’S SPEED SKATING TEAM PURSUIT Points

Quentin Filon Maillet (France): 984 pts (#1 Sprint, #8 Individual, #1 Pursuit, #2 Mass Start)

Sturla Holm Lægreid: 736 pts (#3 Sprint, #2 Individual, #7 Pursuit, #4 Mass Start)

Miho Takagi (Japan)

300

Canada

360

Sebastian Samuelsson (Sweden): 717 pts (#2 Sprint, #57 Individual, #2 Pursuit, #15 Mass Start)

BRITTANY BOWE (USA)

256

Japan

284

Vetle Sjåstad Christiansen: 708 pts (#5 Sprint, #9 Individual, #5 Pursuit, #3 Mass Start)

Ayano Sato (Japan)

252

Netherlands

280

Tarjei Bø: 601 pts (#8 Sprint, #1 Individual, #10 Pursuit, #10 Mass Start)

Ragne Wiklund

238

Norway

242

WOMEN’S SPEED SKATING LONG DISTANCES

Points

WOMEN’S SPEED SKATING MASS START

Points

Irene Schouten (Netherlands)

300

Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy)

602

Ragne Wiklund

290

Ivanie Blondin (Canada)

578

Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy)

266

Irene Schouten (Netherlands)

506

13. Sofie Karoline Haugen

293

MEN’S ALPINE

Sivert Guttorm Bakken: 553 pts (#18 Sprint, #12 Individual, #15 Pursuit, #1 Mass Start)

13.

Johannes Thingnes Bø: 440 pts (#20 Sprint, #4 Individual, #22 Pursuit, #22 Mass Start)

21.

Filip Fjeld Andersen: 403 pts (#9 Sprint, #48 Individual, #27 Pursuit, #23 Mass Start)

WOMEN’S BIATHLON 1.

Marte Olsbu Røiseland: 957 pts (#1 Sprint, #21 Individual, #1 Pursuit, #4 Mass Start)

Elvira Öberg (Sweden): 823 pts (#2 Sprint, #33 Individual, #2 Pursuit, #2 Mass Start)

Lisa Theresa Hauser (Austria): 684 pts (#4 Sprint, #2 Individual, #5 Pursuit, #12 Mass Start)

11.

Tiril Eckhoff: 555 pts (#7 Sprint, #13 Individual, #13 Pursuit, #11 Mass Start)

15.

Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold: 470 pts (#22 Sprint, #7 Individual, #15 Pursuit, #5 Mass Start)

WOMEN’S ALPINE

Marco Odermatt (Switzerland): 1,639 pts (#4 Downhill, #1 Slalom, #2 Super-G)

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN (USA): 1,493 pts (#26 Downhill, #2 Slalom, #3 Giant Slalom, #3 Super-G)

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde: 1,172 pts (#1 Downhill, #35 Giant Slalom, #1 Super-G)

Petra Vlhova (Slovakia): 1,309 pts (#37 Downhill, #1 Slalom, #4 Giant Slalom, #40 Super-G)

Henrik Kristoffersen: 954 pts (#1 Slalom, #2 Giant Slalom, #4 Parallel)

Federica Brignone (Italy): 1,055 pts (#14 Downhill, #38 Slalom, #6 Giant Slalom, #1 Super-G)

Lucas Bråthen: 655 pts (#4 Slalom, #4 Giant Slalom)

Ragnhild Mowinckel: 880 pts (#6 Downhill, #7 Giant Slalom, #4 Super-G)

12.

Atlie Lie McGrath: 534 pts (#3 Slalom, #17 Giant Slalom)

TASTE OF NORWAY

10 • April 15, 2022

theNORWEGIAN american

An appetizer fit for a king

Pear & Blue Cheese Smørbrød Kristi Bissell

Taste of Norway Editor The Norwegian American

Many of you already know me as a regular contributor to the Taste of Norway section, but as this is my first issue as the Taste of Norway editor, allow me to take a moment to properly introduce myself. My name is Kristi Bissell. In addition to serving as food editor for The Norwegian American, I am the creator behind True North Kitchen, a blog devoted to simple, seasonal Nordic-inspired recipes tailored especially for the American home cook. My goal is to help my readers explore Scandinavian cooking and baking on an everyday basis in a fresh, modern way, and I hope to bring that same objective to the pages of The Norwegian American. I am so excited to be stepping into this new role, and I hope to bring you many delicious recipes and fascinating stories pertaining to Norwegian food in the issues to come. As this is the Royals Issue, let’s begin with an appetizer that is indeed fit for a king. This Blue Cheese and Pear Smørbrød is an easy and elegant appetizer with an unforgettable combination of blue cheese, spiced pear compote, and toasted hazelnuts. It is incredibly simple and yet pleasantly complex in flavor. All you need is a refreshing cocktail (or a steaming cup of gløgg come winter) to go with these tasty little Nordic open-faced sandwiches and you have set the stage for a memorable evening. Smørbrød is usually served on thin slices of dense rye bread, and that is an excellent choice for the base of these sandwiches. But thin, toasted baguette rounds or even crispbread or crackers will do if you don’t have access to good rye. If you want to go all in on the Scandinavian vibes here, consider choosing a Danish blue cheese. Personally, I like the triple cream brie-style blue cheese, Cambozola, which is not Danish but German. Rich and buttery, Cambozola is a perfect match with the spicy pears and toasted hazelnuts. If you find blue cheese to be a bit too pungent, feel free to substitute cream cheese or a soft goat cheese for a more subtle but no less delicious combination.

Photo: Kristi Bissell The Roasted Pear Compote has a subtle sweetness with a hint of cardamom, vanilla, and ginger.

The Roasted Pear Compote is really the star of this deceptively simple smørbrød. This one simple ingredient (which can be made up to a week ahead of time) brings a subtle sweetness and just a hint of cardamom, vanilla, and ginger. It adds complexity and makes this Nordic open-faced sandwich something special. Give these regal Blue Cheese and Pear Smørbrød a try at your next gathering! Your guests will be surprised and delighted.

Photo: Kristi Bissell Blue Cheese and Pear Smørbrød is a regal appetizer that will bring a touch of elegance to any event.

Blue Cheese and Pear Smørbrød with Toasted Hazelnuts Makes 32 small open-faced sandwiches

FOR THE SMØRBRØD: Taste of Norway Editor Kristi Bissell is the founder of True North Kitchen, a Nordic food blog designed for the American home cook. She enjoys creating recipes that celebrate her Scandinavian heritage and that approach traditional Nordic ingredients in a modern, fresh and approachable way. Kristi is a native of Minneapolis, Minn. and currently resides in Omaha, Neb. When she’s not cooking and baking in her cozy kitchen, Kristi teaches private and corporate yoga classes and leads Scandinavian cooking and baking workshops. For more information, visit her blog, true-north-kitchen.com.

8 thin slices rye bread (thin baguette rounds or crispbread also works well) Creamy, soft blue cheese for spreading ROASTED PEAR COMPOTE, RECIPE FOLLOWS

½ cup hazelnuts

FOR THE ROASTED PEAR COMPOTE:

5-6 small to medium-sized Bartlett pears, peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes 2 tbsps. honey ½ tsp. ground cardamom 4-5 thin slices of fresh ginger (no need to peel) Pinch of coarse salt ½ vanilla bean (or ½ tsp. vanilla extract) 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice 1. Make the Roasted Pear Compote: Preheat the oven to 350°. Combine all ingredients except vanilla bean and lemon juice in an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish.

2. With a small sharp knife, split vanilla bean down one side of the pod. Open the pod and lay it flat on your cutting board. Using the back of your knife, remove the black seeds from the interior of the pod by scraping from one end of the open pod to the other. Place seeds and empty pod in the baking dish along with the other ingredients.

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3. Bake for 45 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until the pears have softened considerably.

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4. Remove the pan from the oven. Using a spoon, remove and discard the vanilla bean pod and ginger slices. Mash pears with a potato masher or the back of a fork until they create a chunky, rustic mash. Add lemon juice. Taste the mixture and season with additional lemon juice, salt, or honey to taste. Set aside to cool. (The compote can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.)

5. Toast the hazelnuts. Place nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 10 minutes or until fragrant and golden brown. Transfer nuts to a clean kitchen towel and wrap them inside, allowing them to steam for a minute or so. Rub the nuts between the kitchen towel to remove the brown papery skins. Chop the nuts coarsely.

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The Swedish Club

6. To assemble the smørbrød: Toast the bread if desired. Transfer the slices of bread to a clean work surface. Cut each slice into 4 triangles. Top with blue cheese, a dollop of the Roasted Pear Compote, and a sprinkling of toasted hazelnuts. Serve.

