The Swedish North Star, continuously published since 1872. Price per copy $3.50. Volume 147 No. 08, May 15, 2019.
THE VASA STAR
Photo: Lars Sjöqvist
pages 27-42
The von Echstedtska gården in Säffle, Värmland. The 250-year-old Rococo farm is perhaps the most unique in the province. More on Värmland. /P14
Land of glittering water
The provinces of Sweden — there are 25 of them — are historical, geographical and cultural regions that are important to every Swede’s personal identity. In this issue, we explore the land of the glittering water, a region well documented for its natural beauty, the humor and love of its people, and its fresh food: Värmland. / p 14
The Nordic Way
Page 30
In the third installment of our three-part series on Nordic influences in the U.S., contributing writer Ted Olsson shares research he’s done on the Nordic region’s distinct and forward focused leadership. While some might say we can’t learn anything from the Nordics, that notion no longer holds water. This reflection comes at a time in our nation when being American but also knowing our Nordic roots is something to take seriously — and be proud of. / p 18
Page 5 Whale suspected of spying for Russia found in Norway / p4 Waste on demand / p5 Rhubarb strawberry bliss/ p21 The Swede who saved the Union (Navy) / p30
dashboard | may 15, 2019 SCANDINAVIAN QUIZ
is Norway’s syttende mai 1 What celebration? A) a Schengen festival B) acknowledging the 17th king’s
6 Since 1953, Greenland has been the territory of which Nordic country? A) the Faroe Islands B)Denmark C) Norway D) Iceland
2 What Swedish artist recently had the most visited exhibit in the history of NY’s Guggenheim Museum? A) Claes Oldenburg B) Carl Milles C) John Bauer D) Hilma af Klint
8 The U.S. center of the followers of “The New Church” and Swedenborg (1688-1772) is where? A) Bishop Hill, IL B) Bryn Athyn, PA C) Swedesburg, IA D) Worcester, MA
Stone cairns, known as the Riksrøysa (Norwegian) and Riksrösen (Swedish), mark many parts of the border between Norway and Sweden. This one is in a remote area in the Arctic.
The Swedish-Norwegian border After several changes due to wars, the border between Sweden and Norway is 1,630-kilometers (1,010 miles) long, with 10 border crossings and customs control stations along the way. Customs officers have the right to carry out clearance and checks for both countries, in large part because Norway and Sweden, since 2001, are members of the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area comprises 26 European states that have abolished all passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area, named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement, functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. Most of the 26 countries are members of the EU, but Norway is not. Before 2001, the countries were part of the Nordic Passport Union, which was subsumed into the Schengen Area. All the Nordic countries are now members of the Schengen Area. Name’s Days of the Swedish Calendar Namnsdagar i maj
May 15 May 16 May 17 May 18 May 19 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 26 May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 May 15
Sofia/Sonja Ronald/Ronny Rebecka/Ruben Erik Maj/Majken Karolina/Carola Konstantin/Conny Hemming/Henning Desideria/Desirée Ivan/Vanja Urban Vilhelmina/Vilma Beda/Blenda Ingeborg/Borghild Yvonne/Jeanette Vera/Veronika Petronella/Pernilla |
New York Chicago Stockholm Kiruna Lund Los Angeles 2 NORDSTJERNAN
Sunrise & Sunset
5.39 am 8.06 pm 5.30 am 8.03 pm 4.15 am 9.13 pm 2.31 am 10.44 pm 4.56 am 9.11 pm 5.51 am 7.47 pm
3 Where is Cold Hawaii, one of the best beaches in Scandinavia for surfing? A) Denmark B) Sweden C) Finland D) Norway 4 What battery-run device was devoped by Swede Rune Elmquist? A) pacemaker B) calculator C) milking machine D) zipper
5 What Swedish diplomat (posthumously) became an honorary American in 1981? a) Raoul Wallenberg b) Dag Hammarskjöld c) Folke Bernadotte
CULTURE
Namnsdagar
7 What popular flavor is the black ice cream you may see Swedes enjoying? A) akvavit B) raisin C) horehound D) salty licorice
9 Whose life is the film “Song of Norway” based on? A) Sonia Henie B) King Frederik VI C) Jean Sibelius D) Edvard Grieg 10 What landskap (province) is covered with more lakes than any other and is often called a miniature of Sweden? A) Dalsland B) Västmanland c) Blekinge D) Dalarna
Answers: 1:C, 2:D, 3:A, 4:A, 5:A, 6:B, 7:D, 8:B, 9:D,10:A
birth C) honoring their independence D) a pause when all Norwegians collectively say “uff da” as one nation
May
Sofia - May 15 Sofia is a name with Greek origins—“sopheia” which means “wisdom” or “the wise.” The name was popular in Sweden during the latter part of the 19th century and had another wave of popularity during the 1990s. In 2001, Sofia/Sophia was voted the most beautiful girl’s name by readers of Aftonbladet. Fia is a short form of Sofia. There are 92,845 girls, 10 men named Sofie in Sweden and two people with Sofia as last name. Ingeborg – May 28 The female name Ingeborg is an old Nordic name which means “under Ing’s protection.” Ing is often seen in old Nordic names, and it is possible he was a Nordic god. Birger Jarl’s first wife was called Ingeborg, and during the 17th and 18th centuries the name was often seen as Ingebor. Today in Sweden it is not a very popular name. There are 23,803 Ingeborgs in Sweden of which two are men.
founded in new york city in september 1872 Nordstjernan (ISSN 1059-7670), founded in New York City in September 1872, is published by Swedish News, Inc., 570 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022 • Readers services and editorial submissions: P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Periodicals Postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. www.nordstjernan.com, Nordstjernan is published semimonthly, except for the months of January, February, July when it is monthly and Augustwith no issue. POST MASTER: Please send address changes to Nordstjernan, P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan, CT 06840 Subscription rates: 1 yr. = $55, Two yr. = $99, outside US 1 yr. = $167.
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this week… Photo: Henrik Garlöv/Kungl. Hovstaterna
May TO DO 5.15 KARDEMUMMABULLENS DAG: DAY OF THE CARDAMOM BUN*. Similar to the kanelbulle (cinnamon bun. Simply replace the cinnamon) We instead chose a recipe for a rhubarb strawberry blossom for this issue. /p21 5.21 START YOUR MIDSUMMER PREP: Offically, Midsummer is one month away—it’s celebrated in Sweden on June 21—but it’s likely to be earlier in the month in the U.S., so double check our calendar and your local organization’s plans. 5.24 GO PLAY IN THE PARK: IT’S THE EUROPEAN DAY OF PARKS / Sweden’s national parks cover about 10% of the country’s surface, equivalent to the size of the Skåne region. 5.27 MAKE, EAT AND SHARE A BLUEBERRY MUFFIN: MUFFIN DAGEN / Muffins are not really Swedish and yet they got their own theme day. The blueberries you often find in muffins are abundant in Sweden and that might explain this important and delicious day. 5.26 CALL YOUR MOTHER IF SHE’S IN SWEDEN: MORS DAG / It’s Mother’s Day in Sweden. *Cardamom is a spice made from the seed pods of various plants in the ginger family. It’s mostly cultivated in eastern India and Sri Lanka but can grow anywhere in a tropical, humid climate—in recent years Guatemala has become a major exporter of the spice. Aside from where it’s grown, almost all of the world production of cardamom is consumed by three countries or regions: the Arab peninsula, Sweden and Finland. The average Swede will consume about 60 times more cardamom a year than the equivalent American, and much of it will end up in bread and pastries. It’s the world’s third most expensive spice, surpassed in price per weight only by vanilla and saffron.
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H.R.H. King Carl XVI Gustaf surrounded by family at the Royal Palace, waving to people assembled to honor him on his 73rd birthday, April 30.
Dashboard, p4-5
Going by train in Sweden? / SwedishAmerican poet / Whale suspected of spying for Russia / Waste collection on demand / Airbnb for boat owners / Pope: Please continue Greta / Extended border controls / Made in Sweden: the Jesko mega car.
Events calendar, p6-12
What’s going on in Swedish America.
Page 23
Food & Culture, p23
The making of traditional Värmland fare.
Swedish News, p24-25
Sleep and long term health effects / Electric cars could be worse for the environment / Stress affects weight / Penalties for sabotaging emergency vehicles / New study tests insulin / M: Stop financing extremists / Increased wildfire alarms.
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Fika has never been better for the residents of Anoka, Minnesota, where the Swedish Crown Bakery is living up to its name and making pastries (and more) fit for a king. The Exchange Rate:
$1.00 = SEK 9.54 (05.01.2019)
MAY 15, 2019 3
dashboard | may 15, 2019
Swedish-American poet
Going by train in Sweden? You’ll arrive on time 90 percent of the time. More trains arrived on time in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year, according to statistics from the Swedish Transport Administration. A total of 90.5 percent of trains arrived in time during the first three months of the year, three percentage points higher than in 2018. Highest punctuality was noted in the short-haul traffic. Both January and March were record months with 94.7 percent and 94.5 percent punctuality respectively. A train is considered to be on time if it arrives up to five minutes after the estimated arrival time.
The stories, the traditions, the people behind the news. founded in new york city in september 1872 executive editor
& publisher:
Ulf Barslund Mårtensson (editor@nordstjernan.com) editor:
Amanda Olson Robison (editor@nordstjernan.com) managing editor & production: Everett Martin graphic design: Nadia Wojcik (design@nordstjernan.com) contributors:
Chipp Reid - Ted Olsson - Leif Rosqvist - Kitty Hughes Ulf Kirchdorfer - Valorie Arrowsmith - Olle Wijkström Bo Zaunders - Göran Rygert - James Kaplan - Gunilla Blixt publications director:
Mette Barslund Mårtensson (mette@nordstjernan.com; 800.827.9333, ext 12)
nordstjernan p.o. box 1710 new canaan ct 06840 contact us at 1.800.827.9333 ext 10 for reader services, email: subs@nordstjernan.com; ext 12 for advertising, email: ads@nordstjernan.com www.nordstjernan.com Covering three worlds: Sweden, America and Swedish America. Order your own copy, $55.00 for a year (18 issues) Choose ‘subscribe’ at www.nordstjernan.com or call 1.800.827.9333, ext 10 4 NORDSTJERNAN
It is said that Carl Sandburg rather had his picture on that first 13 cent stamp than getting the Nobel Prize, which he never received - except “second hand” in a telegram from the recipient Ernest Hemingway. When John Steinbeck received the Prize he said: “Of course I am glad to get it. But I wish it had gone to Sandburg. Damn it. He is America.” Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was the son of immigrant Swedes who settled in Galesburg, Illinois. He was proud of his Swedish heritage and of the honorary doctorate given to him by the Uppsala University in Sweden in 1950. Carl Sandburg is still America. His poems and ballads are read and sung across the nation every day by students and professionals. He had his “office” in the attic where he typed away on his typewriter placed on an organ crate. In the summer he moved his typing to the back of the house near the pasture. That’s where he created his six volume Abraham Lincoln biography. His daughter Helga, who died at 95 in 2014, has said that no one was allowed to tidy up his working area: “We were reminded daily by mother to be quiet when he worked and she always said that ‘after all children, he is a genius.’ She felt it, my father knew it, and we accepted it.”
A poet for the people, Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)
There was hardly a day that Carl Sandburg did not have a guitar in his arms. “Soft poetic songs lie at the back of my memory,” Helga Sandburg said. “Songs run like patchwork threads through life. My father’s songs and poems are the property of a people, a nation, a state, a family.”
Whale suspected of spying for Russia A beluga whale that sought contact with Norwegian fishermen may be a Russian spy, according to marine biologists in Norway. The whale wore a harness, which according to experts could be used to attach cameras and spy tools. “If this whale comes from Russia, and there are many reasons to believe it does, then it is not Russian researchers but rather its Navy that is behind it,” says Martin Biuw of the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway to the Norwegian news channel NRK. There were two fishermen who noticed the whale at sea near the Norwegian island of Ingøya. “When it approached us, we saw it had a strange harness on it. It is tame and seemed to ask us for help,” said one of the fishermen to NRK. The harness says “St Petersburg equipment” and can be used to attach equipment such as cameras. “This is not a method that researchers use; and as far as I know, Russian researchers do not mark whales,” says Biuw. After being freed from its harness, the whale has been hanging close to the village of Tufjord on Måsøy, closer to the Norwegian mainland. There he lets himself be patted by the population and shows off tricks for them. What should happen next to the spying whale is unclear.
Photo: Sören Colbing
dashboard | may 15, 2019
Airbnb for boat owners Waste collection on demand The Swedish-Finnish app Skipperi, founded in Finland in 2017 by a combination of influencers and people in the boat industry, helps boat owners rent their boats online. Fewer young Swedes want to own and manage their own boat, but the interest in sailing and boating is still great. From a practical point of view, the arrangement makes sense: The typical leisure boat in Europe is not in use for 90 percent of the time even in season. Renting a 30-foot sailboat can cost about $1,400 per week, a smaller motor boat for Stockholm’s inner archipelago is around $200 a day. For more info, see www.skipperi.com
Swedish garbage bins could soon be digitally connected. Helsingborg-based Bintel AB has developed a system to allow consumers control over when their waste needs to be collected and optimizes collection routes for the garbage trucks. The system works through a transmitter on the garbage bin that tahe customer activates when the bin needs emptying. The process takes place when needed instead of on scheduled days. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact by using fewer garbage trucks that travel fewer miles. An early test project showed a 40 percent reduction in traffic after the system was installed. For more info, see www.bintel.se
Pope: Please continue Greta
After appearances in Davos, Brussels, Paris, Berlin and Strasbourg, the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg met the pope at the Vatican. ”He was very warm and friendly. It was informal and he smiled and laughed all the time,” said Thunberg, 16, to Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter. Thunberg also said she thanked Pope Francis for his environmental commitment and he replied: “Continue with what you do, Greta.” Thunberg later participated in a climate demonstration in Rome.
Extended border controls
The Swedish government says internal border controls can be extended another six months, according to Swedish Radio. The reason is the security situation. ”We have made the assessment that the serious security threats remain,” says Interior Minister Mikael Damberg (S), adding that several other EU countries have extended their internal border controls as well. The decision on the temporary internal border control in Sweden was initially in force until May 11 (and refers to borders inside the so-called Schengen Agreement of EU).
Made in Sweden: 1,600-horsepower, $3 million Jesko 1,600-horsepower, $3 million Jesko. Koenigsegg, which calls its new model, the Jesko, a “megacar,” was at the New York Auto Show in April. Just in case you planned to spend $3 million on your next car, we’re sorry to inform you that the Jesko, named after the company founder’s father, sold out just two weeks after it debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. The press release at the time said Koenigsegg had down payments from dealers and customers for all 125 cars that will be built, but only a fraction of those came after the Geneva showing—Koenigsegg said 83 models, or about two-thirds of build slots, were sold prior to the show. The rest came within five days of the debut. There might still be hope for a few folks who don’t yet have their name on a Jesko, though: The dealer slots
are for “potential clients who could not attend the Geneva show,” and the company said those people should contact their dealer—unless you’ve already bought that ninth vacation home and don’t have the room to splurge this month, of course. Reports are that the Jesko will cost around $3 million, and Koenigsegg said production begins at the end of 2020. The company plans to build one per week once production starts. Christian von Koenigsegg is the Hälsingborg-based entrepreneur behind this monster machine, far from a rational mode of transport for the conservative motorist. But if you already have a boring Ferrari or two gathering dust in your garage, this vehicle with speed to spare is something you simply must own. For more info, see www.koenigsegg.com MAY 15, 2019 5
local events
Local Events California
Kingsburg 05.16-05.18 Kingsburg Swedish Festival: The 53rd Annual Swedish Festival bring entertainment, food and fun, beginning with a smörgåsbord on Friday evening and a Swedish pancake breakfast on Saturday morning. The Swedish Village and Draper Street are full of culture and craft booths, food and entertainment. 559.897.1111 / www.facebook.com/kingsburgchamber/ info@kingsburgchamber.com.
Connecticut
Mystic 06.01-06.02 Viking Days: The second annual celebration of Viking culture, complete with a Viking market, trade demonstrations, musical and theatrical performances, lectures, and on-the-water activities also includes a Viking village encampment and the Viking longship, Draken Harald Hårfagre. Sample Scandinavian fare and enjoy hands-on activities and games for children and adults throughout the day, with a special planetarium show on Viking navigation. Mystic Seaport, 860.572.0711 / info@ mysticseaport.org / www.mysticseaport. org
Midsummer: Välkommen to Vasa N o r r s ke n e t Lo d g e ’ s c e l e b ra t i o n ! 605.253.2575 / ron@dalesburg.org
Illinois
Bishop Hill 05.11, 2-4 PM The History of Baseball: Dr. Bruce Storey offers a free public presentation at the Dairy Building on Erickson St. Bishop Hill Heritage Association, 309.927.3899 / bhha@ mymctc.net / www.bishophillheritage.org 05.16 - 05.18 Quilt Show Yule, Yoyos and Yardage Colony School: A bedazzling display of color with a special quilt exhibit and wheat weaving demonstrations at the Steeple Building. Bishop Hill Heritage Association, 309.927.3899 / bhha@mymctc.net / www.bishophillheritage.org
05.17, 11 AM Hejsan! Story and craft time with the theme: Springtime in the Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver for this free (with admission) program. Reservations are appreciated to snyman@samac.org.
Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 05.18, 11AM - 6 PM 1st Annual Vårmarknad: For the first time at the Swedish American Museum, you can come to a spring market (“vårmarknad”). Similar to Julmarknad (Christmas market), Vårmarknad features Scandinavian crafts and items - find gifts for Father’s Day and graduation or just get something springy for your home. Also visit: Tantalizing Treasures, a sale with everything from antiques to gently used
Chicago 05.06, 11 AM – 4 PM Fika Pop-up Café: The Swedish magazine Hembakat (“Home baked”) declared May 6 as the day to celebrate home baked goods. It is a day to take time and find the joy in baking and happiness in the wonderful smells and the fact that you created something delicious. Our Swedish fika pop-up café on this day offers a variety of Swedish treats. (We will also provide recipes so you can go home and share the joys of home baking!) Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / museum@samac. org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Elk Horn 05.25, 9 AM - 05.26, 3 PM Tivoli Fest: Visit the Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton for the 40th anniversary of Tivoli Fest. Parade, Scandinavian foods, folk dancing, heritage exhibits and much more. Danish Windmill, 712.764.7472 / windmill@metc.net /www. danishvillages.com
05.11, 5-7 PM Merula Concert: From Bellman to Benny, Merula sings three centuries of Swedish music. Under the artistic direction of Göran Anner, Sean Hussey and now Ulla-Britt Silversten, the Chicago choir brings a twist of fun to Swedish music, composers and issues. $10/adults, Free/ages 12 and under. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / museum@samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Sioux City 06.08, 12-2 PM
05.15, 11 AM -4 PM Cinnamon Bun Pop-up Café: It’s
Iowa
Kardemummabullens Dag! Visit the museum and get your authentic Swedish cinnamon bun (kardemummabulle). Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / m u s e u m @ s a m a c . o r g / w w w. swedishamericanmuseum.org
LOS ANGELES Söndag 19 maj kl 12.00
SVENSK GUDSTJÄNST i Angelica Lutheran Church downtown LA, 1345 S Burlington Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006.
Söndag 2 juni kl 11.00
GUDSTJÄNST & NATIONALDAGSFIRANDE i sjömanskyrkan i San Pedro, följt av nationaldagsfirande.
Varje fredag kl 9.30
MORGONBÖN i sjömanskyrkan i San Pedro Varje tisdag kl 18.00
GEMENSKAPSAFTON i sjömanskyrkan i San Pedro. Se hemsidan för program. Följ oss på facebook och instagram! @svenskakyrkanlosangeles
SVENSKA KYRKAN LOS ANGELES 1035 South Beacon Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Tel. (310) 292-7080 • Epost: losangeles@svenskakyrkan.se Hemsida: www.svenskakyrkan.se/losangeles 6 NORDSTJERNAN
Vikings on the east coast
Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut is transformed for the second annual celebration of Viking culture, on June 1-2. Come for Viking Days, a celebration complete with a Viking market, trade demonstrations, musical and theatrical performances, lectures and on-the-water activities - there is something for everyone. Visit a Viking village encampment by living historians Draugar Vinlands, and the Viking longship, Draken Harald Hårfagre, whose new documentary about crossing the North Atlantic can be viewed. Sample Scandinavian fare, and watch traditional faering sailing and a Nordic boat-building demonstration. There will be hands-on activities and games for children and adults throughout the day, and a special planetarium show on Viking navigation. Viking attire welcomed, though please no full-face masks/ helmets or authentic weapons! For more info, see www.mysticseaport.org
local events info@asimn.org / www.asimn.org 05.16, 7 PM Preview Party: The Vikings Begin The Vikings are coming ... collection of 1400-year-old artifacts from the early Viking Age is traveling from Scandinavia to Minneapolis. Be there on the opening night of the highly anticipated exhibit, The Vikings Begin. In addition to being the Midwest premiere of the exhibition, the preview party also includes: mini lectures by Nordic experts, special music, mead tastings, Skål songs and spontaneous Viking long dances and more. $15 ASI members / $20 non-members. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 / info@ asimn.org Scandia 05.26, 1 – 4 PM Immigrant for a Day: Experience a (free) day as an immigrant making a new life on a small farm in the town of Scandia in the late 1800s. As part of annual Minnesota Museums Month, visit each of the five historic and fully furnished buildings to participate in the work and play of residents of this small farm. You may be hauling water, packing your trunk for America, making butter, doing laundry and playing games at “recess” in the new school yard. Come dressed in period costume to add to your experience.
The beauty of the Swedish Tuscany on exhibit in New York New York-based photographer Karin Seastone Stern is exhibiting her photos of a summer in Sweden’s Tuscany—the part of Skåne known affectionately as Österlen. She recently exhibited her photographs of New York at a gallery in Skillinge, the small picturesque fishing village on the coast of Österlen where her grandmother was born and she spends her summers. And now she is exhibiting her photos of Österlen in New York. Meet Karin Seastone Stern at a special artist’s reception that opens the exhibit on June 1 at 1-4 p.m. at The Swedish Church in New York. Sommar på Österlen / Summer on Österlen runs through June 23. www.svenskakyrkan.se/newyork / (212) 832-8443
items. 773.728.8111 / museum@samac. org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 05.19, 3-5 PM Chicago Swedish Mixed Chorus Concert: Music of Swedish spring, love and nature, in Swedish and English. $10, refreshments follow. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / museum@samac.org / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 05.25, 10 AM -12 PM Dala Rooster Craft: Paint your own Dala rooster. $25/prepaid reservation includes everything you need. Swedish American Museum. 773.728.8111 . museum@samac. org. www.swedishamericanmuseum.org 05.26, 11 AM Hejsan! Story and craft time with the theme: Springtime in the Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren. All ages are welcome to attend with a caregiver for this free (with admission) program. Reservations are appreciated via email to snyman@samac.org. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www. swedishamericanmuseum.org
Massachusetts
West Newton 05.25, 1:30 PM The Scandinavian Library Presents: Thelma - A college student experiences seizures while studying at a university in Oslo and soon learns the violent episodes
are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities. In Norwegian and Swedish with English subtitles, 116 minutes. Free; $5 suggested donation. Refreshments served at 1 p.m. Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org 06.08, 1 PM “Svenska Broderi”/Swedish Embroidery: From gently tonal linen näversöm threadwork to colorful and glorious floral yllebroderi on tvåändsstickning knitted fabric, Swedish stitchers have developed a unique and magnificent embroidery tradition. Find out about the history and scope of Sweden’s rich heritage of needle craft from needlecraft artist and author Pat Olski, and learn a few simple stitches to bring a touch of Scandinavia into your own home. Preregister/$5 suggested donation, Scandinavian Cultural Center, 617.795.1914 / www.scandicenter.org
Minnesota
Fridley 05.03, 7:30 PM Swedish Choral Concert: As members of the American Union of Swedish Singers (AUSS), the ASI Male Chorus presents its annual Spring Concert at Redeemer Lutheran Church. www.auss.org
Minneapolis 05.15, 6:30-8:30 PM Craft & Cocktails Series: Enjoy a signature drink from Fika and create a fun set of jewelry out of felted wool! Students will needle felt balls of different colors and sizes, and then assemble a fun and funky pair of earrings and pendant necklace. This is the perfect class to try out simple felting and jewelry making techniques in a relaxed atmosphere. You’ll head home with colorful, custom jewelry to keep or share. $35/members, $45/non-members. American Swedish Institute, 612.871.4907 /
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GENEVA’S MIDSOMMAR FESTIVAL JUNE 18–23
Celebrate 70 Swëde Years Since 1949, Geneva’s Midsommar Festival – Swedish Days – has provided fun for the whole family. This year’s festival kicks off Tuesday, June 18th with Midnight Madness – shops open until 9 pm! Summer doesn’t get any swëder than this!
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MAY 15, 2019 7
local events
New Glass Now The exhibit New Glass Now opens May 12, a highly anticipated exhibition 60 years in the making. The third exhibition in a series starting in 1959, New Glass Now was curated from an open call for submissions by a team led by Susie J. Silbert, curator of Modern and Contemporary Glass at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York. This groundbreaking exhibit surveys the landscape of contemporary glass and features works by 100 living artists working in glass today. New Glass Now is an exhibit of innovation. It highlights the recent work of 100 artists in more than 25 countries, including the well-known artistry of Kosta Boda designers in Sweden as well as others from Sweden’s “glass country” and Denmark and Finland. The selected artworks demonstrate the diversity of their makers, ranging from timely political commentary and investigations of the materiality of glass to explorations at the intersection of high-technology and the hand. The show includes artists at every point in their career, from recent graduates to established artists, representing nearly every glassworking technique. On opening night, mingle with the artists and experience The Corning Museum of Glass with new energy while enjoying food, drinks, live music and demonstrations. The exhibit is on view through January 5, 2020. 607.937.5371 / www.cmog.org / www. facebook.com/pg/corningmuseumofglass
Above, mixed media installation “I was here.” Fredrik Nielsen, Sweden, b. 1977, Sweden, Boda and Stockholm, 2017. Photo: Courtesy of Dunkers Kulturhus Inset: Lustre Gothique Aux Saphirs, Blown glass, brass. Frida Fjellman, Sweden, b. 1971. Sweden, Boda and Stockholm, 2016 Photo: Robert J. Levin. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows Gammelgarden Museum, 651.383.7351 / media@gammelgardenmuseum.org / www.gammelgardenmuseum.org
67th Annual
Swedish Midsommar Festival June 14-15, 16, 2019
THE THIRD WEEKEND IN JUNE finds Stromsburg welcoming thousands of people to enjoy Swedish culture and hospitality. Stromsburg’s locals become Swedish at heart as they serve their guest. Plan to enjoy Swedish foods, crafts, entertainment plus lots more. Experience the “Swede Capital of Nebraska” and celebrate the return of summer. Children adorned in Swedish costumes will dance around the Maypole as well as perform other Swedish dances. Highlights include the crowning of a new king and queen, free entertainment throughout the weekend, a three-day carnival, plus lots more. Friday, June 14 4:30-7:00 p.m. CHICKEN BBQ 5-10 p.m. Taste of Sweden 6:15 p.m. Swedish Dancers 7:30 p.m. Crowning of the King & Queen 8 p.m. Music - “Community Choir” Saturday, June 15 7 a.m. Swedish Pancakes 8 a.m. 5K-10K-1M, Earl “Helge” Byleen Run/ Walk 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Midsommar Market Arts & Crafts 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Taste of Sweden 10:30 a.m. Swedish Tractor Pull 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tour of Stromsburg “Sites & Sights” Noon-4 p.m. Edgarton Explorit Center from Aurora 8 NORDSTJERNAN
6 p.m. Parade “Super Heroes and Villains” 7:30 p.m. “Wissmann Family” Sunday, June 17 Starting at 7 a.m. Boy Scout breakfast and lunch 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Car, Motorcycle & Tractor Show 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Anna Street Trolley, ice cream treats 5:30 p.m. “Praisefest with N8 & K8” MIDWAY & CARNIVAL ALL THREE DAYS To learn about more events and details, call 402-764-5265 or visit www.theswedishfestival.com Like us on facebook Stromsburg Swedish Midsommar Festival
Lindsborg Midsummer’s Festival
June 15, 9 am to 11 pm www.midsummersfestival.com Free Admission • Folk Dancing Children’s Activities • Fun Run • Live Music • Kubb Tournament • Food • Arts and Crafts
Ongoing The attic stores immigration stories: Gammelgården’s Attic exhibit shares items stored or stashed because they are important, valuable or sentimental and might be useful later. We all have them and use them - or sheds, barns or rental storage spaces. The Gammelgården Attic hosts a wide variety of items that are relevant to telling the story of Swedish immigration and settlement. Often these valuable items are too fragile, too small, or too difficult to display in our historic buildings, so they stay in “the attic.” This year many are on display in the Passage Room of the Välkommen Hus where they can be enjoyed and help tell the story of immigration. Gammelgarden Museum, 651.383.7351 / www.gammelgardenmuseum.org
New York
New York 05.22 10 AM-5 PM SSE: One-On-One Sessions in New York: The Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) will be in New York and would love to meet you! LOCATION: TBA SSE is very excited to get to know you, hear about your plans and hopes for the nearest future, and of course to be able to guide you regarding their programs and offerings. https:// www.hhs.se/en/about-us/calendar/ meet-us/2019/network-mingle-in-newyork/. Stockholm School of Economics, studentrecruitment@hhs.se
local events 05.22, 6-9 PM SSE: Network Mingle in New York: Looking for a European graduate school that is something out of the ordinary? Stockholm School of Economics offers an exciting and unique academic path, refining your business skills and building up your network of connections with leading companies. Get the latest update about the school, present the program portfolio, admission requirements, scholarships, global opportunities and further what it is like to study at a school that is an integral part of one of the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial clusters and how this can help you achieve your goals. LOCATION: TBA, sign up here: https:// www.hhs.se/en/about-us/calendar/ meet-us/2019/network-mingle-in-newyork/. Stockholm School of Economics, studentrecruitment@hhs.se 05.24, 10 AM-5 PM SSE: One-On-One Session in New York. Stockholm School of Economics want to get to know you, hear about your plans and hopes for the future, and guide you to our programs and offerings. LOCATION: TBA, sign up here: https://www.hhs.se/ en/about-us/calendar/meet-us/2019/ one-on-one-sessions-in-new-york-1/. Stockholm School of Economics, studentrecruitment@hhs.se
Hannah Chartier of Fort Fairfield making a garland at last year’s Midsummer in New Sweden, Maine. She was also a dancer at the 2018 celebration; this year’s Midsommar Festival in Maine is June 21-23. Photo: Brenda Jepson
Getting ready for Midsummer In the United States, Swedish Midsummer celebrations may take place throughout the month of June, sometimes even in July, although the official celebration is observed on the weekend of June 22 in Sweden.
One of our partner organizations, in Dalesburg, South Dakota celebrates on June 21, the 150th time this year! Our comprehensive listing of Midsummer celebrations throughout the U.S. appears in the next issue.
The Scandinavian Library Presents: Thelma
In this mysterious and suspenseful movie, written and directed by Joachim Trier, a college student experiences seizures at a university in Oslo. As Thelma (played by Eili Harboe) is confronted with tragic secrets of her past, and the terrifying implications of her powers, she learns the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities. In Norwegian and Swedish with English subtitles, 116 minutes. See it at the Scandinavian Cultural Center in West Newton, MA on May 25 at 1:30 p.m. with refreshments served at 1 p.m. Free; $5 suggested donation. For more info, see www. scandicenter.org
Ongoing Nordic Impressions: Contemporary Art from Åland, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. This exhibition brings together a wide array of artistic expressions—paintings, drawings, photographs, installations, films, and videos—that reflect the rich diversity and global character of contemporary Nordic art. Made across a spectrum of media from locations throughout the Nordic region, the works in the exhibition each offer a different artistic experience while being tied across themes that have held a special place in Nordic culture: both historic themes such as light and darkness, the coalescence of nature and folklore, women’s rights and social liberalism; and more current subjects such as climate change, sustainability, and immigration. Through June 8 at Scandinavia House, 212.847.9729 / www.scandinaviahouse. org Rhinebeck 05.31-6.02, 10 AM-5 PM Hudson Valley Country Living Fair: Over 200 vendors showcase and sell antiques, furniture, arts and crafts and home and garden decor. Among them is favorite Swedish designer Gudrun Sjödén, who takes her SoHo store north to participate as a vendor and showcase and sell from her latest collections. Find her store and display in one of the covered barns (look for happy and colorful). The fair at Dutchess County Fairgrounds, www.dutchessfair. com or www.gudrunsjoden.com
Kingsburg, Ca May 16 - 18 Thursday Peasoup & Pancake Supper 5 pm to 8 pm Crowning of the Swedish Queen Friday Smorgasbord and heritage program 9 am to 6 pm Saturday Festival with Parade, Vendors and Heritage Activities. Kingsburg Swedish Village Downtown Kingsburg
(559) 897-1111
Augusta’s Daughter Ever wonder what made so many emigrate from Sweden in the nineteenth century? Judit Martin’s novel, “Augusta’s Daughter,” about 19th century Swedish peasant life made such an impression on us, we decided to offer it to the Nordstjernan readership. call 1.800.827.9333 for your own copy ($24.90 incl. S&H to continental U.S.).