TASTE OF NORWAY

theNORWEGIAN american

April 15, 2022 •

Fyrstekake

A royal Norwegian dessert A note from your editor-in-chief, Lori Ann Reinball Over the years, The Norwegian American has been fortunate to share the recipes of some of the very best Nordic master chefs, cooks, and bakers. Many of them have served on our staff to bring you the very best of Norwegian and Norwegian-American food. When searching for the very best for this special Royals issue, it seemed like a natural to turn to Daytona Danielsen (formerly Strong), one of our former Taste of Norway editors. Daytona describes herself as an “author, artist, and hostess,” apropos words for someone who creates such magnificent culinary delights. For 12 years, she shared her recipes on her popular Outside Oslo blog, with thousands of followers all over the world. She is the author of Modern Scandinavian Baking: A Cookbook of Sweets. We will keep you posted on Daytona’s new ventures, as she continues as a writer and champion of Nordic ways with her newsletter The Heart & Huset, an intimate and engaging community designed to help you get the resources, recipes, and connections you need to live out your best Scandinavian-style life. Daytona’s baked goods and desserts are no less than masterpieces, and at that, her recipe for fyrstekake needs no further introduction—it is truly a royal treat.

Fyrstekake, also known as Royal Cake or Prince’s Cake, is an all-time favorite Norwegian dessert.

Fyrstekake, an all-time favorite Norwegian dessert Daytona Danielsen Seattle

Daytona Danielsen is a popular Seattle author and a former editor of the Taste of Norway food section at The Norwegian American.

In celebration of those special times we spend in the kitchen with those we love, connecting over a shared task and sitting down later to enjoy it together, I would like to share a recipe for fyrstekake, a classic Norwegian tart flavored richly with almond. Growing up eating it with my mom frequently, it remains one of my favorite Scandinavian desserts. Fyrstekake is also known as Royal Cake or Prince’s Cake. Though it calls for only a handful of ingredients, the results are decadent and somewhat regal in their simplicity. As a classic dessert, it makes sense that many variations exist. Some are spiced with cardamom and other flavors, and some let the almond shine. This particular recipe resembles the one I grew up eating, and I love the soft, almost-toothsome texture of the filling with the crisp cookie-like crust. Enjoy!

All photos courtesy of Daytona Danielsen

Fyrstekake

BY DAYTONA DANIELSEN Adapted from Norwegian Cakes and Cookies by Sverre Sætre This recipe gets its rich flavor mostly from the ground almonds, but also from the slightest touch of almond extract that I added. If you enjoy marzipan candy, you’ll love this dessert.

Serves 8-12 FOR THE CRUST:

2 1/4 cups flour 3/4 cup powdered sugar 14 tbsps. cold unsalted butter cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 egg FOR THE FILLING:

1 3/4 cups slivered almonds 1 cup sugar 1 tbsp. butter 1 egg yolk 1 whole egg 1/4 cup whipping cream FOR THE TOPPING:

1 egg yolk mixed with 1 tbsp. water 1. To make the crust, combine flour, powdered sugar, and butter in a food processor until crumbly (or cut ingredients together by hand). Add the egg and continue to process until the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, cover it well, and refrigerate for at least two hours.

2. Grease an 8- or 9-inch tart pan with removable base. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick. Place in the tart pan and work it in evenly in the crease and up the sides. Put the crust and the remaining dough back in the refrigerator for 30 minutes while you prepare the filling. 3. Preheat the oven to 335°.

4. Whirl the almonds in the food processor until fine, then add the sugar and pulse some more until combined. Melt the butter in a small bowl and pour it into the almond and sugar, along with the egg yolk, egg, and whipping cream. Process to blend, and then pour the filling into the prepared crust.

5. Remove the remaining dough from the fridge and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Working quickly so that it doesn’t warm up too much and become difficult to work with, cut the dough into thin strips and arrange in a lattice or crisscross pattern on the top of the filling. 6. Mix the remaining egg yolk with a tablespoon of water and brush this over the top of the cake. Norwegian Fyrstekake is the perfect complement to a good cup of strong Norwegian coffee.

7. Bake about 40 minutes, depending on the size of your pan, until golden. Cool, then remove tart from pan.

NORSK SPRÅK

12 • April 15, 2022

theNORWEGIAN american

DEB NELSON GOURLEY PRESENTS

KINGS OF NORWAY By Anders Kvåle Rue

Harald Fairhair – Harald Hårfagre

Slottsparken — The Palace Park

Photos: Christie Ericson

The Palace Park in Oslo is a beautiful place to enjoy a stroll on a summer’s day.

Slottsparken er parken (The Palace Park is the park) omkring det kongelige slott (around the royal palace) i Oslo (in Oslo). Parken består av store grønne plener (The park consists of large green lawns) under høye majestetiske trær (under tall, majestic trees), rolige gangveier (peaceful walkways), og anlagte dammer eller “vannspeil” (and landscaped ponds or “water mirrors” [reflecting pools].

Born ca. 860, died ca. 932 Son of King Halfdan the Black and Ragnhild Sigurdsdatter Ruled ca. 875 – 932 Harald was one of many petty kings in Viking Age Norway. Snorri Sturluson writes in Heimskringla that one day Harald sent some of his men to a beautiful maiden named Gyda. They were to ask her if she would become Harald’s mistress. Gyda replied that she was only interested in him if he became king of all of Norway! When Harald heard this, he decided to unite Norway into one kingdom. He would not cut his hair, he said, until the task was completed.

Harald var en av mange småkonger i vikingtidens Norge. Snorre Sturluson skriver i Heimskringla at Harald en dag sendte noen av mennene sine til ei vakker jente som het Gyda. De skulle spørre henne om hun ville bli Haralds kjæreste. Gyda svarte at hun bare var interessert i ham dersom han ble konge over hele Norge! Da Harald hørte dette, bestemte han seg for å samle Norge til ett rike, og sa at han ikke skulle klippe håret før det var fullført.

At Hafrsfjord, not far from where Stavanger lies today, Harald won the decisive battle. Now the kingdom was his and he could cut his long hair. After this, people called him Harald Fairhair.

Ved Hafrsfjord, ikke langt fra der Stavanger ligger i dag, vant Harald det endelige slaget. Nå var riket hans og han kunne klippe det lange håret sitt. Etter dette kalte folk ham for Harald Hårfagre.

Harald had a number of wives and many sons, and they helped him rule the land.

Harald hadde flere koner og fikk mange sønner, og de hjalp ham med å styre landet.

3.NAW.Kings.CMYK.20March2014_Layout 1 3/20/14 7:32 PM Page 1

Read and speak Norwegian!

Slottsparken ble tegnet (The Palace Park was designed) av slottsarkitekt (by palace architect) Hans Linstow og slottsgartner (and palace gardener) Martin Mortensen. Den ble anlagt (It was constructed) i romantikkens formspråk (in the Romantic style), basert på naturidealene (based on the ideal model of nature) som var populære i hagekunst (which was popular in horticulture) på midten av 1800-tallet (in the mid-1800s). Parken har tre dammer (The park has three ponds). De to største (The two largest), Dronningdammen (the Queen’s Pond) og Kongespeilet (and the King’s Mirror), er sammenbundet med en kanal (are connected by a channel). Den tredje dammen er Isdammen (The third pond is the Ice Pond). På 1800-tallet (In the 1800s) ble det skåret is fra denne dammen (ice was cut from this pond) til Slottets iskjeller (for the palace ice cellar) og til nærliggende bryggerier (and for nearby breweries). Dronningparken (The Queen’s Park) er en egen del av Slottsparken (is a separate part of the Palace Park) og har historie som en rokokkohage (and has a history as a Rococo garden) helt tilbake til 1751 (dating all the way back to 1751). Det er flere statuer og monumenter i parken (There are several statues and monuments in the park). Den eldste (The oldest) er rytterstatuen av Kong (is the equestrian statue of King) Carl Johan fra (from) 1875 foran Slottet (in front of the palace). Den nyeste er (The newest is) “Turdronningen,” en statue av Hennes Majestet Dronning Sonja (a statue of Her Majesty Queen Sonja) som ble avduket i (which was unveiled in) 2017. Prinsesse Ingrid Alexandras Skulpturpark (Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s Sculpture Park) åpnet i (opened in) 2016 og er en park med skulpturer av og for barn (and is a park with sculptures by and for children). Parken er åpen for publikum (The park is open to the public) og den er et vakkert sted (and it is a beautiful place) til å slappe av (to relax), sitte på gresset (sit on the grass) eller bare spasere rundt (or just walk around). Kilde (Source): kongehuset.no/seksjon.html?tid=99668&sek=99667

Deb Nelson Gourley presents: KINGS OF NORWAY By Anders Kvåle Rue • History of 57 Kings & 1 Queen • Both bilingual text and audio • Full colored illustrations • Hardcover 6”x9” book + 3CDs

Read along when you listen to the 3 CDs = $19.95 with FREE shipping in USA

Astri My Astri Publishing Deb Nelson Gourley 602 3rd Ave SW, Waukon, IA 52172

Kings of Norway English Norwegian bilingual book includes 3 audio CDs. Appealing to readers of all ages on both sides of the Atlantic. Ideal for first-year Norwegian language classes, heritage & culture programs. Includes Astri My Astri and Astri Mi Astri songs. Call, send check or visit website

www.astrimyastri.com Phone: 563-568-6229 gourleydeb@gmail.com

Christie Ericson is an academic librarian in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a background in languages and linguistics and has been fulfilling her lifelong dream of learning the Norwegian language.