Ohio
Cleveland Heights 05. 19, 2 PM Swedish Choral Concert: As members of the American Union of Swedish Singers (AUSS), the Vasa Voices of Cleveland present their Spring Concert at Peace Lutheran Church. www.auss.org
Through
NORDSTJERNAN 1.800.827.9333 Ext 10 MAY 15, 2019 9
local events Oregon
Portland 05.18, 4 PM Scandinavian Chorus Spring Concert & Raffle: Enjoy music, a bake sale and a raffle, starting at 3:30 p.m. Suggested donation: $10. Nordia House, 503.977.0275 / www. auss.org
the most popular films and tv shows from sweden
swedish dvd releases Order Swedish language movies on DVD. All videos are in the original language with English subtitles.
.95
: $19
uced
red Price
Becoming Astrid: About the life of the creator of Pippi Longstocking, Sweden’s beloved author Astrid Lindgren.
Immerse yourself and family in swedishness with the latest dvd releases from Sweden.
06.08, 11 AM- 6 PM 90th Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival: Welcome summer on Oregon Heritage Tradition Day! Join your friends and family in SE Portland to ring in the 90th year of this historic, regional tradition. Food and crafts are offered from local Nordic clubs, vendors and artists. Two stages of entertainment and a beer garden promise continuous entertainment with live music and dancing, all with a Nordic flair. The Midsummer pole will be raised, followed by festive dancing and singing. Nordia House, 503.977.0275 / lailas@nordicnorthwest. org / www.nordicnorthwest.org Ongoing Exhibit - From Sweden to Oregon: The immigrant experience: Between 1850 and 1949, only Canada and Germany surpassed Sweden in Oregon’s foreign born population: by 1930, one in 10 immigrants in Oregon was a Swede. Who were these intrepid émigrés who not only crossed the Atlantic Ocean to arrive in America, but also traversed the North American continent to settle in Oregon? This exhibit follows the Swedish immigrants to Oregon and reveals what became of their lives, hopes and dreams. Through July 8 at Nordic Northwest, 503.977.0275 / lailas@nordicnorthwest.org / www. nordicnorthwest.org
Becoming Astrid $29.95 = _______ A Man Called Ove ($29.95) $19.95 = _______ The Last Sentence $29.95 = _______ The 100 Year Old Man ($29.95) $19.95 = _______ The Dragon Tattoo Trilogy Extended Boxed Set $39.95 = _______ Wallander Series 2 Boxed Set ($74.95) $59.95 = _______ Max Manus: Man of War (in Norwegian) $19.95 = _______
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05.17, 11 AM-2 PM Constitution Day: In celebration of Norway’s Constitution Day, syttende mai, enjoy a lunch-and-learn featuring a guided tour, catered lunch and author talk. In 1524 the Kalmar Union broke apart, and over the next 300 years Scandinavia became a battlefield as the Scandinavian nations fought for hegemony. Author Jogen Flood discusses his book The Wars for Scandinavian Supremacy 1524-1815 about this period and how it became the foundation for the Scandinavia we know today. $25/includes museum admission, tour and luncheon. Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org 05.21, 10:30-11:30 AM Toddler Time: Is there such a thing as living art? There sure is! We will read “Mossy” by Jan Brett and learn all about the beauty of nature as Mossy the turtle does with lots of fun activities! $5/child, free/members and accompanying caregivers. American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
Ongoing Swedish Taste on the High Seas: Launched in 1928, the same year construction of the American Swedish Historical Museum
Name ____________________________________ City, State, Zip ______________________________
Philadelphia 05.15, 4:30-7:30 PM World Orienteering Day: Join the American Swedish Historical Museum and the Delaware Valley Orienteering Association to learn about the unique sport of Orienteering. Originating in Sweden, orienteering utilizes navigation skills to race from point to point throughout a set course. Event attendees will learn about the history of orienteering, view our exhibition on the modern compass, and learn basic map reading skills before setting off to complete a course through FDR Park. $10 pre-registration for the event is suggested. Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
Ongoing Outdoor Adventures: Explore the history of Nordic navigation, compasses and the modern-day sport of orienteering in this exhibit with Swedish roots. Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
Incl. S&H (in continental U.S.)
Address
Pennsylvania
National archives and library for Swedish-American historical research Publishers of Swedish American Genealogist 639 38th Street Rock Island, IL | 61201-2296 309-794-7204
www.augustana.edu/ swenson
Life made Sweder:
NORDSTJERNAN Call 1.800.827.9333 ext. 10 for your own subscription.
local events was completed, the Swedish ocean liner Kungsholm was one of the earliest vessels decorated in the Art Deco style. The Kungholm’s fashionable passenger spaces made her a popular ship, even during the Great Depression. The installation reveals the history the Kungsholm and her glorious interiors, the museum’s large ship model, ephemera from the collection, archival photographs, and excerpts from passenger travel diaries. American Swedish Historical Museum. 215.389.1776 / hoberg@americanswedish. org / www.americanswedish.org 06.06, 10 AM-3 PM Swedish National Day: Celebrate Swedish National Day at the American Swedish Historical Museum and enjoy free admission, a special Swedish summer dessert treat and guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. that highlight the special history of the museum itself. American Swedish Historical Museum. 215.389.1776 / www. americanswedish.org 06.18, 10:30-11:30 AM Toddler Time: Kids will learn what Midsommar is all about and dance in one of Sweden’s most famous maypole traditions - Små Grodorna. Children will also play fun frog games and have a hopping good time! $5/child, free/members and accompanying caregivers. American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
06.22, 4-7 PM Midsommarfest: Celebrate summer at our annual festival complete with food, drinks, homemade Swedish pastries, music and Maypole dancing, as well as crafts and games for the kids. New this year, the award-winning Swedish band JAERV will give a very special performance! American Swedish Historical Museum, 215.389.1776 / info@americanswedish.org / www. americanswedish.org
Texas
El Paso 05.12-5.19 Mamma Mia! UTEP’s Dinner Theatre presents the hit musical of ABBA’s music woven into a story of a young woman’s search for her birth father on the eve of her wedding on a Greek island paradise. UTEP Student Union West building, 915.747.6060 / www.utep.edu Houston 06.09, 3-6 PM Sweden’s National Day: The Consulate General of Sweden, SACC, SWEA, and the Swedish Club of Houston, along with IKEA and Valhalla Premium Aquavit, are co-sponsoring a celebration with meatballs, herring, knäckebröd, potatoes, lemonade, wine and beer, strawberry cake and coffee at Southside Place Clubhouse. RSVP 713.953.1417 / houston@consulateofsweden.org / www. swedishclub.org
Swedesburg, IA
Midsummer Festival
Friday, June 21, 2019
Trevlig Midsommar! 150th Anniversary:
Dalesburg Midsummer Festival Rural Vermillion, South Dakota Info: www.dalesburg.org
June 25 Midsummer Event 6:30 Followed by Jaerv quintet from Sweden
Välkommen!
For info call: 319-254-2317
79h Annual SWEDEN DAY A NEW YORK “MIDSOMMAR” TRADITION
Saturday, June 15, 2019 Manhem Club
658 Clarence Avenue, Throgs Neck, Bronx, New York 10465 Park Opens 11 AM
Main Program 2 PM
2019 Woman of the Year
Gail Olson
$10/person. Children under 12 free (accompanied by adult) Entertainment featuring: Smörgåsbandet, Barnklubben Elsa Rix #1, kids activities, Allsång & dancing around the Maypole (Majstång). Large in-ground pool. Don’t forget your bathing suits. Drinks and food available for purchase. Miss Sweden Day & Scholarship applications: www.SwedenDayNY.com
Manhem Club - (718) 822-8965 Sweden Day Committee - (516) 565-2091 Email: SwedenDayNina@outlook.com
MAY 15, 2019 11
local events
National designation and celebration
MEN HEMMA BÄST Känn dig hemma med Original Swedish Snus.
©2019 Swedish Match North Europe AB
GeneralSnus.com/Find
WARNING: This product can cause mouth cancer. 12 NORDSTJERNAN
Washington state’s Nordic Museum in Ballard, a Seattle neighborhood settled by many Scandinavian immigrants, is now officially the National Nordic Museum, thanks to a bill passed this spring. The Nordic’s designation is recognition for many decades of the museum’s work to preserve and educate the public about Nordic history, culture and art, and is the only museum in the U.S. focused solely on immigrants from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. “The Nordic Museum is a capstone of a long story about Nordic heritage in Seattle,” said Senator Maria Cantwell, who spearheaded the bill. “Establishing the National Nordic Museum will help support local tourism and drive economic development as well as help further preserve our region’s Nordic history, and maritime and fishing heritage.” Join in the celebration at the North Stars Orchestra concert with music from the Nordic countries on May 18 at 1 p.m. This concert features the North Stars Youth Orchestra, comprised of the Mt. Baker/Fidalgo Symphonies and the Starry Night Chamber Orchestra. They’ll be joined by the Norwegian Male Chorus, piano soloist Marja Kaisla, and the concert will include the song “Troll,” written by Phillip Peterson. This multimedia concert includes beautiful scenes from all the Nordic countries. The afternoon performance coincides with International Museum Day and includes admission to the museum; it is appropriate for all ages. $25/ members, $30/non-members, free/ages 12 and under. National Nordic Museum, 206.789.5707 / www.nordicmuseum.org Washington
Seattle 05.17, 10 AM- 7PM Syttende Mai Festival and Parade: Visit the Fjord horses and have your kids hitch a ride on the Scandinavian Express train, or raise a toast to Norway’s Independence in the beer garden. Enjoy lunch, chidlren’s crafts, live music and a beer garden; the parade starts at 6 p.m. Nordic Museum in historic Ballard, 206.789.5707 / devonk@nordicmuseum. org / www.nordicmuseum.org
05.30, 10 AM - 5 PM Network Mingle: Learn about Stockholm School of Economics’ programs, admission requirements, scholarships, global opportunities, and how to register for 2020 term. Ask questions, get answers about SSE and what it is like to study business at one of the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial schools. Sign up here: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/calendar/ meet-us/2019/one-on-one-sessions-inwashington, studentrecruitment@hhs.se
05.29-06.01 Ballard Jazz Festival: The mainstage concert on 5/31 at the Nordic Museum features jazz musicians with Nordic connections. www.ballardjazzfestival.com
Washington, DC
05.28, 6-8 PM Network Mingle: Learn about Stockholm School of Economics’ programs, admission requirements, scholarships, global opportunities, and how to register for 2020 term. Ask questions, get answers about SSE and what it is like to study business at one of the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial schools. Sign up here: www.hhs.se/en/about-us/calendar/meetus/2019/network-mingle-in-washington, studentrecruitment@hhs.se
For more local events in Swedish America see our online calendar at www. nordstjernan.com/
Photo: Nancy Chaney
BORTA BRA
local events
InBox
A few words on age
If someone tells me what to do or not do “at my age,” my answer is “what age?” That’s just a number. What’s important is how you feel. In Sweden we say “You are not older than you feel.” Mark Twain once said: “When your friends start to flatter you saying that you look young, that’s a sure sign that you are getting old.” Swedish Queen Christina (who reigned in 1644-1654) said: “You grow old more from idleness than from age.” Queen Christina was right. Your body wants you to move, walk and exercise. And even more: Your brain needs exercise. Some people think that when they get old they will have to give up their activities. Wrong! You get old because you give up things. Instead you should be doing things you didn’t have time for earlier—have fun! Travel! Start a new hobby! Start two! The important thing is to keep the brain active. Read books, solve crossword puzzles. Write an article. Write a book. Start singing in a choir (like nearly 10 percent of Swedes do). Pick up that instrument you abandoned years ago—you don’t need to be a soloist. Join an amateur music group. Join an association. Join a book club. Start a book club. Start a wine tasting club! Get politically active (not my cup of tea, but the brain will love it). Start painting! (Well, painting the house may be needed, but painting pictures is possibly more appreciated by your brain.) Play games such as bridge, chess, mahjong, backgammon. Watch quiz programs on television, such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune (but DO NOT sit on your couch watching TV all day long)! Outdoor activities are of course good for you, but even if you were a high school football star leave that sport alone. And don’t do as one of my friends did: He decided to show his skiing companions how to ski backward. It did not work ... he ended up in the hospital with a broken hip. Age can be a good thing. The following was said by André Gide (1947 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature): “Age is good for your health. For instance, you spill out quite a lot of that alcohol you would have wanted to drink.” But age is not important. Someone else said: “Age does not matter except if you are cheese.” Here are more activities to consider: • If you like food: Start cooking new foods. It may even lead to healthier meals. • If you are creative: Draw new motifs for your holiday cards, weave a rug, build a sauna, create a new garden in your yard, make pottery. • If you want to find out about your ancestors and where you come from, start doing your genealogy! I promise it will keep you busy for a long time. Start online to learn basics. Then find local genealogy groups, meetings or specialists. Do your DNA test at ancestry.com, 23andMe or other sites. If you want more hobby ideas, check out Wikipedia’s “list of hobbies” where you’ll find about 200 suggestions for indoor and outdoor activities. Finally, a quote from Ronald Reagan: “I am actually not this old. They mixed me up with another baby at the hospital.” Göran Rygert, GA
Dear Editor, I just started my subscription to Nordstjernan and plan a trip to Sweden again this summer. When I went four years ago with my daughter we picked up a Volvo through the Overseas Delivery program. On the plane I told my daughter, “This is either the smartest thing I have ever done in my life or the dummest … we will know in three weeks.” After having the car back here for close to four years now I know I’d recommend the program in a heartbeat. What is there not to like? You get the trip to pick up a car and drive around Sweden before having it shipped back to the U.S. It makes everything about your car special. I kept the Swedish license plate in the front of the car (since we don’t need one in the front in the state of Michigan). You won’t believe the comments I get: “Can you get American radio stations in your car?” “How ... long … are … you … going … to … stay … in … this … country?” Very, very slowly pronounced. Of course Michigan is “GM country.” For me it was always on my bucket list to own a Swedish car; I’m happy with it and see no reason to pick up another car on the upcoming trip. Although I might need new windshield wipers, does that count as a reason? Sandra Ranville, MI P.S. One thing’s for sure: My grandfather emigrated from the city of Motala, which is along Göta Kanal, in 1909, and started to work at REO Motor Car Company in Lansing. He was a car guy and would get a kick our of knowing his granddaughter was an owner of a Swedish car. Dear Sandra, Thanks for a great letter and a tip for all of us driving Swedish cars. If you do pick up a new model this summer, you’ll find more new features than the windshield wipers ... (look elsewhere in the paper for an alternative model). Thanks again, enjoy reading Nordstjernan and have a wonderful trip in the summer! /Ed.
Ellen Lindström “The Swedish Meatball”
Adding fun & musical flavor to every event!
917-968-2926 www.TheSwedishMeatballs.com
The magazine is wonderful. My husband is now “hooked” as well - happy to learn more about Sweden and being Swedish, thank you! Ingrid Cosmen, NJ As a born Swede, I’d like to see more Swedish news and more Swedish language. Kerstin Koranda, CA This is a popular comment and we’re working on it, Kerstin + many wise and thoughtful comments by Göran in Atlanta at the top—Thanks! We’d write more but are now in a hurry for a trip to the gym. /Ed.
Celebrate the upcoming summer season with our exclusive new styles. Lovingly hand made in Sweden. Purchase them at www.capeclogs.com/store or call 1.800.380.5977
E G 10 Y ARS C E L E B RATIN 6 EST. 2 0 0
MAY 15, 2019 13
feature
Photo: Anders Tedeholm/imagebank.sweden
Too good to be true
Mention
the word Värmland to anyone who’s been there and most likely their eyes will get misty and they’ll start muttering about lakes and forests. Prolong the discussion and you’ll probably be told about Värmland’s fantastic fishing waters, nature trails and idyllic holidays where you build your own raft and take off down the river Klarälven without a care in the world. In fact, you might be excused for thinking they are making it all up or at the very least guilty of some serious exaggeration. But the simple truth is, the more you find out about Värmland, the more you will want to experience it for yourself. Sometimes called the land of the glittering water, Värmland is found between Lake Vänern 14 NORDSTJERNAN
and the Norwegian border. Europe’s largest inland sea archipelago, with around 22,000 islands is in Lake Vänern. And if your trip allows it, there are over 11 thousand other lakes to explore or fish in. The region’s five different climate zones make for richly varied wildlife. Rare flowers, wild lime trees, mosses, lichen and orchids grow in abundance and a large number of bird species breed in Värmland. Nature lovers find plenty to occupy themselves with on organized safaris or just catching a glimpse of an elk eating apples in someone’s backyard. Sightings of deer and hare are an everyday experience, but if you are a restless type it is easy to hire a horse for as long as you want. Before exploring, you may want to visit Naturum in Mariebergsskogen in Karlstad, an extensive presentation of Värmland’s countryside in the form of exhibitions and activities. There are facts about nature conservation, ecology and details of the region’s important natural sites as well as guided tours of local waterways and forests.
Local legends
The natural beauty of the region is well documented, but the people from the area are also famed for their humor, love of mystery and a long tradition of story telling, including chilling ghost stories. Brave
travelers may even dare to visit the prankster ghost at Slottet in Forshaga, famed for switching on and off lights and playing practical jokes. Selma Lagerlöf is perhaps Värmland’s bestknown writer but music and laughter is also an intrinsic part of everyday life in the county. Zarah Leander was born in Karlstad in 1907 and enjoyed a successful career as both a singer and an actress in Sweden and Germany. Operatic baritone Håkan Hagegård, also born in Karlstad, has sung throughout the world and in 1992 he opened Hagegården Music Center near Arvika as a place of inspiration and rest for musicians and artists (later sold and for some time run as a hotel and restaurant called ENGgården). Jazz legend Monica Zetterlund maintained close contacts with her birth town Hagfors throughout her life (1937-2005). And Karlskoga is where Alfred Nobel’s laboratory, Björkborn Manor, is open to the public. The countryside is of course an excellent source of fresh produce. Wild mushrooms, berries, succulent game and really fresh fish are all things you can expect to find on your plate when dining out. The expression, “Visitors are like fish, they begin to smell a bit after three days” is said to originate from Värmland ... but don’t get the wrong idea: The natives really are extremely friendly and hospitable.
Lagerlöf’s Värmland estate
Inside Selma Lagerlöf’s home, Mårbacka, elegant furnishings and paintings—remaining where the Nobel Award winning author left them—tell visitors the story of an impressive woman’s lifetime. Born at the Mårbacka Estate during an era when one-third of her neighbors moved away from bad times in Värmland to search for prosperity in America, Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was the first female to receive the Nobel Prize for literature (1909). She enriched Swedish culture with books including Gösta Berling’s Saga, Jerusalem, The Löwensköld Ring and the adventures of the goose-flying Skånish farm boy, Nils Holgersson. Prominent among rolling green lawns overlooking the Fryken lakes, Mårbacka’s rooms are filled with remarkable furnishings, exquisite decor and perfectly preserved memoirs of Selma Lagerlöf’s life and times. In fact, Mårbacka itself inspired the books that would make her famous in her lifetime. When the original farm was lost following her father’s death, Selma Lagerlöf persisted in writing books with the sole intention of repurchasing the family estate. In 1907, she reacquired her birthplace and—after Continues on next page
VÄRMLAND The province of Värmland borders in the south to Västergötland and Dalsland, in the west to Østlandet in Norway and in the east to Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. The province flower of Värmland is the Skogsstjärna (Arctic Starflower) and the provincial animal is the wolf. Värmland has 5,500 known archaeological sites, one of them is Skramlestenen, a runestone outside Gunnarskog said to be from the early Viking Age, around 600-700s. What the name Värmland comes from is uncertain, but it may have to do with a large local lake called Värmeln. According to Snorri Sturlasson’s stories, the King of Svea Olof Trätälja fled to Värmland at the end of the 600s, bringing lots of people with him. This meant many smaller villages became populated, but whether this is truth or fiction is unknown. It is clear in any case that Värmland has a smaller number of burial mounds of the same kind as in Västergötland and in the regions around Lake Mälaren, likely dating to the late Iron Age. In addition, there are many ancient castles from the same period. Värmland seems to have had some kind of relationship with Norway, since the beginning of recorded history and its population took part in the
Norwegian civil wars during the 13th century—when large areas of Värmland burned down. The largest lake in Värmland is Vänern, and many of the greater rivers lead there. But there are also many other, smaller lakes. The scenery in Värmland is beautiful and considered among the most beautiful landscapes in Sweden. The landscape has strong literary and musical traditions and some of Sweden’s most beloved authors come from Värmland: Erik Gustaf Geijer, Esaias Tegner, Gustaf Fröding and Selma Lagerlöf. Lagerlöf’s novel “Gösta Berling’s Saga” is a neo-Romantic story that takes place in Värmland during 1820-30s. It has been filmed several times, the first time starring Greta Garbo. The musical traditions have inspired a range of first-class musicians such as singers Zarah Leander, Monica Zetterlund and Rigmor Gustafsson. The largest city in Värmland, Karlstad, has 61,492 inhabitants. Karlstad has a university and a cathedral, and has been an important trade center since Viking times (when the city was called Tingvalla). Reputed as one of the sunniest towns in Sweden the symbol of Karlstad is a smiling sun. Sola i Karlstad (“the sun in Karlstad”) is a common referral not to the weather, however, but to a waitress and restaurant owner who was known for her cheerful and sunny mood, aka Eva Lisa Holtz (1739-1818). MAY 15, 2019 15
feature Continued from previous page renovating, landscaping and collecting marvels that impress visitors today—ended her days at Mårbacka in 1940.
Karlstad art and culture
Among Sweden’s oldest museums, Värmland’s Museum shows classic provincial art as well as frequently rotating exhibits of paintings, handicrafts, photography and cultural history. In a park along the Klarälven river in the county seat, Karlstad, the Värmland Museum, with its stylistic architecture dating to 1929, will reopen after renovations on June 1. Collections include works of local painters, including 1800s impressionists and Rohrstad Colony artists. Displays of cultural history from the period of immigration to America reveal handicrafts and identify practical objects used by old generations. Following the museum’s penetrating theme, lively stories are told in words, images, objects and music, and the museum regularly presents contemporary shows on topics such as ice hockey, advertising or, opening now, an exhibit on the World Championship Swedish Rally, the annual off-track racing event speeding through the tradition of the EPA-traktor (a specially built “car” which, registered as a tractor, allows Swedish youth ages 15-17 on the countryside to drive a car before reaching 18, the legal driving age). Imaginations are stimulated in the special children’s museum, where music, exhibits and activities are complemented with educational courses and a children’s theater. This summer’s exhibit showcases the whimsical world of local author/illustrator couple Inger and Lasse Sandberg. The Värmland Museum also contains a restaurant, a boutique and a well equipped auditorium—with 160 seats it is especially suitable for conferences with a cultural flavor. The museum’s foundation also preserves and manages other Värmland heritage sites including Alsters Herrgård, home of Gustaf Fröding, the Borgsvik Woodworking Factory, Torsby’s Finnish Culture Center, the 1700s Von Echstedska Estate, the River Logging Museum, the Långban Mining Village and Kristinehamn’s Museum and Photography Archive.
Image from Långbanshyttan Värmland, birthplace of the engineer John Ericsson, inventor of the propeller and creator of the ironclad ship “Monitor” - considered the savior of the Union during the Civil War. His story / page 30 16 NORDSTJERNAN
Every Swedish province has its food specialties. Värmland has one dish that was likely brought with the close to 100,000 emigrants from the region during the mass emigration years, and although lesser known in Sweden today, is just as popular among Swedish Americans today. /page 23
More of Värmland Västanå Teater (www.vastanateater.se) in Sunne
in the province of Värmland, lovingly called the storytelling barn, shows “Eddan” this summer— Jon Fosse’s interpretation of the poetic Edda (the main source of Norse mythology and skaldic poetry that relate the religion and history of early Scandinavians). You can prebook to have dinner at the theater during the intermission, and this summer it’s what else but a Viking inspired menu. The production, directed by Leif Stinnerborn, opens June 22 and will play all summer until Sept. 8. Sweden’s cultural attaché in Washington, DC, Linda Zachrison, last year recommended the visit. Sunne is 4 hours west of Stockholm and 3.5 hours north of Göteborg, and is well worth the trip. When you go, include a visit to the deeply personal, quirky and loving ambience of the Alma Löv Museum (www.almalov.com). Sunne, population 13,000, is also home to Rottneros Sculpture Park and Selma Lagerlöf’s childhood home, Mårbacka (www.marbacka.com).
Mentoring Bergman
Director and actor Victor Sjöström (1879-1960), born in Sillboda in Värmland, was an icon of silent movie making. At the time, Sjöström turned to film making after a disastrous run as a salesman; it did not take much to get into the new, suspect and low paying industry. Thus, he found himself hired by Svenska Bio together with another great Swedish director, Mauritz Stiller. Between 1912 and 1915 Sjöström directed 31 films. Not many of them remain, but luckily “Ingeborg Holm” (1913) has been preserved and is regarded as a classic of Swedish cinema. It was “Körkarlen” (The Phantom Carnage), 1921, that turned the movie industry’s spotlight on him. It was one of the silent era’s masterpieces. So, he took off for the U.S. where he soon became one
of the highest paid directors in Hollywood. Goldwyn (later to become MGM) invited him to direct Name the Man, 1924. He mastered the combination of box office sense and artistic imagery. His best work was undoubtedly The Wind, 1928. At the end of the silent era, Sjöström left Hollywood almost as suddenly as he had arrived. His last film was A Lady in Love, 1930. It is hard to understand why Sjöström left because he would not have had any difficulties working the sound stage. He did return briefly in 1937 to direct Under the Red Robe. In Sweden, Sjöström turned to acting and in later years became the mentor for Ingmar Bergman. No one who has seen Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, 1957, can forget Sjöström’s portrayal of the old man. Photo: Mattias Samuelsson/imagebank.sweden
feature
The Nordic Way
Part III
By Ted Olsson The comparative statistics of the 2019 edition of US News and World Report’s ranking of the Top 80 Best Countries were compiled by a global marketing communications company and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and based upon 22,000 responses in which the responses to the citizenship portion of the survey comprised 16 percent of the rankings for the country. So, I took the time to review the more recent compilation (www.usnews. com/news/best-countries) to see how it independently updated the ambassador’s figures. A couple quotes from the beginning of the compilation were particularly noteworthy for our purposes: “Many thought leaders have proclaimed the Nordic model—known to promote social justice and progressive causes—one of the most sustainable ways forward, and people around the world seem to agree. Norway takes the No. 1 spot in citizenship for the third year in a row.” And “Nordic neighbors Finland and Sweden also top the list (for citizenship), along with Switzerland and Canada — all countries that have relatively generous social safety nets and offer affordable health care and education. They are among the world’s wealthiest nations and are also democratic. The United States (#16 for citizenship), which often positions itself as a champion of freedom, didn’t crack the top 10 for the fourth year in a row. The global superpower continues to take hits in perceptions of its trustworthiness.” The year’s overall ranking of the countries was significant. For a better comparison, I created this list: 18 NORDSTJERNAN
GDP Popl.Area (sq.km.) GDP/capita 1. Switzerland $678.bn 8.5m 141,277 $62,135 2. Japan $4.9tr 126.8b 377,915 $42,942 3. Canada $1.7tr 36.7m 9,984,670 $48,390 4. Germany $3.7tr 82.7m 357,022 $50,804 5. UK $2.6tr 66.0m 243,610 $44,292 6. Sweden $538.bn 10.1m 450,295 $51,185 7. Australia $1.3tr 10.1m 7,741,220 $51,185 8. United States $19.4tr 325.7m 9,833,517 $59,792 9. Norway $398.8bn 5.2m 323,802 $72,058 10. France $2.6tr 67.1m 643,801 $44,081 11. Netherlands $826.2bn 17.1m 41,543 $53,933 12. New Zealand $324.9bn 4.7m 268,838 $39,012 13. Denmark $324.9bn 5.7m 43,094 $50,071 14. Finland $251.9bn 5.5m 338,145 $44,492 15. Singapore $323.9bn 5.6m 697 $94,105 *Iceland was not ranked among Top 80 Best Countries of the World. I find these things significant about the list: 1) four of the five Scandinavian countries are in the top 15; 2) more than half the countries are European; and 3) one-third of the countries listed are native English-speaking countries.
We know Sweden is on track to be carbon neutral by 2045. During his term as Danish Ambassador to Sweden, Ambassador Ullerup has come to admire Sweden as the most innovative region in the world.
Denmark’s Ambassador to Sweden, Ove Ullerup
A typical argument by American politicians is that we can’t learn anything from the Scandinavians because they are small with homogenized populations. That notion no longer holds water since they have become more heterogeneous during the last dozen years, and two higher ranking countries are larger than the U.S., at least in land area. (By the way, China, which is larger in both area and population, ranked 20th.)
Citizenship
Ambassador Ullerup emphasized the democratic and capitalistic nature of all five Nordic countries, and because of the Nordics’ own emphases on the individual, voting and civic participation, I was keenly interested in what these USNWR Best Countries rankings reflected about citizenship (which counted for almost one-fifth of each country’s score). Among the eight qualities upon which the 80 countries were judged for citizenship are: respect of property rights; gender equality; well-distributed political power; care for the environment; care for human rights; and religious freedom. Norway ranked No. 1 Sweden No. 4 Denmark No. 13 Finland No. 14 The United States is No. 16 All the Scandinavian countries were notable for their lack of corruption. Other significant qualities included a willingness for business growth (capitalism), the availability and cost of a good education, and measurements of the value each country placed upon their citizens’ quality of life. The countries ranked for being best at creating and conducting business were: 1) Luxembourg; 2) Switzerland; 3) Panama; 4) Sweden; 5) Denmark; 6) Singapore; 7) Canada; 8) Norway; 9) Finland; and 10) Thailand. The ranking for entrepreneurship (with innovation as one of its subcategories) was: 1) Germany; 2) Japan; 3) United States; 4) United Kingdom; 5) Switzerland; 6) Sweden; 7) Canada; 8) Singapore; 9) Netherlands; and 10) Norway.
Attitudes toward education
For individual and professional development, and for the maintenance of international and commercial leadership, education is a key factor. These countries rank high is this essential characteristic, based on the general quality of college and postgraduate education, not upon the affordability or equity of that education: 1) United Kingdom; 2) United States; 3) Canada; 4) Germany; 5) France; 6) Australia; 7) Switzerland; 8) Sweden; 9) Japan; and 10) Netherlands. All these qualities for business and entrepreneurism seem pointless unless one can live in a country and society which values equity among all (citizenship), a full and free education for all according to their abilities,
and a quality of life that encourages development of the whole person. Here are the rankings for this last quality: 1) Canada; 2) Denmark; 3) Sweden; 4) Norway; 5) Australia; 6) Switzerland; 7) Finland; 8) Netherlands; 9) New Zealand; and 10) Germany. Supplementing Ambassador Ullerup’s talk about the Nordic Way with the additional perspective that we can be very proud of our Swedish heritage as well as those of our Scandinavian neighbors. For a band of small countries, they are indeed distinctive. Perhaps even larger countries could learn a great deal from them. Politicians have been known to feel they could dismiss other nations’ successes as irrelevant. And recent Scandinavian immigrants are more knowledgeable about their native countries’ current situations; indeed many travel back and forth fairly often nowadays. But those of us with many generations of Swedish-American roots in the U.S. should take pride in the countries of our ancestry as much as we do in America, and not be seduced by the ignorant opinions of politicians and others with little direct experience and even less interest. I am grateful to have had this introduction to the comparative values of many nations of the world. By studying these comparisons, however, I don’t want to be so beguiled by “exceptionalism” as to ignore the substantial challenges facing every nation individually, even before we consider the greatest threat to our planet and challenge to our cooperation for survival, climate change. Part three in a series of three articles from different but complementary views on the distinctiveness of Scandinavia today. It is based on a lecture by Denmark’s Ambassador to Sweden, Ove Ullerup, presented at the University of California Berkeley and a recent report on the world’s 80 Best Countries by the US News and World Report. All of us readers of Nordstjernan are self-selected to be interested in Sweden in particular and in Scandinavia in general. Many first-generation immigrants fly back home regularly, but those of us whose roots go back several generations tend to focus on the old traditions and customs brought here by our earliest immigrants. While we cherish our bicultural heritage, few of us keep current with affairs in Sweden, except through Nordstjernan or other world news. At this moment in U.S. history, it seems important for us to learn what makes both our American and Scandinavian heritages so special and how the Nordic region’s worldwide leadership is recognized for being so distinctive and forward-focused. Scandinavia has greatly advanced since the days when it was primarily agricultural nations with rigidly stratified class systems. During periods of agricultural failures, many, many Scandinavians flooded into the U.S. to escape dire times. Their meager refugee status at that time proves instructive today. They came here without language, with little education, and with a determination to both succeed and remember their homelands. Now, in much more prosperous times, Scandinavian emigrants are at least bilingual and bicultural; they are very well educated and traveled. They know multiple languages and cultures; and like their countries, they are often entrepreneurial capitalists who are—like everyone—interested in being successful, wherever they live. They also use the terms “Scandinavian” and “Nordic” differently than Americans do. In Europe, “Scandinavia” signifies only the three countries: Denmark, Norway and Sweden; and “Nordic” includes those plus Finland and Iceland. In the U.S., we unwittingly consider “Scandinavia” to be the five countries and synonymous with “the Nordics.” Interestingly, the entrepreneurs from these five countries visiting or working in Silicon Valley typically assume either of these more generic terms, rather than identifying themselves only by their home country, because the whole region is admired for its innovation, second only to Silicon Valley itself. MAY 15, 2019 19
art and culture
A Swedish Crown along the Mississippi “At the bakery, everything we offer is made from scratch and we only use unbleached organic flour, real butter, organic cream, milk, sea salt, handcracked eggs and everything organic and as locally sourced as possible,” she says. The locals seem to enjoy baking the Swedish way, and while over 600 customers (roughly half have Swedish heritage and a few are born Swedes) visit the store each week, Swedish Crown Bakery also offers catering services. On “Semlans Dag” (Fat Tuesday) the couple shipped 350 delicious almond paste-filled, creamy buns to Ingebretsen’s store in downtown Minneapolis. All sold out in less than two hours ... it seems Minnesotans are ready for the right Swedish cuisine and restaurant that Eva and Fari dream about starting next. The bakery, at 530 W. Main Street in Anoka, is open weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.-4.30 p.m. (Bring a large appetite for traditional Swedish food!) For more info, call 763.427.0506 or see www.swedishcrownbakery.com
Eva and Fari Sabet offer Minnesotans traditional Swedish fare in their Anoka bakery.