Christie enjoyed a visit to the Palace Park on her last trip to Oslo.

NORSK SPRÅK

theNORWEGIAN american

April 15, 2022 •

« Royal birth breeds royal duty.» – Henrik Ibsen

Was it Ibsen’s “Ghosts” we just saw?

[The Ibsen Festival]

No, that was “Hedda Gabler” played in reverse. Oho, such fun!

How to speak to a king Brooklyn Girl: Coming of age in a Nordic enclave This new book by Jan Carol Simonsen is about community and acculturation in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. When Solveig Torgersen enters the world in 1946, New York City is home to the third- largest population of Norwegians in the world, surpassed only by two cities in Norway itself. This book follows Solveig as she learns about her large, extended immigrant family, makes friends with other offspring of Norse immigrants, questions the tenets of the religion her family espouses, and eventually fully embraces American life. The book also addresses the dramatic changes that occurred in Brooklyn as the protagonist comes of age—such as the building of the Verrazzano Bridge and the accompanying interstate roadways that cut a swath through Bay Ridge and, across the harbor, through Staten Island.

Paperback (16.99) and Kindle editions available on Amazon.com. Look forward to an exclusive interview with the author in our May 6 Syttende Mai issue.

Photo: Ron Wurer / AP / NTB

Capt. Sig Hanen (middle left) of the reality series The Deadliest Catch said “Hi, King Harald” and shook hands with King Harald V of Norway (right) at the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in 2015. Norway’s king is a big fan of the TV-show and didn’t seem to mind at all.

In an issue all about royals, some of you are probably wondering what would to say or do if you were lucky enough to meet Norway’s king or queen. Fortunately, there are very clear guidelines for royal protocol. King Harald V is addressed as “His Majesty The King” (Hans Majestet Kongen) and his wife, Queen Sonja, is addressed as “Her Majesty The Queen” (Hennes Majestet Dronningen). As your conversation continues, you may then address he the king as “Sir” (Herre Konge) and the queen as “Your Majesty” (Deres Majestet). If you are speaking to both the king and queen at the same time, use the plural “Your Majesties” (Deres Majesteter). While some royals from other countries should never be touched, you are permitted to shake hands with the Norwegian king, but do not extend your hand first. You should always wait until His Majesty initiates a handshake.

14 • April 15, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

theNORWEGIAN american

Some spirits never laid to rest

Ibsen’s Ghosts rise up again at the Seattle Rep Sins of the fathers Heredity is a strong theme in Ghosts. Despite his mother’s attempts to protect him, Osvald has inherited his father’s illness, and he will not be able to escape his terrible destiny. Like his father, he is driven by his physical desires. He is drawn to the robust and sensual Regina, who like the father who raised her, is willing to do what she needs to do in life. Osvald is drawn to a life that is lighter and freer than the one he was born into in Norway. In the dark gloomy world of his mother’s home, he can no longer work as an artist who brings beauty into the world. Tragically, he sees his only redemption in Regina, his sister.

Lori Ann Reinhall

Editor-in-chief The Norwegian American

I have to admit that when I first heard that the Seattle Repertory Theatre’s company was staging a new production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1881 play Ghosts, I asked myself what a play over 141 years old would have to say to us today. The world of today is so different, and recently it has been changing even more rapidly than before. But after re-reading the play (it had been at least 40 years) and seeing it again, I came to the realization that some spirits are never laid to rest ... Before seeing the new production on opening night at the Rep’s Bagley Wright Theatre on April 6, I was fortunate to sit down for a Zoom chat with the play’s director, Carey Perloff, and its translator, Paul Walsh, where I asked this very same question: What makes Ibsen’s Ghosts relevant to us today and what inspired them to bring it to the stage again? A lively and illuminating discussion ensued. “Well, it’s really interesting,” said Walsh. “Coming out of two years of COVID lockdown, a lot of us dealt with internal struggles.” He explained how he saw parallels with how the play’s lead protagonist, Mrs. Alving, has spent 10 years locked up, reading, thinking, and trying to conquer her demons from her past. In the same way, Walsh sees that the pandemic caused many of us to reconsider our own lives. “It’s a late 19th-century, a turn-of-thecentury play, but very prescient,” Perloff added. She then talked about how we think that there has been progress, that we’ve advanced, and that we think we’ve put certain things to rest, but new realities surface. To this point, while the new production has been many years in the making, rehearsals in Seattle began on the very day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I think we actually sort of believed in the post-Cold War period, that liberal democracy was on the move, and that kind of gulag violence was a thing of the past,” said Perloff. “And looking at the ghosts that are rising up in Europe now, it is so horrifying, and we were unprepared for it ... We actually thought, as Mrs. Alving does, that we had moved on, that these ghosts were buried.” Taboo topics The topics that Ibsen touches on with Ghosts—venereal disease, incest, women’s sexual freedom and self-expression, euthanasia, and an overall questioning of societal norms—were considered so controversial that, initially, no Norwegian theater company was willing to touch it, and Ghosts first premiered in Chicago in 1882. Critics panned the play as “morally repugnant,” a judgment that stuck with it for many decades. Yet even today, we have not come to terms with these taboo themes, as we ponder on women’s reproductive rights, the right to die in dignity, class differences, and social injustice, with an overall questioning of the norms of our society. “The tragedy we see is that all of this should be irrelevant,” Walsh said. “We should have dealt with these issues, yet they continue to haunt us, to reverberate with us, partially because [Ibsen] was struggling with himself, struggling with the advent of modernity.” Later in our conversation, Perloff, who has her training in Greek tragedy, talked about what makes for great literature and just why the play still speaks to us today. “Literature is news that stays news,” she

Redemption by fire Ghosts, while considered to be a classic example of Ibsen’s social realism, tends toward the expressionism of his later plays. Symbols figure predominantly throughout, first the illness that is eating away at the family and then the orphanage and the fire that destroys it. Ghosts are lurking everywhere. Mrs. Alving believes that with the construction of the orphanage, all suspicions about the past can finally be laid to rest. Ironically, she chooses to build an orphanage, although she has deprived two children, Osvald and Regina, of their father. The new building stands as a monument of hypocrisy, not charity. It is a doomed effort. When the orphanage burns down, everyone’s life is laid to ashes, as life’s illusions go up in smoke. Regina learns the truth and sets out to an uncertain future, and Osvald is shocked into a new, helpless child-like phase of his illness. As he calls out for the sun at the end of the play, we don’t know whether his mother will have the courage to end is life or if he will be left to suffer a state of prolonged deterioration.

Images courtesy of Seattle Repertory Theater

Above left: Paul Walsh, a recognized Ibsen critic, has created a new American English translation of Ghosts. Above right: Director Carey Perloff has returned to Seattle to bring new life to the timeless Ibsen play.

said. “This is the sign of a great play and why we shouldn’t ever think about dispensing with the classical canon, even if some of the plays say things or represent things that we don’t believe in anymore. They are news, they will always be news, and we should always continue to reinvestigate them.”

enter into a relationship with her. The sexual attraction between the two has to be buried, and their happiness is sacrificed. Mrs. Alving goes home to make the best of her lot in life, staying with her husband and eventually sending away her only son to protect him from the poison that has infected their home.