“Swedish food is just like the French cuisine, with a long cultural history, only much less complicated,” says Eva Sabet of Swedish Crown Bakery who’s behind this issue’s strawberry rhubarb recipe. Located in Anoka, Minnesota, population 17,000 and just north of Minneapolis along the Mississippi, the bakery is a somewhat hidden treasure for Swedes and Swedish Americans in the area. Run by Eva and Fari Sabet, who relocated from Malmö, Sweden to Minnesota about 10 years ago, the bakery and deli offers Scandinavian and European baked goods, salads and sandwiches and sometimes soup for lunch. With seating for 15, the bakery offers a konditori-like experience, with the toned-down setting of the traditional Swedish café and pastries to write home about. The Swedish Crown Bakery opened in 2014 after the couple had been running the Grassroots Coop kitchen in Anoka for three years. Fari has worked
in the restaurant business all his life, as has Eva, a self-taught baker whose career in the kitchen started early: “I began baking as soon as I could reach the controls of the oven and at 13 spent every day baking to grasp the process involved in making different breads and pastries and to understand how different ingredients interact.” She later taught cooking classes in Sweden then brought her experience to teach occasional classes at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis as well.
Augusta’s Daughter Ever wonder what made so many emigrate from Sweden in the nineteenth century? Judit Martin’s novel, “Augusta’s Daughter,” about 19th century Swedish peasant life made such an impression on us, we decided to offer it to the Nordstjernan readership. call 1.800.827.9333 for your own copy ($24.90 incl. S&H to cont. U.S.). The sequel,
Kajsa
was just released. The story of 15-year-old Elsa-Carolina’s illegitimate daughter Kajsa,who was cast out into the world from a foster home at the age of 8. 20 NORDSTJERNAN
Please send me ____ book(s) “Augusta’s Daugheter” x $24.90 = _______ Please send me ____ book(s) “Kajsa” x $24.90 =
Incl. S&H (in continental U.S.)
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Total: _________
Name Address City State Zip Tel. m Check enclosed payable to Nordstjernan m Please charge my credit card: Card# Signature
Exp. Date: SSC Code:
Mail to: Nordstjernan, P.O. Box 1710, New Canaan CT 06840
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art and culture
Rhubarb Strawberry Blossom Rhubarb. It’s loaded with vitamins, aids weight loss, improves digestion and skin health, prevents Alzheimer’s, boosts metabolism and … this is the season for it! Paired with a natural sweetener such as strawberries, rhubarb offers a perfect combination of sweet and tart.
Ingredients
Vanilla filling: 2 tsp vanilla sugar 4 oz butter (8 tbsp), room temp 3.5 oz sugar (1/2 cup) Rhubarb filling: 1-1/2 pounds rhubarb stalks chopped 1 pound strawberries cut in quarters 1-1/2 cups sugar 2 tbsp cardamom (optional) Dough: 9 oz milk (1 cup + 1/8 cup) 20 oz flour (4-1/2 cups flour) 1/2 package fresh Red Star yeast 3.5 oz sugar (6 tbsp) 3.5 oz butter (7 tbsp), room temp 1 tsp sea salt Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar 2 tbsp water 1 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp strawberry jam for color
Directions
Vanilla filling: Make a smooth mix of all the ingredients and set aside. Rhubarb filling: Put chopped rhubarb, strawberries and sugar in a glass or stainless steel bowl, stir and allow to sit until the sugar is dissolved and there is lots of juice. Move to a stainless steel pot (other pots such as cast iron, enamel, copper, or aluminum will react with the ingredients and discolor the jam) over medium high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and the rhubarb mix has broken down, about 30 minutes. Let cool, and transfer into jars. Dough: Mix all the ingredients except butter in a mixer. Use a dough hook on speed 2 for 15 minutes. Add the butter and mix for another 10 minutes on the same speed. If the dough is too loose, slowly add, spoon by spoon, more flour. Be careful not to add too much or the dough will get hard. If it does, use the reverse technique and
slowly add extra milk spoon by spoon. The goal is a nice shiny dough that bounces and doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl. When the dough is ready, cover the bowl and let it rest and double for 60 minutes in a warm place (too hot or too cold will not allow it to rise fast enough). Glaze: Mix ingredients together, if needed add more water. Line a muffin pan with paper cups (if your pan is for large muffins, this yields about 12 blossoms; average size muffin pans will yield 20-24 blossoms). Roll the dough with a rolling pin on a nonsticky surface. If dough is sticking to the table, butter or spray some oil on the surface. Roll into a rectangular shape until dough is about 1/2-inch thick. It is important the dough is the correct size to fill the muffin hole. If using the average pan, dough needs to be a longer rectangle and the thickness about 1/4-inch; if using a pan for large
muffins, the rectangle needs to be smaller and the dough thicker at about 1/2-inch. With a spatula evenly spread vanilla butter filling. Then spread the jam filling evenly. Roll dough like a cinnamon roll (not too tight or the filling will ooze and not too loose or it will not hold its shape). Cut the roll into pieces, making sure not to press too hard when cutting and put the cut pieces into the muffin pans. Cover the pans with a clean kitchen towel and let rest in a warm place for an hour or until doubled in size. This step is crucial for the dough to turn out well. When doubled in size, bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes or until a deep golden brown to ensure the middle bakes properly. Take the muffins out of the oven and brush with glaze when piping hot. Let it cool and enjoy with a cup of coffee or glass of milk. Enjoy Eva Sabet MAY 15, 2019 21
organizations
MOVING TO SWEDEN Sweden sits at the top of many lists ranking worldwide living standards, work-life balance and sustainability. But what is it like to actually move to Sweden? Mitch Downey, newly appointed associate professor in International Economic Studies at Stockholm University, shares his firsthand experiences about his new home.
M
itch moved to Stockholm from San Diego in 2018, and the city still inspires wonder. “Every day I walk out of my door and my jaw drops and I’m amazed to live in such an amazing place,” he says. “To move to a city where you can walk down the street and see buildings that are 500 years old—that just doesn’t happen in the United States.” When Mitch was offered the position at SU, he and his wife discussed it at length. They wondered how it would affect them as a family as well as whether it was a good career move. “We both decided that professionally this was a great opportunity,” he says. “Living in Sweden had a great deal of appeal for us. We love public transit, we love biking, and we love the emphasis on work-life balance, both culturally and from a policy perspective.” Mitch usually bikes to the university, and he is not alone. Many people in Stockholm and throughout Sweden cycle for their daily commute. This trend might have played a role in Sweden’s second-place ranking in the 2018 Sustainable Cities Index. Mitch is also impressed with the Swedish model of lengthy parental leave, with 480 days of paid leave for the parents—especially relevant for him and his wife since they are expecting a baby soon. “That fits really well into the ideal life that we’d have.” He reflects on how the workplace and the culture surrounding it is different from his experiences in the United States: “In the middle of my floor is a kitchen, and there is always someone there. There is free coffee and fruit and it becomes a gathering place for all of the colleagues throughout the Institute.” Around the coffee machine, they talk about their work, the news, their families, anything. “All these things just sort of create a really dynamic, friendly and collegial environment. It is very different from where I went for graduate school, where the professors often stayed in their offices, doors where often closed and there was no real sense of community. Here there is much more a sense of that.” When choosing Sweden and Stockholm University as their new home, Mitch says the standard of research at Stockholm University and the Institute for International Economic Studies (IIES) played a large part in their decision. “The IIES is particularly good at what I do. So I was 22 NORDSTJERNAN
very excited to apply there”. Now that he lives in Stockholm among Swedes, Mitch points out a key misconception about the people. “I think there is a tendency in the U.S. in the way that we talk about Sweden to ignore the fact that within the country people are super different from each other.” Mitch and his wife are looking forward to a future living in Sweden. “My wife and I are expecting our first child, and that’s going to be very exciting. In my department, most people have kids and there is a lot of respect for the balance between work and family. That makes me really excited about the future. I think this city is beautiful and I’m really looking forward to raising a family here.” More information about moving to Sweden and working at Stockholm University: www.su.se/relocation.
art and culture
What’s cooking? ... potato sausage This is a hybrid of a recipe my Swedish American mother found in her North Park Covenant Church cook book, first published in Chicago in 1943 and used by my family for many years, and the more recent Nordic Cookbook (2015) by award winning Swedish chef Magnus Nilsson, who put into culinary terms what the older recipe did not. Even after all these years and all the sophistication of contemporary cuisine, the recipe is more or less the same—including the assumption that you know just how much you want to make! Amanda Olson Robison
Värmlandskorv / potatiskorv Ingredients Equal amounts of ground beef, ground pork and peeled potatoes, cubed One or more onions, cut into cubes (it’ll be ground so doesn’t have to be chopped fine) Salt and pepper Allspice, optional* Sausage casings (My mom gets these from the local butcher (they are actually pig intestines, but the butcher knows what the gentler term refers to.) Directions • Mix all the ingredients together then take a little and fry it up to taste for seasoning; you may want to add more salt and pepper. *My family’s preference is to exclude allspice, but some people love it. • Rinse the casings before they’re used, both to remove the salt they’re usually packed in and to discover if there are any holes. • Gently wiggle the end of a casing at least an inch or two onto the grinder tube. • Put all the ingredients through the grinder, finding your rhythm to turn the crank as it pushes evenly into the casings. Don’t stuff them too full or the sausages will burst. (You may want to take turns “catching” the sausage and turning the crank.) • Some casings may be shorter or longer than others; tie off the sausage casing at the other end, then refrigerate to firm up sausages. • Poach in salted water for 10-15 minutes or until they are cooked through and firm to the touch. You can also freeze them and cook them directly from the freezer (again in boiling salted water) for 20+ minutes. In our Swedish American family, potatiskorv is always eaten with lingon (if it’s up to me, it should be Al Johnson’s Wild Lingonberries), and some of us love it with brown mustard as well. Smaklig måltid!
New Sweden organization in Portland, Oregon, heThe ld a first Swedish cooking class on March 22. A group of eight women got their hands dirty making potato sausage (potatiskorv) from scratch. A fun event for everyone involved. Potatiskorv (more commonly known as värmlandskorv in Sweden) is a regional Swedish sausage from the county of Värmland, made with ground pork, beef, onions and potatoes. It is traditionally served hot at Christmas in Värmland but can also be served hot or cold throughout the year. Potatiskorv is what this sausage is called in parts of Värmland, too. In most parts of Sweden, the word “potatiskorv” is unknown, while “värmlandskorv” is well known and sold commercially throughout the country around Christmas. In the United States, “potatiskorv” (mostly known as “potato sausage”) is the name that has stuck among people with Swedish roots. “We put chunks of pork and beef together
through the grinder twice, adding potatoes and onions the second time. After mixing in spices, we fried some patties for a taste test. The stuffing into the casings was quite labor-intensive, but with two machines and everybody helping, we got it done,” says head chef GunMarie Rosqvist, whose kitchen became ground zero for a delicious first batch of potato sausage. After all that work everyone deserved to enjoy the “fruits of their labor” and Kristi Gustafsson and GunMarie had prepared a variety of sausages in advance. So, lunch consisted of four kinds of sausages and potato salad. All the sausages were typical and traditional Swedish, made using Swedish recipes (potatiskorv, falukorv, fläskkorv, julkorv). There were plenty of giggles and laughs and also aching backs, but everyone agreed the hard work was worth it! Each cook left with over a pound of sausages to enjoy later. Leif Rosqvist
Just as important as the ingredients and the rituals of making it: the tools! Here are the pieces of the disassembled 1880s grinder we’ve used for decades. I was hoping to find out if the Enterprise Manufacturing Co. of Pennsylvania was founded by a Swede, but the “korv” comes out as if it was, that’s for sure ... MAY 15, 2019 23
news in brief
New study tests insulin
Can orally taken insulin reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes? Researchers are trying to answer that question in a new study. Children with an increased risk of the disease are being given oral insulin trials in Sweden and several other countries. It is hoped they will escape the disease later in life. Right now, some 30 children with an increased risk are included in the study. They were picked among 2,000 newborns. The same study is being done in Germany, Poland, the UK and Belgium, all with a goal to cover at least 1,000 children. Around 900 children under the age of 18 are annually diagnosed with diabetes type 1 in Sweden.
M: Stop financing extremists
Sweden’s Moderate Party wants the EU to develop common rules to stop overseas support for “extreme” religious congregations. “I see it as preventive work to stop more from being pulled into extremism,” says Tomas Tobé, who tops the Moderate’s election bill in the EU election, to Swedish TV. Several mosques in Sweden and other EU countries receive money from countries outside the EU. The money can go to extreme congregations, according to Tobé, who believes Europol (the joint European police force) should be responsible for defining which ones are extreme.
Increased wildfire alarms
“Amazing, open-minded people from all over the world. Balanced lifestyle, great academics. Hands down, attending Chalmers was one of the
best decisions I’ve ever made!”
Alarms for wildfires increased 82 percent in April compared to last year, according to SOS Alarm. The noise comes mainly from the areas where SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) issued warnings, from Skåne in the south up to Gävleborg, three hours north of Stockholm. ”It’s about fires in the forest or in the grass where very dry grass from last year starts to burn,” says Sarah Hummerdal, press officer at SOS. Several wildfires started in southern Sweden already in April.
~ Emma Norden, student from Minnesota, USA Awarded the US Friends of Chalmers scholarship, 2018 Learn more: chalmers.se/scholarships
DID YOU KNOW? All MSc Programs at Chalmers run for 2 years, are fully taught in English, and are worth 120 credits (ECTS) chalmers.se/masters 24 NORDSTJERNAN
IKEA. Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the furniture store, who died in 2018, was only 17 years old when he founded the company in 1943 (now in 35 countries). Among his first products in the then mail order based business: fountain pens.
news in brief
Swedish News Sleep and long term health effects Electric cars could be worse for the environment
A new German study shows electric cars can be worse for the environment than diesel. Carbon dioxide emissions can be greater from an electric car if the electricity comes from coal, for example. In the study from the IFO financial research institute, the researchers compared all carbon dioxide emissions from a diesel-powered Mercedes with a Tesla. Most of the Mercedes’ emissions stem from its exhaust. The Tesla creates emissions when the batteries are built and when it is being charged. In Germany, electricity often comes from coal power and the emissions from the Tesla become larger. The same is likely true for the U.S. and China.
Stress affects weight
A new study from Australia, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, shows stress actually affects weight—at least if you are a mouse. The study has not yet been transferred to humans, but the Swedish obesity researcher, Erik Hemmingsson at the Swedish Gymnastics and Sports Academy says the result is interesting: ”We must do tests with people as well to be able to revisit that question. The findings are very interesting and can probably be transferred to people,” he says.
Those who sleep too little during the week and try to regain sleep on the weekends may be at increased risk of suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. There are many health risks associated with sleeping too little, and a recent study by the University of Colorado Boulder published on “Current Biology” shows that restoring sleep on weekends does not help. A group of subjects only had five hours of sleep for five days. The lack of sleep made them eat more, especially sweets. Some subjects were then allowed to sleep for two days and slept for about an hour longer than normal. The increased consumption of sweets went down. But when their sleep was again limited to five hours, their circadian rhythms shifted and they started eating more again. They also developed reduced insulin sensitivity. The reaction was even worse than in a control group that had to sleep five hours throughout the period of the test. Reduced insulin sensitivity is a well-known risk factor for both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Previous research has shown that the brain tries to regain lost sleep the next night by increasing the proportion of deep sleep and, if possible, sleeping longer. But exactly how much the body can recover on a weekend is still unknown.
“Previous research focused on what happens after a weekend of sleep recovery. The interesting thing with this study is that it shows how you are affected once you return to too little sleep again. It has not been done before,” says Torbjörn Åkerstedt, sleep scientist and professor at the Stress Research Institute at Stockholm University. Some of the results he believes can be explained by the fact that those who were allowed to sleep in for two days also changed their circadian rhythm. “Those who got to sleep for two days got even worse insulin sensitivity than those who slept bad all the time probably because they went up much later. Pushing the biological clock so much is generally bad for your health,” he said.
Penalties for sabotaging emergency vehicles
The government’s new proposal for harsher penalties for attacking, among other things, police and ambulance staff, has a lot of support. According to a survey that Yougov carried out on behalf of the free daily Metro, over 80 percent of Swedes are positive about stronger penalties for those who sabotage the work of emergency vehicles. Although it is criminal to, for example, throw stones at the police, there is currently no law aimed at protecting emergency personnel. The new rules, proposing a new crime classification called blåljussabotage (“blue light sabotage”), make it a crime to sabotage emergency personnel. The rules are expected to be enforced in January 2020 and will call for imprisonment for up to four years or lifetime for someone who attacks or interferes with the police, emergency services or ambulance care in a way that prevents or delays their work.
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THE VASA STAR VASASTJÄRNAN spring 2019 Publication of The Vasa Order of America
‘Vasa Wedding’ in DL No. at 8, Lake 8 Lake Michigan
Vasa bliss. Viljan member Kristina Karl wore the Vasa bridal crown at her February wedding to Michael Wicks, the same crown her mother Marguerite Karl wore at her wedding many years ago.
MESSAGE FROM THE GRAND MASTER dear vasa members,
Greetings to all in the Vasa Universe. Spring has sprung, flowers are starting to bloom here in Vasa Park New Jersey, and, as the safest sign of all, the rain showers continue. archive news » p29
Nancy and I were able to take a break from the New Jersey winter to attend the DL Pacific Southwest No. 15 Convention in Woodlands outside of Los Angeles in February. We flew from Tampa instead of from the New York the area. That was good planning, because a winter storm developed off
cultural news » p30
grand lodge news » p31
the East Coast the day we were flying! Early April we had a Grand Lodge Executive Board meeting and an Archives Board meeting in Warwick, Rhode Island in conjunction with Rhode Island District No. 3 Convention. It was a delight to renew acquaintances with our many friends. We congratulate the new officers in DL 15 and DL 3 and give thanks to the retiring officers! I ap-
Local lodge news » p33 youth news » p6
preciate the hard work you do for Vasa. Next, we will be attending New Jersey District No. 6 Convention in sunny Cape May, New Jersey and then off to District No. 19 and District No. 20 in Sweden. Upon returning to the USA my suitcase manager will be busy because in three days I’ll be off to District No. 18 Alberta, Canada!
swedish news » p40
/ continued on p31
in memoriam » p30
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
EDITOR’S MESSAGE Vårhälsningar – spring greetings – to you, all our Vasa members and readers old and new. According to our records, many lodges have welcomed and initiated new members and officers during the last few months in both Sweden and America. I think it’s fair to wish you a collective “welcome” from all your Vasa brothers and sisters. This issue emphasizes the special community we have in Vasa. It’s always a source of pride to share the victories and joys of our Swedish forebears, not least is the great Swedish engineer and inventor who could be said to have single-handedly transformed the maritime industry; read about the long and lasting legacy John Ericsson left in both the land of his childhood as well as his adopted America on page 30. Learn about the traveling Swedish bridal crown on pages 27 and 36. Did you know the Vasa Order of America has several bridal crowns to lends to its brides around the U.S.? And we
issue highlights
all are invited to Swedish American summer events in Sweden as well as a very special anniversary party in September – if you’re making travel plans, be sure to see pages 40 & 42. Now, with winter finally behind us (I’m from Wisconsin, where I hope such a comment isn’t just wishful thinking after two April snow storms), plans are in full swing for enjoying the coming festival season: Midsommar, Swedish celebrations and Scandinavian fests of all kinds will be filling our calendars from now through fall. The dates for most such events are already set and published, so be sure to check your local listings and the Vasa website, and mark you calendars so you don’t miss them. This is perfect timing to remind you to snap and send us digital photos as much as possible so we can share your recent events, and send us information for your written submissions about the events you have coming up, so we can advertise and encourage others to join you! Tack så mycket –
Mary Morton is served tea by Greg Jonson. / p39
The results after a Dala horse workshop with Norden No. 684. / p38
the vasa star Spring 2019 Vol. 111, No. 2, Serial 850 Published by The Vasa Order of America www.vasaorder.com
Have a wonderful spring, Amanda Olson Robison, co-editor
Submit Material to vasaeditor@gmail.com
With a cake (or “tårta”) like this for fika, how can you go wrong? You can’t. / p33
Vasa Star PO Box 13331 Milwaukee WI 53213-0331
Remember the Vasa Archives
Swedish-American and Vasa related events in Sweden this summer. / p42
For our next issue:
By August 15
Family Tree Släktutredningar
when you are making a memorial donation
I am a member of the Vasa Order in Sweden and an expert in Swedish genealogy. Over the years I have helped many Vasa members to find their roots in Sweden.
Send your donations to: Vasa National Archives PO Box 101, Bishop Hill, IL 61419
If you want my help to find your Swedish ancestors, please email me for further information: swedengen@telia.com
DONATE to the Education & Scholarship Funds Send your donations to: Vasa Order of America, Joan Graham, Grand Secretary 5838 San Jose Ave., Richmond, CA 94804
HEADQUARTERS Grand Secretary / Joan Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 526 5512 vasajlg@aol.com Grand Master / Art Bjorkner 31 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown NJ 07840-5314 Phone: (973) 426-0776 bjorkner@verizon.net Editor / Amanda Olson Robison
Managing Editor / Liza Ekstrand Send articles, photos & memorials to: The Vasa Star PO Box 13331 Milwaukee WI 53213-0331 vasaeditor@gmail.com Circulation Manager / Joan Graham 5838 San Jose Avenue Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 526 5512 circulationvasastar@gmail.com Send address changes and bottom section of application for new members to Joan Graham. Membership Chairman / Ed Netzel 2576 Old Kenmare Rd, Lincoln, CA 95648 edlnetzel@att.net Advertising Call 1.800.827.9333, ask for Vasa Star rates vasaeditor@gmail.com Layout & production: Nordstjernan, Swedish News, Inc.
page 28
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Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
ARCHIVES NEWS A message from the president of Vasa National Archives another grant. This intern will assist Archivist Kathy Cuff by inspecting Recently, you, your Districts and your each book in the 4,000+ collection; the Local Lodges received my heartfelt, collection will be preserved and orgatime-sensitive request to donate match nized according to archival standards. funding of a grant to help the Archives The Archives continues to receive begin the ambitious project of digitizing historic records and other donations records to make them accessible to all from lodges that dissolve. When members from home computers. I’m making this difficult final decision proud to report we exceeded our goal! to close, I urge you to remember the Thank you for your support. The cost of Vasa National Archives with a financial the total project could exceed $90,000. donation that will memorialize your We may be only 10% into the necessary Local Lodge with a plaque on display total funding but with this solid start the at the Archives. You will receive patron process will begin. recognition status with a donation of Securing grants to help fund special $1,000, benefactor status with $5,000, projects is one of my major goals for or visionary status with $10,000. the Archives now and in the coming Soon you will receive the Heritage years. A library assistant intern will Fundraiser information. It’s disapbe hired this summer via support of pointing that less than 5% of our total greetings fellow vasa members and
friends of the vasa national archives,
match up to $5,000 and will be applied to digitizing the microfilms. We had expected $3,000, but the donations now total over $8,000! This will not be enough to complete the microfilm digitization, but it will get us started. We will continue to work on securing additional grants to complete this project and will use any remaining donations for other matching-funds grants. Please consider donating toward our next matchingfunds grant at any time.
Katie Woodencloak from the Fairy Tale exhibit.
News from the Archive
Our exhibit on Nordic Fairy Tales opened March 29 and runs through the 2019-2020 tourist seasons. The exhibit offers information on characters found in fairy tales, where fairy tales come from and how fairy tales influence our daily lives. A selection of Nordic fairy tales are available for visitors to read while visiting the archive. A special story and craft time was held during the opening weekend and will be again on occasions throughout the year.
The past few months have been filled We celebrated spring’s return with with hard work and pleasant surprises. Valborg and a wiener roast on April 26. We have submitted several applicaThe ancient Swedish tradition included tions for grants that will help us with a bonfire, hot dogs and yard games for outreach and preservation projects the whole family. around the archive. The Vasa Archive staff and Board members wish to thank If you have any questions about the every lodge, district and member who collections or archives, feel free to donated and pledged money for the contact us at VasaArchivist@gmail. matching-funds grant. This grant will com or 309-927-3898. For more current WWW.VASAORDER.COM
membership donates to the annual fundraisers. Think of the difference members could make for the Archives if all members simply donated five to 10 dollars to each fundraiser. Many of us buy coffee, fast food, a magazine or newspaper each week that costs more than that! I challenge all members and friends of Vasa to look at the advantages of having a “Home for the Vasa Order” at the VNA. We all deal with storage of things we consider valuable in our personal lives and the Archives provides that for the history of the Vasa Order. Without the Archives we would lose what members worked hard to protect since Vasa was instituted in 1896, not to mention a large part of Swedish immigration history. The Vasa National Archives is a
branch of the Vasa Order of America, and the Grand Lodge provides significant financial support for its daily operation. This financial support is imperative for the sustainability of the Archives, but membership support via donations is essential for programs and projects such as digitizing historic records and library, textile and art preservation. Thank you again for your support and please consider remembering the Vasa National Archives in your personal estate planning. i n tru th a n d u n ity ,
b i ll lu n d q u is t
p r es id en t va sa n atio n al a rch iv es
Upcoming events at the Archives • Midsummer Respite (June 22, 10–6, during Midsummer) – If you get too hot or dry while exploring Bishop Hill during this summer celebration, the Vasa National Archives invites you to take a break and enjoy fika with us. Fika is a Swedish custom of offering visitors a drink and a snack. To help pass the time while you cool off, we have a make-and-take clay sculpture station for you. • Butter Making (Sept. 28-29, 10–5, during Jordbruksdagarna) – Bishop Hill colonists, like many Swedes, were excellent butter and cheese makers. Stop by our booth in the demostration area to learn about butter making and make your own butter to take home.
Elf bonfires Iceland from the Nordic Fairy Tale exhibit.
information on Bishop Hill or the Vasa National Archives, like us on Facebook..
i n tru th a n d u n ity ,
k ath y cu f f , m a n ag er - a rch iv is t
vasa n atio n al a rch iv es
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THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
Engineer, inventor, renaissance man From time to time an inventor comes along who transforms an entire industry. Such a man was Captain John Ericsson. His inventions, notably incorporated in the Civil War battleship USS Monitor, marked a turning point in shipbuilding and the maritime industry. As an engineer and inventor in the mid-1800s, his research and innovations in propeller design, hot air engines and solar energy are relevant to 21st century issues.
The influences of early life helped develop his taste for engineering. At age 10 Ericsson constructed a miniature sawmill and pumping machine that attracted the attention of Baltzar von Platen, who built the Göta Kanal, and two years later he made a lock on the canal. At 17 he entered the army and quickly became a lieutenant for his fine military maps, catching the attention of the first Bernadotte, King Karl XIV Johan. Ericsson constructed a flame engine of 10 horsepower and journeyed to London on leave in 1826 to introduce it. There he resigned his commission in the Swedish army, which was accepted but not until he had been promoted to captain. During the next few years Ericsson produced about 40 machines of various kinds, among them a file-cutting device, a hydrostatic weighing machine and an apparatus for making salt from brine, a pumping engine, a rotary steam engine and a system of artificial draught for steam boilers, which dispensed with huge smokestacks and economized fuel. In 1828 he applied the principle of condensing steam and returning the water to the boiler to the steamship Victory. The next year, in just seven weeks, the ingenious inventor planned and completed the Novelty engine—the lightest, most elegant and fastest locomotive up to that time. It attained the amazing speed of 30 miles an hour. In the same year he also invented a steam fire engine, which became a sensation in London and for which in 1840 he received the great gold medal of the Mechanics’ Institute in New York. All of this was accomplished during John Ericsson’s first 25 years.
John Ericsson is surprisingly unknown in Sweden, but here in America he’s noted for being one of the 19th century’s most creative engineers and inventors. His inventions, notably incorporated in the Civil War battleship USS Monitor, marked a turning point in shipbuilding and transformed the maritime industry. The amount of work John Ericsson did in his lifetime is mind boggling, and he remained active until shortly Illustration courtesy of the Kinship Center, Karlstad. before his death from a kidney illness. The list of his inventions is amazing and his influence on the world and the development of sciKENTUCKY ence was considered incalculable during his lifetime. Memorial Notices should be mailed with DR. JOAN WALSON, 83, who lived in John Ericsson died in his lower check or money order to The Vasa Star, Florence, died on March 2, 2019. She PO Box 13331, Milwaukee, WI 53213-0331. was predeceased by her husband James Manhattan Beach Street home on Email: vasaeditor@gmail.com. The fee is and her parents Knute and Irma Carlson, March 8, 1889 at age 85. Several $10=max. 40-45 words, and $25= longer whom she memorialized through the American and foreign dignitaries, obituaries of 50-120 words. All notices Vasa scholarship program. Extremely various Swedish groups (some must be typed and in a format similar proud of her Swedish heritage, Joan in colorful provincial costumes), to what you see here. NO newspaper was a member of Vasa since she was 16 clippings. years old, originally joining Nobel Lodge proceeded in a cortege from Beach If you submitted an obituary and it is 130. Her family continues to celebrate Street to the old historic Trinity not listed here, please resubmit to be its roots through their membership in Church on lower Broadway opposite included in the following issue. the Scandinavian Society of Cincinnati, the western end of Wall Street. where her eldest granddaughter led the Upon Ericsson’s death, President Lucia procession this winter. Joan is CALIFORNIA lovingly remembered and sorely missed Harrison said, “Great men are the by her sister Ingrid, her sons Matt and product of great peoples. We should NELLIE HANSON died January 20, Jon, her stepson Jeff, her niece, nephew fail in our understanding of Ericsson 2019 in Eureka, the day after her 92nd and grandchildren, as well as many other Scientific sensation unless we first understand the Swedbirthday. She joined Balder Lodge No. extended family members and friends. In 1830 Ericsson introduced “linked ish people.” 343 on July 12, 1986, and was also secremotion” for the reversing of engines; tary of the local Scandinavian MidsumOHIO a modification of this device was mer Festival. She will be greatly missed. A strong start used on locomotives until the late LENNART GOTRICH, 73, died February He was born in Långbanshyttan in 1800s. In 1833 he engineered the 5, 2019. Born in Karlshamn, Sweden, he immigrated to USA in 1960. He joined Värmland on July 31, 1803. His fa- caloric engine—the scientific world Nobel-Monitor No. 130 in 1983, making ther, Olof, was a mining proprietor, was astonished, and lectures on the him a 35-year member. He served as Chap- his mother, Sophie, the daughter of invention were delivered everywhere. lain 2006-2010. Dear husband of Marianne, an iron master. His brother Baron In 1836 he invented and patented both of whom sang with the Vasa Voices. Be sure to send address Nils Ericson, was a colonel of engithe screw propeller, which would He was preceded in death by his first wife changes to: Ingrid Carlson Gotrich in 1990, also a neers and became chief of the Swed- revolutionize navigation at sea. Alcirculationvasastar@gmail.com member of the lodge and Vasa Voices. ish railways. though the usefulness of this inven-
IN MEMORIAM
Moving?
page 30
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Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
tion was practical, it was refused by the British Admiralty on the grounds that a vessel could not be steered with the motive power applied at the stern. This refusal was indirectly the cause of Ericsson’s journey to the U.S. In 1838 he constructed the iron screw steamer, “Robert E. Stockton,” which crossed the Atlantic in 1839 and was later used as a tugboat on the Delaware River. In November of that year, the inventor came to America at the invitation of Commodore Robert F. Stockton, U.S. Navy. The United States Government readily recognized the genius of Ericsson, and under an order from the Navy Department in 1841, he furnished designs for the warship Princeton—the first vessel with propelling machinery below the water line and out of reach of hostile fire. Besides her propeller, the Princeton carried other inventions by Ericsson: a direct acting steam engine, a telescope smokestack, a centrifugal blower, a gun carriage with machinery for taking up the recoil and the self-fasting lock allowing the gun to be fired.