The conflicted self Much has been written about the dichotomies in Ibsen’s own life, conflicts that rise to the surface in his work, and this play is no exception. There is the overall clash between duty and the joy of life, and we see this very clearly in the widow Helene Alving and other characters in Ghosts. Mrs. Alving has been described as the “Nora who came back home,” in reference to Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House, in which the lead protagonist leaves her husband and children to first find herself as a human being, so she can fulfill the roles of wife and mother she left behind. But in Ghosts, we learn that these kinds of actions come at very high price. Perhaps just as daring as Nora, we learn that a young Mrs. Alving left her philandering husband, seeking happiness with the man she truly loved, a scandalous act for any woman of her day. But that man, Pastor Manders, was too conventional or actually believed in the values and norms of his calling as a clergyman to

Reckoning with the past If we learn anything from Ghosts, it is perhaps that appearances can be deceptive. While we never encounter Capt. Alving on the stage, we know from all accounts that he had been the dashing life of the party of whom no one would have wanted to think ill, despite rumors that may have surfaced. Even Pastor Manders has been unaware of what Mrs. Alving has endured. Manders is shocked to learn that Capt. Alving seduced one of the household domestics and that the relationship had consequences, that Mrs. Alving’s housemaid Regina is actually the daughter of her husband, not a wayfaring foreigner, as he was told by the man who adopted her, Jakob Engstrand, a conniving alcoholic, who does what he can to get ahead in life. It is during this conversation between Mrs. Alving and Pastor Manders that the most ghastly apparition in the play appears, when she sees her son embrace Regina, as the memory of her lecherous husband comes back to life.

Timeless message Out of date? By no means. This new production of Ghosts at the Seattle Rep brings age-old questions of self-authenticity to the forefront, as you leave the theater asking yourself if you’ve buried your own ghosts. With Ibsen’s well-made play and this new well-crafted production, key existential questions are laid bare, but Ibsen never provides the answers. All his life, the playwright fought his own “trolls in his heart,” and with his work, he exhorts you to do the same. There is much to enjoy with this new staging of Ghosts. Walsh’s new American English translation brings the dialogue to life, each word carefully chosen. There is original music by David Coulter, and an innovative set allows him to be seen playing a variety of instruments. This is superb acting by a cast that includes veteran actor David Strathaim. But it is Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio who steals the show as Mrs. Alving, keeping her audience captive for every moment she appears on stage. Two hours fly by. From beginning to end, this is a brilliant production. The play will run through May 1 at the Seattle Rep’s Bagley Wright Theatre, but if you can’t make your way to the Emerald City to see it, you are not out of luck. An online performance will be available for streaming between April 13 and May 22 at seattlerep.org/plays/202122-season/ghosts. Lori Ann Reinhall, editor-in-chief of The Norwegian American, is a multilingual journalist and cultural ambassador based in Seattle. She is the president of the SeattleBergen Sister City Association, and she serves on the boards of several Nordic organizations. In her free time, she loves to play the piano and sing.

theNORWEGIAN american

BOOKS

April 15, 2022 •

Bitter Flowers

Gunnar Staalesen, king of Norwegian Noir July 11, 1983, has a dark significance for me. That is the day that my then-favorite crime writer, Ross Macdonald (Kenneth Millar), died of Alzheimer’s disease. Through 35 years and 18 novels, Macdonald’s laconic private eye Lew Archer had been showing me the depth and power of detective fiction like no one other than Raymond Chandler ever had. In 1983, heartbreakingly, all that ended. A pretty long dry spell ensued for me. And then, even as the century turned, I encountered my first Gunnar Staalesen novel, The Writing on the Wall, and I knew that dry spell was over. All the qualities I had found so important in Macdonald were more than evident in Staalesen’s work—but with a very important difference: just as Macdonald had turned Southern California into a moral landscape for his fiction, Staalesen had done the same for western Norway. My life’s goal quickly became a journey to Bergen—and a few years later, that is exactly what happened. This lengthy introduction says that for me, as for readers around the globe, the appearance of a new Varg Veum novel has become a major reading event. And this makes the first English-language publication of 1991’s Bitter Flowers a remarkable experience. Those who follow the Veum chronicles now know a lot more about Varg than we did a decade and a half ago. Veum today is older and much more ruminative than he was back then. Today, Varg is more inclined to believe in that famous Lew Archer insight: “I have a secret passion for mercy, but justice is what keeps happening to people.” In Bitter Flowers, we find Veum grappling with the world’s evil to the point that a case gone wrong has put him in the grasp of akvavit, the dangerous Scandinavian tipple that is always at arm’s reach in his office desk drawer. And this time it’s got him bad: he’s just done a stint in rehab. He’s better at the book’s beginning—to the point that he is considering returning to work via a housesitting job for a high-dollar mansion in the Bergen suburbs. This on the suggestion of Lisbeth Finslow, a physiotherapist who has been working with Varg in his rehabilitative stage. There is a bit of a spark going on between Lisbeth and Varg, but it will not ignite. When she takes him for a tour of the property in question, they find a body in the swimming pool, after which Lisbeth completely disappears. All of that is just the first chapter. Nobody hooks like Staalesen hooks: he always keeps you reading “just one more chapter”—until it’s dawn. The larger hook in Bitter Flowers is one that clearly makes Staalesen and Ross Macdonald soulmates, in case there were any doubt. It isn’t long until Varg, in search of the missing Lisbeth, runs smack into the kind of dysfunctional and gothic family that Lew Archer encountered in every book.

Photo: Berit Roald / NTB

Gunnar Staalesen in his hometown, Bergen, scene of many crimes.

Photo: Gordon Hulmes Travel / Alamy

Norwegian flags fly from a Bergen building with the statue of Varg Veum.

This bunch, the Schroder-Olsons, has more skeletons that you could stuff in a cave. One of them is the question of what exactly happened to their beautiful, angelic daughter Siv that left her, as a young woman, with a 4-year-old mental state for life. It was a fall down the stairs—but what were the exact circumstances of that fall, and who else was involved? When Lisbeth Finslow, who began these convolutions, turns up dead and the true identity of the dead man in the swimming pool is discovered, all these threads converge. The most

important question is what does all this have to do with the old “Camilla Case,” in which a little girl went missing one night, never to be found? You will not see the ending of this expertly woven tale coming, so don’t even try. I have taken some pains to compare Staalesen and Macdonald in this piece because it is clear to me that Staalesen is bearing a torch. Macdonald’s Lew Archer was often a kind of detective genealogist, teasing out the rotted roots of long-buried family traumas. Varg Veum does this as well, and Veum echoes Archer in his environmental concerns. The action of Bitter Flowers, for example, takes place amid a massive environmental protest that is threatening to shake the very foundation of the Schroder-Olson holdings. Veum, like Archer, is destined to remain alone in his quest to make sense of the universe. Indeed, he is destined to fail more often than to succeed. As Veum regretfully notes upon realizing that he will never be able to give the sister of Lisbeth Finslow the answers she has sought from him, “I sighed out loud as I rang off. Yet another person I was going to disappoint. Someone else I was going to bring a different message from the one she was expecting. Another seed sown that would never flower.” As much a detective fiction owes to the terse sentences of Ross Macdonald, Staalesen is the far superior writer. He plots brilliantly, never loses sight of the humanity of even the most minor characters. He writes prose that if cut, would bleed— even in translation, thanks to the excellent Don Bartlett. It is well-nigh time for a compendium of

Varg Veum bon mots: “She reminded me of a polished Cadillac with visible rust spots.” “The veins (on his hand) protruded like inverted trenches on a battlefield.” My favorite from Bitter Flowers, “Civilization is one of those places that it takes much longer to leave than to return to.” There are, of course, the descriptive passages where Bergen comes alive again and again as a major character: “Bergen and the seven mountains unfolded beneath us. Nordnes headland pointed north, as if showing us the broad path to perdition.” God almighty! Who writes that beautifully on every page? Down to the word. I’m quite sure that Norway knows what a treasure it has in Staalesen, and I’m thrilled to see the rest of world finding out, book by book.

Jerry Holt is a novelist, playwright, teacher, and public speaker. He is professor emeritus of English at Purdue University Northwest and a recipient of Purdue’s 2015 Dreamer Award, recognized for work as that has “embodied Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of service to others.” Holt has written four major plays, one novel, and nine short plays. His acclaimed novel, The Killing of Strangers, focuses on several mysteries surrounding the Kent State University shootings on May 4, 1970.

16 • April 15, 2022

BULLETIN BOARD

theNORWEGIAN american

Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha toured the United States in 1939, when they attended a gala in Tacoma, Wash.

Photo courtesy of Bonnie Svardal

Dancing with a crown prince

Photo courtesy of Oda Voltersvik

Oda Voltersvik kicked off her North American tour at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle on March 20.

se Photo courtesy of Norway Hou

ay. e in Minneapolis in well underw Construction at Norway Hous

Have you ever wished you had asked your mother or father more questions about their life? I have. This vignette comes to mind after watching the PBS miniseries Atlantic Crossing. My mother told me about the extended trip made by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha in 1939. One of their first visits was an invitation to meet President and Mrs. Roosevelt. It was at this meeting where a strong friendship developed between Märtha and FDR, as recently portrayed in Atlantic Crossing, which focused on the war years 1940–1945. During this visit, they continued across the United States to visit cities with heavy Norwegian-American populations in the Midwest. They also visited Los Angeles, where they met Sonja Henie, and they were in San Francisco to attend the International Exhibition on Treasure Island. Mount Hood in Oregon, Tacoma, Wash., and Seattle were also included in their itinerary. There was a dinnerdance in their honor in Seattle and, from what I could find online, it appears to have happened May 2 at the Seattle Civic Auditorium. It was at this dance my mother danced with Crown Prince Olav. She said my father was upset because he didn’t get to dance with Princess Märtha. The royal couple went skiing and stayed at the Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier, Wash., on May 24 after their Tacoma visit on May 23. They stayed in Seattle three days and made a trip to Stanwood, Wash., on May 27. Now I wish I had asked more questions about that dance. Had they been invited or was it open to all Norwegian Americans? What was served for dinner? And so on and so forth. The lesson learned is to ask those questions while you can—you will treasure the memories. — Bonnie Svardal, Sequim, Wash.

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ROYALS

April 15, 2022 •

A new day dawns on Norway’s royal family

Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB

The royal couple and the royal family pose for a photograph at the Royal Palace. From left: Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Queen Sonja, King Harald, Leah Isadora, Emma Tallulah, Märtha Louise, and Maud Angelica.

Terje Leiren

Professor Emeritus University of Washington, Seattle

While the modern Norwegian monarchy and royal family date from 1905, the origins of the monarchy go back to the Viking Age and the political unification of Norway as one kingdom. Saga writers and chroniclers in the 12th and 13th centuries, such as Snorri Sturluson, considered Harald Fairhair (Hárfagri) to be the first single ruler of Norway, a territory stretching from Finnmark to the Göta River. The scope of the united kingdom was precarious following Harald’s death, but subsequent claimants to the throne, such as Olaf Tryggvason, Olaf Haraldsson (St. Olaf), and Harald Sigurdsson, all claimed sovereignty over Norway as descendant of Harald Fairhair, claims that modern historians consider unlikely. The dynastic claims were, nevertheless, solidified as the monarchy built its position in concert with the Roman Church. Following the missionary activities of Olaf Tryggvason, St. Olaf, with the help of English bishops and priests, enforced the spread of Christianity by introducing church organization and church law. The death of St. Olaf at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, spearheaded by the Danish/English King Knud the Great, emphasized the growing conflict between Norwegian and Danish claims for the control of Norway. The comparable strength of the Danish and Norwegian kingdoms by the late 11th and early 12th centuries, however, resulted in an internal political stabilization while the kings, especially Harald Hardråde (1045-1066) and Sigurd the Crusader (1103-1130), were active expansionists.

The death of Sigurd the Crusader in 1130 brought to an end a period of relatively stable internal conditions and introduced several decades of conflict over royal succession, a period known as the “Civil Wars.” Ironically, the years from 1130 to 1319, chaotic as they were, also saw the development of a more organized and centralized kingdom. The elimination of rival claims to the throne and joint rule, issues that regularly fueled the “Civil Wars,” were addressed with the establishment of a “Law of Succession” in 1163 after the coronation of Magnus Erlingsson with the powerful support of the church and the new archbishop of Nidaros. The succession law stipulated the rule of primogeniture and established that Norway was to have one king. The power of the church associated with the establishment of the Law of Succession was challenged by King Sverre (1184-1202), who claimed secular authority directly through the grace of God rather than through affirmation by the Roman Church. Sverre also popularized the idea of St. Olaf as the “eternal king” of Norway-perpetuus rex Norvegiæ. Through the 13th century, the Norwegian monarchy reflected the country’s internal political strength, marked especially by the long reign of Haakon IV Haakonsson (12171263) and the establishment of several legal initiatives and law codes. Under Haakon IV, Norway’s interest in the North Atlantic islands was dominant. This changed under his successors, however, as the royal residence was moved from Bergen to Oslo, mirroring the shift of economic and political interests toward the south and east. The line of monarchs of an independent Norway ended in the vagaries of circumstance at the end of the 14th century when the mon-

archy moved to Copenhagen following the emergence of Queen Margarete in the wake of the death of her husband, Haakon VI, and her son Olav IV, who had also succeeded to the throne of Denmark. With the establishment of the Kalmar Union of the three Scandinavian states in 1397, the Norwegian monarchy was subsumed into the Danish monarchy where it would remain through the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and into the Napoleonic era. Of the monarchs during the Danish-Norwegian dual monarchy, Christian IV had the most interest in Norway. With his mercantilist policies, he established the cities of Kongsberg and Kristiansand, relocated a rebuilt Oslo following a destructive fire in 1624, and renaming it Christiania, after himself. The French Revolution and Napoleonic wars between 1789 and 1815 affected Norway and the monarchy significantly. Repelled by Great Britain’s preemptive bombardments of Copenhagen in 1801 and 1807, Frederick VI allied the dual monarchy with the fate of Napoleon. Sweden, allied against Napoleon, forced Denmark to cede Norway under the Treaty of Kiel, signed Jan. 14, 1814. Rejecting the terms of the treaty, the heir to the Danish throne, Christian Frederik, rallied Norwegians to oppose the transfer. He called a national assembly to write a new liberal constitution, which was signed on May 17, 1814. Christian Frederik was elected king, an office he held until August when, under the terms of the Convention of Moss, he abdicated and returned to Denmark. Norwegians agreed to a union with Sweden after Carl Johan accepted that they could retain the constitution. Carl XIII of Sweden also became Carl II of Norway until 1818, when Carl Johan succeeded as King

Carl III Johan of Norway. Four kings of the Bernadotte line reigned in Norway between 1814 and 1905. The last Bernadotte, Oscar II, spoke and wrote Norwegian as a native speaker. It was not animosity toward the reigning Swedish-Norwegian monarchy that fueled the dream of Norwegian independence but the desire to fulfill the fundamental aspects of the 1814 constitution. When that finally happened in 1905, it was the promise of a new “national” Norwegian monarchy that defined it. Offered the throne following an overwhelming popular vote, Prince Carl of Denmark took the name Haakon VII, thereby demonstrating that the new monarchy was directly tied to the last sole Norwegian king before the unions with Denmark and Sweden. Taking the motto: “Alt for Norge,” Haakon became the representation of Norway’s constitutional monarchy and symbol of the nation. Nothing demonstrated that more keenly than his words and deeds when Nazi German forces invaded Norway on April 9, 1940. The tradition of sacrifice, service, and constitutional propriety that Haakon VII embodied were transferred to his successors, Olav V and Harald V. To the extent that future monarchs maintain that tradition, the Norwegian monarchy will prevail as much a beacon for the future as it has been a monument of Norway’s past. Dr. Terje Leiren is Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington where he has taught Scandinavian history, including the history of the Vikings, for over 40 years.

R2 • April 15, 2022

ROYALS

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The next generation

Profile of Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the throne With all that baggage, one could assume that King Harald would have been inclined to refuse when Haakon asked him for permission to propose to her. But King Harald’s own history might have played a role here. Harald had to wait almost 10 years before his father allowed him to marry Sonja. Her past was not controversial but she was also a commoner. That meant that she was off-limits since royals at the time were expected to marry other royals – or at least someone from the nobility. With King Harald’s blessing, the engagement went ahead, with the couple’s first official appearance after the engagement being at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony on Dec. 10, 2000. But the press was relentless. Details about Mette-Marit’s controversial past kept trickling in, and tabloid readers could not get enough. Embarrassing pictures had reportedly been obtained, and the topic of Mette-Marit’s past seemed to promise never to go away. But then, the royal family deflated the controversy with a masterstroke of public relations.

Daniel Albert

Trondheim, Norway

He is the great-grandson of Norway’s first king in the modern era, and first in line for the throne. Haakon Magnus has so far navigated his duties well and proved quite apt at avoiding scandal. Second born and first in line Haakon Magnus was born on July 20, 1973, a little less than two years after his elder sister, Märtha Louise. He has been first in line for the throne ever since. At the time of his birth, Norway followed the agnatic primogeniture rules of succession. That’s just a complicated way of saying that girls only get to sit on the throne if they don’t have a brother. The rules were changed in 1990, but it was decided that they would only apply to future heirs, so as not to jumble up the existing order of succession. This explains why Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Prince Haakon’s daughter, is third in line for the throne. Monarchs from the two neighboring Scandinavian countries were chosen as godparents for Haakon Magnus’ christening in September of 1973. These were King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Photo: Julia Marie Naglestad / Det kongelige hoff

In recent years, Crown Prince Haakon has assumed more official royal duties and has shown himself to be exceptionally well-suited to serve as Norway’s future king.