New Haven, Connecticut and other influential citizens that an order was obtained for the construction of the Monitor. And then the work was pushed forward so quickly that the ship was complete in 100 working days from the laying of the keel plate. And just in time too, for the Confederate iron-clad Merrimack had destroyed the Cumberland and Congress warships and practically had the rest of the government’s wooden fleet at her mercy. Had it not been for the Monitor, the whole course of the war might have changed. But after the victory at Hampton Roads, a fleet of Monitors was quickly built and the Confederate navy was destroyed. On the day of the famous battle, March 9, 1862, the crew included three Swedes: M.T Sundström, Hans Anderson and Charles Peterson. In spite of being the creator of so many inventions, Ericsson disliked being called an inventor. “Anybody can invent,” he allegedly said, “but it takes a man of brains to be an engineer.” His later years were devoted to the development of a sun engine, and the use of the sun’s radiant heat for the production of motive power. John Ericsson never returned to his native land. He was proud of being A monumental life an American but he was also proud The story of the Monitor and the of his Swedish heritage and wished Merrimack isn’t new but that of the to rest in Swedish soil. building of the former is not so faThis was fulfilled in 1890 when his miliar. When Ericsson’s plan for this remains were carried with full milistrange craft was submitted to the tary honors on board the Baltimore authorities it was deemed impractito the land where he was born. On cal and refused. It was only after the the casket was placed the American intervention of the railroad execuContinues on next page tive and shipbuilder C.S. Bushnell of
John Ericsson Day, commemorating the ingenious Swedish born inventor and engineer is celebrated near Filipstad, the town of his birth every year. The celebration, which coincides with the honoring of the year’s Swedish American of the year includes a solemn moment at the mausoleum built to honor the man, who saved the Union. Then later, a reenactment of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack at Hampton Roads, this year on August 3, 2019.
Above: The reenactment of the battle at Hampton Roads in Filipstad. The replica of the Monitor to the right makes us understand the depiction of the ship as “a cheese box on a raft” by the media of its time. Top: The magnificent monument that was erected over John Ericsson’s burial place, dedicated 1895.
GRAND LODGE NEWS The Grand Master’s Message (continued from page 27) This time of year, May and June, Vasa activities pick up in earnest as there are festivals and parades. Great time to join in and advertise VASA. The new Grand Lodge website is up and running but still needs work from all Districts and Lodges to become current. We are asking all Districts and Local Lodges to appoint a member to maintain their respective web pages with current officers and an up-dated event calendar. To get started, contact
WWW.VASAORDER.COM
the Grand Lodge Webmaster Robert (Bob) Anderson and request assistance in setting up a user name, password and a tutorial in managing the web page. Don’t forget the Grand Lodge is on most social media platforms. I enjoy seeing many Lodges putting information and pictures on Facebook. This year the Grand Lodge provided 17 college scholarships and 10 language camp scholarships to Sjölunden. Your generous donations help make
this possible. At the Executive Board Meeting, the following are some of the interesting topics that were addressed: The OAB form and matrix has been revised. Both are available from the GL Secretary. The GL Historian Alice Iverson, 285 23rd St. Astoria, OR 97103 requests material for the 125th Vasa anniversary book. Articles and pictures from 1995-present can be sent.
Convention lapel pins for the 2022 Convention are on sale at $5 each. All members of GLEB have pins for sale, or contact me. Remember the Order wants a VIBRANT, ENTHUSIASIC MEMBERSHIP – GET THE WORD OUT! TV TV TV (Talk Vasa) with ENTHUSIASM! in truth and unity, art bjorkner,grand master
page 31
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
Continued from previous page flag that flew on the Monitor during its battle with the Merrimack. The Baltimore arrived in Stockholm under solemn ceremonies arranged in front of Kungsträdgården on Sept. 14, 1890. William W. Thomas, American ambassador to Sweden and Norway delivered the remains to Sweden’s Admiral Peyron. He concluded his speech with the following words: “The body of Ericsson we restore to you, but his memory we shall ever remain in sacred keeping; or rather we will share it with you, and with the whole world.” Numerous monuments have been erected to honor John Ericsson. One of the better known monuments in the United States is at the tip of Manhattan in Battery Park where a statue by Jonathan Scott Hartley was unveiled on April 26, 1893; another was erected in his honor in Washington, DC in 1926. Next time you’re in Stockholm, visit Berzeli Park at Nybroplan, just across from Dramaten, for a look at the Ericsson Memorial there. UBM Sources: Nordstjernan 1889-1890 The New York Times, 03.09.1889 Harper’s Weekly, August, 1890 “Captain John Ericsson,” 1988
P
age one of Nordstjernan of Aug. 21, 1890, above, became a call to every Swede to join in the procession to bid farewell to their countryman John Ericsson two days later. Following his death, the remains of John Ericsson received special honorary treatment by the U.S. Navy, who used the US Baltimore to transport his coffin back to Sweden. A later report on the events of Aug. 23 had the following to say: “This city was the scene yesterday of one of the most remarkable tributes ever paid by a people to the memory of a great man. It was the appointed day for the removal of the remains of Capt. John Ericsson from this country, which he loved so well and for which he did so much, to the land of his birth, where he was held in as high esteem as here. Ceremonies ... taken part in by more than 100,000 persons.
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In this issue from the early part of the 1890s, notice the amount of subjects which are covered in small text, which is a common feature of Nordstjernan during the era. As conditions improved back in Sweden, the mass volumes of immigrants had sunk in numbers to less than half, about 20,000 per year, of that from the previous decade. Meanwhile, Swedes had spread across America. However, Nordstjernan’s reporting of incidents according to towns and districts in Sweden is an indication that the immigrants retained keen interest and strong ties to their homeland. A few weeks later, Captain Ericsson’s life merited a special supplement in Nordstjernan which marked the first time the broadsheet publication had exceeded eight, as it swelled to 10 pages in length. More than a decade later, in 1903, the
centennial celebration of his birthday merited Nordstjernan’s largest issue to that date, when the July 30 issue expanded to 24 pages. Ericsson’s contributions to the United States during his lifetime gave a muchneeded uplift to Swedish pride. The newspaper offered free portraits of this famous Swedish American to new subscribers in a special front page box that ran uninterrupted for three years, until the paper moved to new offices on Park Row in 1893. This was the first time that Nordstjernan has utilized a premium gift to attract subscribers, and in the future, such practical incentive items as Swedish-English dictionaries and Swedish language guides to everyday American law, as well as books covering religious and historical topics, were offered to new and renewing subscribers.
The John Ericsson monument in Stockholm.
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Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
LOCAL LODGE NEWS
Mimi Holtermann, Hannah Johansson and Kathy Holtermann at Fylgia-sponsored cooking class held at Nordic House in Berkeley, CA.
Fylgia No. 119 san francisco, ca
/ 2019 began with fika and we hosted another in March at the Swedish American Hall. We invite all the Swedish groups that use the hall to join us. In March, we learned how Native Americans helped Swedish
immigrants, and we joined the Young Scandinavians and members of Svea Lodge at the Napa Valley vineyards started by Swedes (Larsons and West Winery), after which we had a Gatukok dinner at Stockhome restaurant. In April we had a Påskris gathering for
Easter, and in May Erdmann Rogge is discussing subduction zones in San Francisco. Of course May also brings the traditional Aquavit Infusion event in preparation for Midsummer at Sveadal. submitted by dianne dahlberg
Thule No. 127
Ted Olsson and Dr. Linda Rugg of the Scandinavian Studies program at UC Berkeley, who came in March to discuss botany and the healing practices that Native Americans taught the Swedes who colonized the New World.
Linné No. 153
south bend, in / We had no meetings in January or February due to the weather. In March, Matt Baumgartner discussed the Hanseatic League and we elected officers. Gordon and Marlene Westergren will be our delegates for the district convention, which is in May.
submitted by lori cooper
jamestown / bemus point , ny
/ Our lodge is beginning its 112th year. We continue to preserve our Swedish heritage through events and activities throughout the year, and regular meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month. Visitors are always welcome. We had an Easter Egg Sexa, and Lodge Historian John Sipos presented a historical book of the lodge’s annual events and activities. He has been the lodge historian for 20 years. Susan W. Sipos, vice chairman of the lodge, used her computer talents to create a Swedish cover and title page. God dag to all. submitted by john sipos Historian John Sipos, past chairman Ralph Veights, assistant mistress of ceremony Bernice Veights and member Karen Johnson.
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Matt Baumgartner, guest speaker at the March meeting, talked about the Hanseatic League.
page 33
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
Karen Snowberg, Past Grand Lodge Cultural Director for USA and Canada.
Enighet No. 178 denver , co / At the 2018 Grand Lodge Convention, I had the pleasure of meeting Karen Snowberg of D.L. New York No. 4 and Past Grand Lodge Cultural Director for USA and Canada. For four years Karen spent many hours reading, researching and writing materials for the “Book of Cultural Reports.” Her goal for this book was to be a ready-to-use cultural presentation for any Local Lodge Cultural Leader to use at monthly meetings. It is now eight months since Karen handed out the books during the convention. At Enighet of Denver, I’m proud to report that Cultural Leader Sister Marie-Louise Wood chooses a subject to read from the book, and our members all gather around to listen. Eight of our lodge members have emigrated from Sweden, yet this information made a great impact on them and was greatly appreciated. On behalf of all the members of Enighet, TUSEN TACK to Sister Karen Snowberg.
submitted by bill strook
Bessemer met for a special lunch meeting in April at Oak Lawn Hilton.
Bessemer No. 203
oak lawn, il / In February we installed both Bessemer and Thor officers at Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church. We were treated to a delicious lunch by Sr. Patricia Pelzman. The March meeting was St. Patrick focused, and we had a visit from our District Master, Lynda Smith. In
page 34
portland, or / We are very proud of our member Anna Kienberger, who was awarded a Grand Lodge Scholarship. Anna is finishing her freshman year in the prestigious Honors College at Portland State University where she is studying art history and women’s studies. When her family lived abroad, she attended schools in Norway and Germany, where she sang in school choirs, was a member of the National Honor Society, and displayed her art in art shows. We
Jim Pelzman initiates Jaiden Gershon.
submitted by christine kilstrom
March meeting: Sitting (L-R) Jim and Pat Pelzman, DM Lynda Smith and Linda Tylk; standing (L-R) Hailey Gershon, Brian Anderson, Barb Olson and Herb Smith.
Nobel No. 184
Grand Lodge Scholarship winner Anna Kienberger with her grandmother and Nobel Lodge Chairman Alice Iverson.
April, our members met at the Oak Lawn Hilton for a special lunch and meeting. It was a joy to initiate a new member into Bessemer: Jaiden Gershon, grandson to our Financial Secretary Barbara Olson, became our newest member.
wish her the best for her continued success. Nobel celebrates its 108th anniversary May 19. Although our anniversary was in February, we delayed the banquet for milder weather. Please join us on June 8 for the 91st annual Portland Midsummer Festival produced by the League of Swedish Societies, at the Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., with the raising of the Midsommar Stång at 2 p.m. Entertainment, food and activities all day long. submitted by jeff klein
THE VASA ORDER IS AMERICA’S LARGEST FRIENDSHIP AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION FOR NORDICS IN NORTH AMERICA. WWW.VASAORDER.COM
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Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
Svea No. 296
erie, pa / We had a change of leadership of our lodge and our new Chairman is Cheryl Brown; she will take over from Lorraine Johnson. We also have new members - welcome Cynthia and Abigel Treiber. Congratulations Cheryl, and thank you Lorraine for your work.
submitted by gary larson
Chairman Gary Johnson presented 50year membership pins to Ingeborg and Stanley Steinke with congratulations.
Past Chairman Lorraine Johnson welcomes new Chairman Cheryl Brown as new members Cynthia and Abigel Treiber look on.
A great lunch with members and friends (L to R): Marianne Ekstrand, Charlotte and David Tollin, Dennis Eksten, Gunnel Stewart, Ingeborg and Stan Steinke, Ina Miller, Jean Berggren, Roy Ylitalo, Will Rottman, Gary and Carol Johnson, Joyce Anderson and Marge Gruel. Second table, Don and Angie Erickson.
Brahe No. 245
rockford, il / Because of bad weather our January meeting was postponed to March when we met at the Olive Garden for our annual installation of officers. All officers were reinstalled, and District Deputy Marianne Ekstrand made sure it was done by the book. Convention delegates will be Gary and Carol Johnson. Chairman Gary Johnson presented 50-year membership pins to Ingeborg and Stanley Steinke. Marianne brought along Linde Lodge members - her mom Liza Ekstrand and dear friend Marge Gruel.
submitted by carol johnson
Who wouldn’t run 40 miles for this treat at the finish line?
day, May 27. On that day, people usually fill Ferndale’s Main Street ferndale, ca / Once again, Balder at the finish line of a 3-day, 40Lodge’s pancake breakfast offers plus mile race that takes place over Swedish pancakes, ham, fresh fruit pavement, sand and through bay and beverages the morning of Mon- and river waters. Balder members HansKristian Christensen and Kristina Watson pedal a huge six-wheeled steel “sculpture” and Cultural Leader Chuck Holm makes delightful presentations of Swedish customs, san jose, ca / We have a zesty active hiking club. Here are some stalwart language and proper pronunciation. hikers at a recent hike at the San Members of Balder, together with Francisco Bay Area shoreline. We those from Sons of Norway and the hiked a few miles in the misty morn- Danish lodges of Ferndale will host ing and encountered beautiful egrets the 69th Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at Rohner Park in Fortuna and Canada geese. on June 23, starting at noon. Come submitted by jack knutson for a barbecue and potluck of Scandinavian-style dishes, followed by a flag ceremony, accordion music and folk dancing. Balder’s 103rd anniversary dinner is July 20 at the Steelhead Lodge, an hour north of Eureka.
Balder No. 343
Svea No. 348
Hikers Kirsten Clute, Mona Clements, Ulla Forsler, Mette Leuthold, Jerry Clements and Dale Leuthold before a brunch repast including beer and coffee at the Shoreline American Bistro Café. Jack Knutson AKA “the hiker meister” was holding the camera. Right: Egret posing for the Svea No. 348 hikers.
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submitted by don christensen
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LOCAL LODGE NEWS
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
Many years ago, Dr. William Borgström, a Vasa member in Stockholm Sweden, donated a number of these batavia, il / Our January meeting was cancelled due to the extreme weather beautiful crowns to the Vasa Order during our “polar vortex.” The February meeting was a busy one filled with in memory of Helga Hoving, the remembering past members, welcoming new members and the installation founder of the children’s clubs. The of the new officers. Finally Tom Cleveland gave a powerpoint presentation crowns were placed in 10 districts, about Scandinavian Park, Inc. (Vasa Park in South Elgin, IL). On February and the Grand Lodge has an extra 9, Michael Wicks married Viljan member Kristina Karl, who wore the bridal crown which is available for loan crown from Vasa’s District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8. This was the same to those districts that do not have crown her mother Marguerite Karl (also a Vasa member) wore when she one. Should a Vasa member wish to was married. borrow a Vasa bridal crown, please submitted by kristina wicks contact the Grand Secretary. Vasa Bridal Crown The tradition of wearing a wedding What a great day in their charming One of the cultural mementos from crown, not so common anymore in Swedish Hall in the foothills of the the early days in Sweden is the bridal Sweden, dates back to the Catholic wedding crown worn for the mar- times of the Middle Ages. The crown seattle, wa / Our new chairman, Brenda Cascades. Valuable history, folk dancriage ceremony. The Vasa Order of was a symbol of chastity and virginity Bard, has been busy setting up events. ing and conviviality was shared by all. America has several bridal crowns as part of the traditions surrounding Our past chairman, Barrett Monsass, Member Vanessa Jackson is graduatwhich it proudly lends to its brides. the Virgin Mary. who also did a great job, is now the Dis- ing from Penn State on May 3 with trict Master in DL 13. We celebrated St. thanks to Frihet, District and Grand Patrick’s day with corned beef and the Lodge scholarships for helping make trimmings with a Swedish twist. After it possible. all, the Vikings left their mark in Ireland Midsommar will soon be here, and Vasa and everyone I know who goes there Park on Lake Sammamish is a focal point for all the participating lodges. says the evidence is apparent. We were invited to Skogsblomman No 378’s 100th anniversary celebration. submitted by karen riston
Viljan No. 349
Frihet No. 401
Easter traditions with special Swedish Easter dishes. milwaukee, wi / Our January meeting We have a DL convention in May and was canceled due to weather, so we will meet for lunch on June 2 at Ikea installed new officers in March instead, Oak Creek. June 23 is Midsommar at including new Cultural Leader Nancy Heidelberg Park in Milwaukee - please Fletcher. Member Birgit Moxon and her join us! son Andy discussed their recent trip to The Ekstrand’s annual kräftskiva is Sweden and Norway. Their lodging in on August 24, and we are planning Stockholm was at Långholmen (previ- Linde’s annual roadtrip on Sept. 8-9 ously a prison and now a hostel), and to Andersonville, Geneva and South they visited Öland then Svalbard in Elgin, Illinois. Mark your calendars for the Arctic north of Norway. Everyone Scandinavian Festival on Oct. 5 in New enjoyed the journey, and we had a soup Berlin, WI: headliner entertainment is luncheon. We also celebrated member SmörgåsBandet! Marge Jothen who turned 100 years old that week! In April we celebrated submitted by liza ekstrand
Linde No. 492
2019 officers of Linde No. 492 installed by DD David Tollin (L to R): Liza Ekstrand, David Tollin, Marge Gruel, Marianne Ekstrand, Jan Kamholtz and Nancy Fletcher.