Crown Prince Haakon’s education It was important for King Harald and Queen Sonja that their children would get as normal an upbringing as possible. As such, the children attended public kindergartens and schools. Haakon Magnus had not even finished high school in 1991 when his grandfather died and his father ascended to the throne. At just 17, he was first in the line of succession. He completed high school the following year and decided to join the military. Unlike his father, who served in the army, Haakon Magnus opted for a career in the navy. Like his great-grandfather before him, he became a naval officer. In 1996, he left the country for the United States, where he would study political science at the University of California at Berkeley. He obtained that degree in 1999. He would later get a master’s degree in development studies from the London School of Economics. Crown Prince Haakon’s official duties The Crown Prince and his wife carry out a number of official duties every year, both in Norway and abroad. Haakon acted as a regent for the very first time at 18, during one of his father’s foreign visits. In 1999, he visited a number of Norwegian-American communities. He was named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program in 2003. He is the patron of many cultural events in Norway and has a special interest in the state of the oceans and the issue of climate change. Every year the crown prince travels abroad, accompanied by Norwegian delegations, strengthening bilateral relations within trade and industry, science, and culture. Marriage to Mette-Marit The only real controversy Crown Prince Haakon has had to deal with to date was his engagement to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby

Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / Det kongelige hoff

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were married on Aug. 25, 2001.

in December 2000. The pair met at some point in the 1990s at the Quart Festival in her hometown of Kristiansand. At the time, this was Norway’s biggest music festival. Years later, in 1999, they would meet again at the same festival. By then, MetteMarit was a single mother. A controversial past The Norwegian establishment was horrified when the crown prince’s relationship with

Mette-Marit was made public. The general public’s reaction was quite negative as well. To the public and the media, MetteMarit was a commoner with no education and questionable connections. On top of that, she was the single mother of a toddler whose father was a convicted felon. By her own admission, she had a strong rebellious phase. Her involvement in Oslo’s rave scene, where drugs were readily available, was only one of the problems highlighted by the press.

A crucial press conference Just a week before the wedding, MetteMarit held a press conference, apologizing for aspects of her past. “My youth rebellion was much stronger than many others. That resulted in me living quite a wild life,” she said. She explicitly condemned drugs – falling short of admitting that she had used them. She then expressed a wish that she could get a chance to start over and make better choices and told the press that she did not wish to speak more of her past. The strategy worked. Having MetteMarit speak so openly about her past deflated the ballooning controversy. Public perception changed almost overnight, as people began to see Mette-Marit as a normal person who had made bad decisions and was trying to become better. The couple married on Aug. 25, 2001, at Oslo Cathedral. They have two children together: Princess Ingrid Alexandra (born Jan. 21, 2004) and Prince Sverre Magnus (born Dec. 3, 2005). Haakon is also the stepfather to Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby. Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein In 2019, Mette-Marit attracted controversy again when it was revealed that she had met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein several times between 2011 and 2013. A that time, Epstein had already been convicted and served jail time on charges of sex trafficking of minors. Crown Prince Haakon also met with Epstein during one of those occasions, when the couple was on holiday at Saint Barthélemy, in the Caribbean. The revelations came to light in the context of the scandal involving British Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who got a lot of negative attention because of his close ties to Epstein. In a statement, Mette-Marit spoke of her regret in failing to investigate Epstein’s past. A royal household communications manager stated that the crown princess had ceased contact with Epstein as he was attempting to use his connection to her to influence other people. This article first appeared on the Life in Norway blog and was reprinted with permission. Visit lifeinnorway.net.

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ROYALS

April 15, 2022 •

The story of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway also surrounded the couple’s use of Märtha Louise’s royal title in a commercial context. The princess later apologized on her Instagram account and ceased to use her title in this manner.

Daniel Albert

Trondheim, Norway

If there’s one thing that can be said about Princess Märtha Louise, it’s that she seems to be a never-ending source of inspiration for the tabloid press. Whether it’s her personal life, her business ventures, or her public statements, she can arouse adulation as well as scorn from the general public. First born but not first in line Princess Märtha Louise was born Sept. 22, 1971, at Rikshospitalet, University Hospital in Oslo. She was named after her father’s mother, Crown Princess Märtha, and her great-great grandmother, Queen Louise, the mother of King Haakon VII. Rules of succession in place at the time of her birth meant that she was not in line for the throne, because she was female. Changes made to the constitution in 1990 now stipulate that the firstborn shall be first in the line of succession regardless of gender. This is why Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Prince Haakon’s daughter, is third in line for the throne, ahead of Märtha Louise. Since Märtha Louise was born long before that constitutional amendment was adopted, it was decided that males would continue to take precedence over females for children born before 1990. Interestingly, although Märtha Louise was not in the line of succession for the Norwegian throne at the time of her birth, she was 26th in line for the British throne. This is because her father is a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth. Early life Princess Märtha Louise spent her childhood at the Skaugum Estate, near Oslo. Her parents wanted their children to get a normal upbringing, and both the princess and her brother attended a municipal daycare center and a local primary school. The princess sang in a choir and played the flute. She joined a folk-dancing group at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History and was an avid equestrian in her formative years. Marriage to Ari Behn The princess got engaged to Ari Behn (born Ari Mikael Bjørshol) in 2000 and married him at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim on May 24, 2002. Behn had achieved literary success in 1999 with a collection of short stories titled Trist som faen (Sad as Hell). This first book would remain his greatest literary success, praised by critics, while subsequent novels got mixed reviews. During the early 2000s, he was often portrayed in Norwegian media as a pretentious poseur, frequently and flamboyantly arguing with critics and other artists. In a famous example of those public spats, he challenged critic Kjetil Rolness to a duel by pistol or sword in 2001. No official title Märtha Louise obtained a royal edict in 2002 freeing her of her constitutional role and allowing her to start her own business.

Märtha Louise’s professional life Princess Märtha Louise became a certified physiotherapist in 1997, after getting a degree in Oslo and an internship in the Netherlands. She has never practiced that profession but chose instead to dedicate herself to other interests. In 2000, she became a Rosen therapist. Rosen therapy is a type of alternative medicine. This would not be her only foray into alternative beliefs, as she later claimed she could communicate with animals and angels. In 2007, she started her own alternativetherapy center named Astarte Education. The center offered people help to find their “guardian angel.” This led to widespread criticism both from the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and even proponents of alternative medicine. She replied to the criticism by stating in a TV interview that angels were “creatures of light, which gave her a feeling of a strong presence and a strong and loving support.” The school later changed its name to “Soulspring” and closed a few years later.

Photo: Catherine Wessel / Det kongelige hoff

Princess Märtha Louise, the first-born child of King Harald and Queen Sonja, obtained a royal edict in 2002 to free her of her constitutional role, but she still retains her place in the line of succession.

This means that Behn never had an official title within the royal household. The edict stipulates that Märtha Louise is no longer a royal highness and has to pay income tax. She retains her place in the line of succession and sometimes carries out representation duties on behalf of the king. When traveling abroad, the princess is conventionally accorded the title “Highness.”

This led the National Association for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide to raise the alarm, in fear of a contagion effect. At the same time, the association praised the family’s openness about the event.

Three children The couple had three daughters: Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora, and Emma Tallulah. None has an official royal title. The family lives in Islington, London, and Lommedalen, Bærum. On Aug. 5, 2016, Princess Märtha Louise and Behn started divorce proceedings and intended to share custody of their three daughters. The divorce was formalized the following year.

Incident with Kevin Spacey American media reporting on Behn’s death widely presented him as a “Kevin Spacey accuser.” This is due to a comment made by Behn following the accusations of sexual misconduct made by 20 men against the American actor in 2017. Behn had described an incident in which he said Kevin Spacey had groped his genitals in 2007 at a nightclub during the afterparty for the Nobel Peace Prize concert. Talking about the incident during a television interview, he said that he had not experienced it as sexual harassment but rather as a compliment.

Death of Ari Behn On Dec. 26, 2019, Behn’s family issued a statement announcing that he had died by suicide on Christmas Day. He was 47. The news quickly made headlines around the world. He had been known to struggle with alcoholism and depression for a number of years. In the days following his death, media reports about his life were plentiful and lavishly positive.

Relationship with Durek Verrett In 2019, Märtha Louise made headlines once again by announcing that she was in a romantic relationship with self-styled shaman Durek Verrett. The American claims to demystify spirituality by making it “attainable and understandable not only for the layperson, but also for the more spiritually advanced.” Verrett has been denounced as a charlatan in Norwegian media. Controversy

A historic lawsuit In 2007, Märtha Louise wrote history by becoming the first member of the Norwegian royal family to ever appear in a court of law. She succeeded through those legal proceedings to stop sales of a book entitled Martha’s Angels, which used her photo on its cover without her permission. The book was the Norwegian translation of Seeing Angels, by British author Emma Heathcote-James. The author said she had no idea who the princess was and that she did not understand why the book, originally published five years earlier, was being launched in Norway at that time. What does Märtha Louise do today? The princess carries out official duties as a representative of the royal household in areas concerning persons with disabilities. She is the chair of a fund that carries her name and whose aim is to benefit children with disabilities. She also sponsors eight organizations, and she is a board member of Stiftelsen Vi, which was established to help people with disabilities achieve equal rights to a meaningful life. This article first appeared on the Life in Norway blog and was reprinted with permission. Visit lifeinnorway.net.

Daniel Albert was living a perfectly normal life as a journalist in Canada until he was swept off his feet by a Norwegian. He now lives in Trondheim, where he still works in communications.

ROYALS

R4 • April 15, 2022

theNORWEGIAN american

Princess Ingrid Alexandra

Introducing the future queen of Norway David Nikel

Trondheim, Norway

New official photographs were released of Princess Ingrid Alexandra as she prepared to turn 18 on Jan. 21, 2022. The photographs show the princess in her new office as she prepares to start royal duties. Ingrid Alexandra is second in line to the throne behind her father, Crown Prince Haakon. Her grandfather, Harald V, is currently the king of Norway. When she ascends to the throne, she will become Norway’s second woman monarch but the first in more than 600 years. Queen Margaret of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden ruled from 1387 to 1412 and founded the Kalmar Union. An 18th birthday celebration The day before her birthday, Ingrid Alexandra visited the Norwegian parliament, where she was introduced to their work by Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani. She also visited Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the Supreme Court. An increasing role for the princess The royal court announced that Ingrid Alexandra will “carry out an increasing number of official tasks” on behalf of the royal family now that she is 18. She now has office space in the royal palace. However, Ingrid Alexandra is currently studying at Elvebakken videregående (high school) in Oslo. The royal court stressed that education would remain her primary focus in the years to come. Her story so far Born on Jan. 21, 2004, at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo, Ingrid Alexandra is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon. She has a brother, Sverre Magnus, born about two years after her. Her mother, Crown Princess MetteMarit, has an older son, Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship. Ingrid Alexandra was christened in the palace chapel on April 17, 2004, and was presented by the king for the baptism. Among those in attendance were royalty from Spain, Denmark, and Sweden, and Ingrid Alexandra’s aunt, Princess Märtha Louise. Following Ingrid Alexandra’s birth, the well-regarded Norwegian royal family experienced a surge in popularity. Ingrid Alexandra has attended Jansløkka Skole (elementary school), Oslo International School, Uranienborg School, and now Elvebakken. Her parents chose Jansløkka–a state school–to give her as ordinary a childhood as possible. The princess is known to be a keen surfer. She won a gold medal at the Norwegian surfing championship for juniors in 2020.

Photo: Ida Bjørvik / Det kongelige hoff

Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and next in line to the throne after her father.

Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB

Princess Ingrid Alexandra signs the guest book during an official visit to the Norwegian parliament.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park One of the popular sculpture parks in Oslo, this fairy-tale-inspired section of the Royal Palace Gardens was opened as part of the king and queen’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2016. The park wasn’t just named after the princess. She also actively participated in its planning, by choosing designs from sculpture ideas submitted by schoolchildren from across Norway.

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Photo: Julia Naglestad / Det kongelige hoff

Prince Sverre Magnus and Princess Ingrid Alexandra were photographed together on the occasion of her 18th birthday.

Royal duties to date Although the princess will begin to undertake more royal duties now that she has turned 18, she has already taken part in numerous events. She participated with her grandfather in the opening ceremony of 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer. She has also christened some vessels, including the Norwegian Rescue Company’s new lifeboat in her first royal engagement.

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This article first appeared on the Life in Norway blog and was reprinted with permission. Visit lifeinnorway.net. David Nikel is a freelance writer based in Norway. He runs the popular website and podcast www.lifeinnorway. and is the author of the Moon Norway guidebook, available now in all good bookstores.

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April 15, 2022 •

Reigning with style, grace, and love

A tribute to Norway’s majestic royal couple Lori Ann Reinhall

Editor-in-chief The Norwegian American

They have been on the throne for over three decades now as the head of Norway’s royal family. King Harald V and Queen Sonja have tirelessly served the people of Norway, never once embarrassing them. Their love story is an inspiring one and perhaps at the core of their success as reigning monarchs. King Harald V and Queen Sonja are Norway’s truly majestic royals. Prince Harald was born Feb. 21, 1937, in the royal residence, Skaugum, the only son of Crown Prince (later king) Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Sweden. He had two sisters, the late Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid. As is well known after the PBS miniseries Atlantic Crossing last year, the family fled Norway after the Nazi Germany invasion of World War II, and Harald spent the war years in Washington, D.C. Sonja Haraldsen was born July 4, 1937, at the Red Cross Clinic in Oslo. Her father was a clothing merchant, which led Sonja to earn a diploma in dressmaking and tailoring, as well as a degree from the finishing school, École Professionnelle des Jeunes Filles in Switzerland. She then attended the University of Oslo, earning a degree in French, English, and art history. While Sonja ’s background in many ways prepared her for her future role as Norway’s monarch, when she first met Crown Prince Harald, the match was considered to be a mesalliance, a marriage to someone of a lower status; Sonja was a commoner. The couple quietly dated for nine years. Finally, the crown prince told his father, King Olav, that he would never marry unless he were granted permission to wed his true love, Sonja. If he were to never marry and have children, the family’s reign on the throne would end after Harald’s death. In March 1968, the royal court of Norway announced that King Olav had given permission for the couple to wed. They were married on Aug. 29, 1968, at Oslo Cathedral with full fanfare and regalia. Sonja threw herself into her work as the Crown Princess of Norway and quickly gained popularity with the Norwegian people. The marriage of Harald and Sonja has been one of much happiness and sincere love for one another. They celebrated 30 years on the throne in January 2021 and continue to serve their country and its people they love.

Official portraits of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway.

Photos: Jørgen Gomnæs / Det kongelige hoff

Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / Det kongelige hoff / NTB

In January 2021, Queen Sonja and King Harald celebrated 30 years on the throne in service to the Norwegian people.

ROYALS

R6 • April 15, 2022

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Welcome to the Royal Palace

A historic jewel in the middle of Oslo on the guided tour enter when they arrive at the palace. Visitors see various state rooms. Pompeian frescoes decorate the banquet hall where more than 200 people may dine. National Romanticism is the theme of the Bird Room that reflects the great interest in Norwegian nature and history. This is where all those seeking an audience with the king wait to be announced. Visitors also admire the most beautiful guest room in the palace, the King Haakon VII Suite where both kings and presidents have stayed, as well as the ballroom. A new exhibition is organized every year. Unfortunately, the guided tours for 2021 were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, tours are set to resume in 2022.

Cynthia Elyce Rubin Travel Editor The Norwegian American

Oslo offers stunning scenery, world-class museums, and activities right on the doorstep of urban culture. Take in the opera, shops, or enjoy a seafood meal. Before you set off for hiking or even island-hopping, discover Norwegian royalty. England’s royal dynasty grabs all the headlines, but there is royalty in Oslo. The royal residence, home to King Harald V and Queen Sonja, sits at the top of the main thoroughfare, Karl Johans gate. A concrete symbol of the course of Norwegian history since 1814, it is where the daily work of the monarchy is conducted. Here the king presides over the Council of State, grants audiences, and holds official dinners. Foreign heads of state who visit Oslo stay at the palace and most of the members of the royal court have their workplaces there. History Norway is a constitutional monarchy; the king is formally the head of state, but his duties are mainly representative and ceremonial. The legislative and executive powers lie with the country’s elected bodies. When the constitution states that the “executive power is vested in the king,” this now means that it is vested in the government. The palace building, completed in 1849 in neoclassical style, was designed by Danish architect Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow (1787-1851). Originally educated as a lawyer, he studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and came to Norway in 1812. When the union between Norway and Denmark was dissolved in 1814, he stayed. When Harald V became king at the beginning of the 1990s, a survey of the building showed that it needed a complete renovation. The state of the electrical system was not up to code; the kitchens and sanitation had seen little improvement since 1906; the working conditions for the staff did not comply with the national working environment regulations. The fire-alarm system was not adequate, and the emergency exits were not secure. The façade had not been properly maintained, and the floor beams contained rot. Thus began a rebuilding and rehabilitation that involved many complicated changes. On March 15, 1999, 150 years to the day after the Lord Chamberlain of the British royal household took possession of the original building, the Royal Palace was completely restored and renovated. However, the furnishing and decoration of the royal apartments (completed in spring 2001) was a separate project under the leadership of the royal court. Inside the palace The reception rooms at the Royal Palace reflect the various interior styles that were fashionable during its 25 years of construction. The palace is open to the public only for official guided tours from late June until the middle of August. The vestibule is a prime example of Norwegian Classicist architecture. It is the first room that visitors

Photo: Liv Osmundsen / Det kongelige hoff

The front lawn of the Royal Palace in Oslo is adorned by colorful ground flowers on a spring day.

Photo: Jan Haug / Det kongelige hoff

Store festsal—the Grand Ballroom—is a setting with a scope and decor fit for a king and queen.

The park The park around the palace is a popular recreational area, surrounded on all sides by well-kept lawns, mature trees, small ponds, and statues. The Palace Park is one of the capital’s first and largest parks. It was developed simultaneously with the construction of the new royal palace and is based on the ideal model of nature that prevailed in European horticulture in the mid-1800s. The park is a protected cultural monument managed by the palace gardeners. The main part is open to the public all year. In the southern area is the Queen’s Park, created in 1751 as a private rococo garden, but since 1840 it has been part of the Palace Park and is open from May 18 to Oct. 1. Changing of the guard The king’s guard is the military guard charged with ensuring the safety of the royal family in times of peace, crisis, and war. The Royal Norwegian Company of Marksmen was established in 1856 to enhance security around King Oscar I in Stockholm. The company was renamed His Majesty the King’s Guard in 1866 and was transferred to Oslo toward the end of the union between Sweden and Norway. Since 1888, the guard has been on duty at the palace and other royal residences 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has permanent sentry duty at the palace. A popular free attraction is the changing of the guard that takes place daily at 1:30 p.m. It is not clear as of this writing if there will be a daily ceremony in 2022 due to the COVID situation. Erected in 1845-1849 the guardhouse is said to be the oldest building in Norway built in the Swiss style. The guided tours office can be reached at (+47) 22 04 89 64 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the summer season. Email: nina.hoie@slottet.no. For information on the changing of the guard ceremony, contact the Norwegian tourist information office.

Cynthia Elyce Rubin, PhD., is a visual culture specialist, travel writer, and author of articles and books on decorative arts, folk art, and postcard history, who collects postcards, ephemera, and early photography. See www.cynthiaelycerubin.com.

Photo: Lise Åserrud / NTB

With its extensive collection of fine china, crystal, silver, and linens, the Royal Palace is home to many grand official banquets hosted by the king and queen throughout the year.

theNORWEGIAN american

ROYALS

Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB

April 15,, 2022 •

Photo: Liv Osmundsen / Det kongelige hoff

Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Queen Sonja pay a visit to Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park, which opened in the Palace Park in 2016, with sculptures made for children b y children.

One of the most popular sculptures in Princess Ingrid Alexandra Sculpture Park is “Mitt mot” designed by Christian Mathias Andresen from Moss International School, Moss, Norway.

Photo: Jan Haug / Det kongelige hoff

Photo: Øivind Möller Bakken / Det kongelige hoff

The upper vestibule of the Royal Palace with its solid columns gives a feeling of a strong foundation.

The Royal Palace comes aglow as the sun sets over Oslo.

R8 • April 15, 2022

ROYALS

theNORWEGIAN american

Special ties that bind

Norwegian royal visits, relevant then and now Victoria Hofmo Brooklyn, N.Y.

Aboard the Oslofjord were two very distinguished guests in the spring of 1939, Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway. They were sailing across the Atlantic with the purpose of reinforcing the close bonds between Norway and the United States with a 10-week tour, which spanned 15,000 miles and 34 states. On April 27, they docked in New York harbor, with a slight complication. The dense fog caused the pilot boat to sink. On a brighter note, thousands came to meet them and a ticker tape parade down Broadway was held in their honor. They were even invited to be guests of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt for two nights at their home in Hyde Park, N.Y. The friendship that developed between the two couples was fortuitous for what was to come. As were the words spoken by Crown Prince Olav during the royal couple’s visit to the famous 1939 World’s Fair in Queens to dedicate the Norwegian exhibit: “Unhappily, there is no sign of the probability of eternal peace being within the reach of tomorrow …” Of course, a visit to the large Norwegian community in Brooklyn was on their itinerary. On July 6 at Leif Ericson Park, they dedicated a new monument designed by August Werner. It was a replica of a rune stone in Tune, Norway. Diagonally across from the stone, within eyesight, was the allgirls Bay Ridge High School (now known as Telecommunications High School), the only school in the New York City school system that offered Norwegian as a foreign language. Eileen Johanssen was a student at the time. She recalled how the entire school emptied, went to greet the sovereign couple, and were present for the dedication, evidence of how important these royal visits were, are, and continue to be for the NorwegianAmerican community. Tragically, about nine months after Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha returned home from this tour, the Nazis invaded their homeland. The crown prince’s words proved true for the Norwegian people, government, and royal family. Knowing she was unsafe in Norway or in her country of birth, Sweden, President Roosevelt invited the crown princess and her three children to take refuge in the United States. He even sent a ship to transport them to calmer shores. While in exile, Crown Princess Märtha went on the most important royal U.S. tour Norway would ever see, albeit unplanned

Photo: Kristine Nyborg / NTB

King Harald visited the Norwegian War Sailors Monument in Battery Park in New York City, in 2005.

Photo: Lise Åserrud / NTB

Queen Sonja received a royal reception at the Norwegian Seamans’s Church in Midtown Manhattan during the royal couple’s visit to New York City in 2005.

and unorthodox. Through the friendships she and her husband had developed on their recent trip (especially with the Roosevelts) and tireless persistence, she took on the mission of galvanizing American support for Norway. She, Eleanor Roosevelt, and other notables rallied an audience at a Red Cross fundraiser in Madison Square Garden with tremendous results. Together, they raised $5.1 million, a formidable sum today, and even more so in 1943. Impressed by the crown princess, President Roosevelt found a way to gift

Norway a warship, while still remaining neutral. It is believed that it was she and her tenacity that inspired Roosevelt’s famous “Look to Norway” speech. The young prince, the future King Harald V, who lived in the United States through most of Norway’s occupation, always visits the Norwegian War Sailors Monument in Battery Park when on tour. Sometimes it was freezing. Sometimes the Viking Color Guard from the NYC Police Department would participate. The most moving time was a day when the king came alone with little

to no entourage or fanfare. The war sailors gathered around him in a semicircle, sharing their stories and emphasizing their strong respect and gratitude for his father. Even though the number of Norwegian emigrants to the United States has shrunk exponentially, their pride in heritage has not. In fact, a Norwegian renaissance or gjenfødelse (rebirth) is taking place in New York cultural life. Queen Sonja, an artist and avid art collector, has had a strong presence at Scandinavia House during her royal visits. She has enthusiastically opened art exhibits, including one where she shared her own collection. Most recently this past December, the next generation of Norwegian royals, Crown Prince Haakon, toured the United States. It was a quick jaunt, from Dec. 7 to Dec. 9, split between New York City and Washington, D.C. In New York, the Crown Prince honored war sailor Karl Aksel Andresen for his service during World War II. It was especially moving to see these two sailors (the prince chose a navy career) side by side. One may ask, are the Norwegian royals still relevant? I, for one, would say yes. First, because of the reaction their visits stirs— and not only from Norwegian-Americans. Second, because the family has been very effective in adapting and promoting Norway’s changing interests, while aligning the latter with those of the United States. For example, the first generation of Norway’s monarchs to visit here advocated for military support to save democracy. The next generation then shared Norway’s cultural significance and recognized the bravery of their compatriots during war, and Prince Haakon’s recent visit focused on renewable energy. Our two countries still need each other. If the United States is no longer seen as a place offering employment and a home for Norwegian citizens, it is a place to grow markets, both in terms of business and culture. It is also a place to cooperate on critical world issues, the goal of peace, and climate change—and the Norwegian royal family still plays a very important role. Victoria Hofmo was born, raised, and still lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, the historical heart of Norwegian New York. She is 3/4 Scandinavian: 1/2 Norwegian and 1/4 Danish/Swedish. Selfemployed, she runs an out-ofschool-time program that articulates learning through the arts. Hofmo is an advocate for arts and culture, education, and the preservation of the built and natural environment of her hometown, with a love for most things Scandinavian.

The Norwegian Seamen’s Church in New York, 317 East 52nd Street sjomannskirken.no/new-york

Weekly activities: Church is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12am to 4pm Grøt every Saturday at 1pm Sunday church service at 11am