Svalbard—3,581 miles from Milwaukee.
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Celebrating Marge Jothen’s 100 birthday what a lady, she is very involved and usually SmörgåsBandet is the headliner entertainment at 2019 Scandinavian drives herself to lodge meetings. Ja må du Festival in New Berlin, WI on October 5 - Tjo Ho! leva i tvåhundra år! WWW.VASAORDER.COM
LOCAL LODGE NEWS
Linnéa No. 504
New members Mike Bowman and Diane Savory were initiated in February 2019.
petaluma, ca / Välkommen to our two newest lodge members, Mike Bowman and Diane Savory, initiated at our February Pea Soup & Pancake meeting. Diane is a retired
Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
graphic designer originally from Seattle and lives in Santa Rosa. She learned about Vasa by attending our Lucia Festivals. Mike is a longtime friend of Linnéa Lodge No. 504 and Vasa, he attends meetings with his wife Sandra and is a dedicated event volunteer. His mother-in-law, Ruth Duffy, is a lifetime member of Vasa. Our next gathering will be a Pizza Social on May 11, and then on June 22 is Midsommar - with dancing around the Maypole, Swedish costumes, lots of delicious food to go around and fellowship with old and new friends! submitted by mary wahlberg
Ann Heinstedt accepted her son Lars Heinstedt’s GL Scholarship Certificate from Grand Lodge Deputy Bertil (Bert) Winther.
Golden Valley No. 616
van nuys, ca
/ At our April business meeting and dinner we had the pleasure of presenting one of four GL Scholarship Certificates. Lars Heinsted is attending college in another state and wasn’t able to accept the certificate in person, so his mother Ann Heinstedt proudly accepted it. Whenever possible Lars volunteers
his help in the lodge and has done wonders for our Youth Committee. His parents, Ann and Richard, are the driving forces behind Viking Village and our Vasa Park Association. submitted by bertil (bert) winther
Vinland No. 703
cape cod, ma / We shared our recollections of Scandinavian traditions, customs and celebrations in April. Our annual Midsummerfest is June 15 - everyone should bring their own Our February meeting was about the history of Swedish (Vasaloppet) and picnic lunches and a dessert to share. Norwegian (Birkebeiner) ski races. Information on the American Birkebeiner along with snowshoeing and skiing history was also shared as many areas of Arizona Beverages and watermelon will be received record snowfalls this year. provided. MA District No. 2 will participate in the Midsummerfest at SAC Park in Shrewsbury on June 22, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. On July 10, we will by the Finns & Friends Group. Our afternoon meetings are always pre- observe Vinland’s 45th anniversary phoenix, az / Spring is moving right with a dinner at the Riverway Lobster along, and summer isn’t far behind. ceded by a tasty lunch, and even though House in South Yarmouth. Everyone In March we heard about the “Prairie we have no meetings during the summer is welcome! Utopia” of Bishop Hill, Illinois by John months, our social luncheons at various E. Norton, and in April we celebrated restaurants continue. The information submitted by dorothy ann Phoenix Lodge’s 55th anniversary with can be found on Facebook and our ellner kean a Swedish language program, music and website www.vasaorder.net/?lodge=677 Traditional Midsummer pole at Vinland’s dancing. Our final meeting before our . We will also publish our calendar in our celebration, this year on June 15. summer hiatus is on May 18 with the September issue of Bladet. theme “Finland 100 years independent” submitted by romy solomonson
Phoenix No. 677
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LOCAL LODGE NEWS
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
Norden No. 684
The Vasa group painting Dala horses—as it looks, a definite future competition for the original Nusnäs, Dalarna crafts people. Left: Chef Mats Hellgren’s restaurant, FarFars Swedish Dining, is located in the Colony Covenant Church of Kingsburg.
fresno, ca / We met at Dennis and Dee Donnelly’s home for a “Dala Horse Workshop.” Dennis cut out and prepared 29 horses for us to paint, and he and Dee served a pizza lunch with salads and dessert. The District Lodge had commissioned the Dala horses to be table decorations at the convention in April. Mats Hellgren, a Swedish chef, spoke at our March meeting. Mats has over 20 seasons of experience as head chef at Framnäs Vacation Resort in Gränna, Sweden, and his local restaurant is FarFars Swedish Dining in the Colony Covenant Church on Rose Avenue in Kingsburg. Many Norden Lodge members have raved about his outstanding food and how much they enjoyed the experience. Every April at our Vasa meeting, we enjoy open face sandwiches, and we are entertained by our Svenska Kids Musik Club. It is always fun to watch how enthusiastically they perform.
submitted by clyda dehn
Oak Leaf No. 685
thousand oaks , ca
/ Twenty-five members participated in the 44th Scandinavian Festival with a food booth in April at California Lutheran University. We served Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, red cabbage and lingonberries. This is an annual fundraiser for our lodge.
Evert Taube
Stenland No. 727
submitted by ken kenyon jr.
central nyack, ny / In March, CoGrand Lodge Cultural Leader and District Master of NY, Jeanne Eriksson Widman Andersen and Vice District Master NY, Wayne Soderlund presented a cultural evening for Stenland Lodge about the life and music of Evert Taube, Sweden’s famous troubadour (who would have been 129 on March 12). It was an outstanding presentation with an evening of music, including accordion music by Smörgåsbandet. We would love to have them back! In April we celebrated Stenland’s 39th anniversary at The Old ’76 House in Tappan, NY, an historical restaurant from the Revolutionary War era.
Customers lined-up for the Oak Leaf Lodge’s Swedish food booth at the Scandinavian Festival in Thousand Oaks, CA, where Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, red cabbage and lingonberries were offered along with herring, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, limpa and knäckebröd.
Vasa questions? Most questions can be answered by your district or regional officers. You’re also welcome to send your questions about anything Vasa-related to vasajlg@aol.com and then watch for the FAQ Column
in The Vasa Star.
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Stenland members enjoying the Taube event.
submitted by ingrid allison
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LOCAL LODGE NEWS
Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
Two new members: Ava Tomky & Krissy Pearson. You can tell their Swedish pride by their big smiles!
Nordik Folk No. 761 munster , in
Nordik Folk’s newly elected officers - all females (front row): Annelise Nelson, Beth Raddatz, Elizabeth Allen, Linnea Ogrentz and Shelly Westlund (back row): Jean Ogrentz, Chairman Shana Chelich, Janice Tomky and Tonia Tomky. Top, right: Members working on mailings for May’s DL Convention. (Left side of table, front to back): Carolyn Kuzminski, Karin Schaffer and Steve Westlund (Right side of table, front to back): Janice Tomky, Lisa Pearson, Jean Ogrentz, Shelly Westlund, Kristen Lindemulder, John Twohy.
/ Notice anything different about our new officers? THEY ARE ALL FEMALES! We are riding the tide of the future here. Nobody even realized it until we had everyone gathered for a photo at our installation and one of the officers started grinning as she pointed at the group and asked if we noticed anything “unusual.” Nordik Folk Lodge members showed up another Monday - not even a meeting night - to help
compile and organize the mailing for the District Convention raffle. There were letters to fold, envelopes to stuff, and address labels and stamps to affix, but many hands made light work. Our two newest members, Ava and Krissy, have been members of Nordikids for many years and since they turned 14, they have joined Nordik Folk as official members. submitted by lynda ann smith
YOUTH NEWS Vasa Blad No. 119 concord, ca / The children’s club of Sveaborg No. 449 performed Swedish folkdances at a senior living home in Concord on March 10. The performance was well attended and appreciated by the audience. They were accompanied on the violin by Sveaborg member Sven Chilton and pianist Sabrina Lewis, under the leadership of Rosemary Fassl and dance leader Rachel Fassl. Vasa Blad in Concord is the only active children’s club in San Francisco Bay Area and includes children from as far away as San Jose. For information on Vasa Blad, contact Rosemary Fassl rfassl@att.net
submitted by sven-ove westerberg Vasa Blad dance performance.
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SWEDISH NEWS
THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
SWEDISH NEWS Skåne No. 570 malmö, sweden / Vårterminen avslutades med ett föredrag av före detta fängelsedirektören Leif Carselid. Han berättade fängslande om de berömda fångar, som han lärde känna genom sitt yrke. Logens programkommitté har träffats och vi kom fram till många intressanta efterkapitel men allt är inte klart vid denna pressläggningen. Den 13 september 2019 ska vi ha en “kräftskiva” och Carl-Adam Landström kommer för att underhålla oss. Men denna gången utan medhavd egen dryck och mat. Istället ska vi använda Romelebygdens meny och bar. Den 12 oktober 2019 planerar vi att lyssna på ett föredrag om “Gryningspyromanen.” Vi hälsar gäster varmt välkomna till våra sammankomster. Besök vår hemsida https:// sites.google.com/site/vasaordenll570 för mer information. Malmö är en trevlig stad att besöka och så finns ju Logen Skåne där. Strax norr om Malmö ligger Alnarp lantbruksuniversitet med slott och en stor fin park. Unna er gärna en stund i Alnarp också..
submitted by bo västerstjärna
Olle Wickström och Lena Friberg gratuleras med blommor av ordförande Marie Wickström.
Gabriel 7 år framför dammen i Alnarp utanför Malmö. Här är det karneval den 1 maj varje år.
Göteborg No. 452 göteborg, sweden / Welcome to Sweden! In 2019 the Vasa Lodge Göteborg No. 452 will celebrate its 95th anniversary. In September 1924 the first lodge in Sweden was established here. From the Grand Lodge participated Johannes and Helga Hoving. They traveled over the Atlantic Ocean on the M/S Drottningholm. This is an early notice that we will celebrate this important event on September 7, 2019 in Göteborg (Gothenburg). Welcome! Visit our webpage at www.vasaorden.com for more information.
submitted by torsten olsson
Emigranternas Hus (The House of Emigrants) in Gothenburg. From this building 1,000,000 emigrants began their long journey to America 1860-1920.
Före detta fängelsedirektören Leif Carselid berättade med inlevelse.
NEW MEMBERS IN SWEDEN On behalf of the Grand Lodge and members of the Vasa Order of America, I am pleased to welcome you to membership in these local Vasa lodges. If you are new to the Vasa Order, we bid you welcome. If you are transferring or are a dual member, your new lodge bids you welcome. We hope you will enjoy your membership and will participate in all of the activities planned for you. ~ Ed Netzel, Grand Lodge Membership Chairman, edlnetzel@att.net LL Stockholm Nr 589 Carl-Uno Manros LL Gotland Nr 624 Stina Jörnhammar Lars-Gunnar Werkelin Ragnar Öberg
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LL Skövde Nr 626 Sören Andrén Britt-Marie Magnusson Brinck Inga-Lill Mikkelsen LL Karlstad Nr 632 Göran Franzén Gunhild Hjalmarsson
Eva Larhult Maud Mithander LL Eskilstuna Nr 633 Elsa Arvidsson Gun Malmgren LL Lidköping Nr 636 Eleonor Larsegård
Stig Larsegård Birgitta Lundell Iréne Weiner LL Uddevalla Nr 638 Lena Boustedt Britt Bäckman Harnby Dennis Bäckman Britt-Marie Dahle Karl-Johan Ferm Annika Gustavsson Lena Anderzon-Holm Peter Holm
Bjarne Svensson LL Härnösand Nr 673 Alvar Bergquist Lisbeth Bergquist LL Kongahälla Nr 702 Marianne Olsson LL Filbyter Nr 714 Laila Hammarlund Thomas Hammarlund Marianne Nilsson LL Knallen Nr 745 Dick Andreasson
Elisabet Hedblom Göran Hedblom Monica Johansson Siv Minell Christina Nordmark Barbro Perleroth Bernt-Åke Sandberg LL Bråviken Nr 751 Aulikki Lagerwall Christian Lagerwall Anita Pettersson Leif Pettersson
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SWEDISH NEWS
Spring 2019 / THE VASA STAR
Christian No. 617
kristianstad, sweden / I vår loge firar vi alltid sista logemötet för året i november. Då inbjuder vi våra syskon till ett logemöte med JUL TEMA, en liten försmak inför den kommande stora helg JULEN. Vi startar alltid förberedelserna dagen före logemötet med att pynta upp festsalen så högtidligt som möjligt. Kvällens meny började med tre olika sill sorter, kokt ägg och hembakat bröd, öl, vatten och snaps. Därefter sattes det fram både ärtsoppa och kräftsoppa som alternativ. Båda sopporna åts med god aptit. Desserten bestod av pannkakor, jordgubbssylt o vispad grädde. Sist men inte minst serverades kaffe och kaka. Till denna kväll hade bröderna bjudit in en Revyprimadonna, som underhöll oss alla med härliga kupletter till dragspels ackompanjemang. Det inbjöds också till allsång, vilka alla deltog i med hjärtans lust. En fantastiskt trivsam kväll i god Vasa anda.
Ovan till vänster: Här är det Sy Gudrun, Sy Eva N, Sy Eva B, Sy Ursula och Sy Ann som börjat förberedelserna. Ovan: Vårt DD par Sy Ann o Br Jan-Anders Ingvarsson från logen Tomelilla, våra alltid så trogna gäster. Till vänster: Vårt söta och duktiga Luciatåg med flickor från Åhus förgyllde kvällen för oss.
submitted by gunnel olsson
mat, lotteri och dans gick vi nöjda hem i vinternatten. Systrarnas afton firades i mars. Temat var Examen i Vasaby höganäs, sweden / Årets första Logemöte omfattade både årsmötesförhandlingar skola. Skolfröken kom in och ringde in och installation av tjänstemän. Vid detta ”skolbarnen,” som högljudda tågade in Högtidsmöte hölls även parentation över i klassrummet. När det blev ordning i Logens hedersmedlem Br Ove Thorn- klassen kunde läxförhöret börja. Vissa blad. Efter att årsmötesförhandlingar av frågorna så svåra för ”skolbarnen,” avslutats, installerades tjänstemännen fick ta till en livlina d.v.s. publiken fick för 2019 av DD Br Rolf Hansson med hjälpa till. Efter lite sång och bus önskade stab. Utmärkelser: Sy Anita Bengtsson Fröken ”skolbarnen” ett skönt sommarlov. avtackades för sin tid som Kaplan. Sy Kvällen avslutades med dans och alla gick Inger Bengtsson och Br Calle Nilsson hem med ett leende på läpparna och ser tilldelades Logens förtjänsttecken. Sy In- fram mot nästa Vasa-möte, Kulturmötet ger fick också PC-märket efter sitt första den 13 april. Till Kulturmötet är polisens år som ordförande. Efter ett traditionellt informatör Eva-Gun Westford inbjuden. efterkapitel vid högtidsmötet, med god submitted by ola sandberg
Höganäs No. 634
De duktiga men busiga ”skolbarnen” och skolfröken - Fr.v.: Gun-Britt Hassleryd, Evy Lindstrand, Christina Magneklint, Ulla Johansson, Inger Bengtsson, Märta Thornblad, Berit Bogren.
Lidköping No. 636
De installerade tjänstemännen för år 2019 - Stående fr.v: Yngve Hult, Ola Sandberg, Mai Sandberg, Kerstin Nilsson, Sixten Bengtsson, Agneta Hult. Sittande fr. v: Ingrid Berg, Calle Nilsson, Inger Bengtsson, Karl-Axel Bengtsson, Anna-Brita Martinsson.
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lidköping, sweden / Uppvaktade logens Chartermedlem Inga Johansson som fyllde 100 år. Den 5:e februari besökte SLD DL 19 Einar Savolainen Grön och logen Lidköpings ordförande Östen Larsson och BPS Birgitta Bylander Sy Inga. Inga uppvaktas med en vacker blombukett och telegram från Logen Lidköping Nr 636. Från hovet har det kommit telegram med gratulationer från HMK Carl XIV Gustav och Drottning Silvia. Från Storlogen har Inga mottagit telegram från Stormästare Art Bjorkner. Inga var med då logen Lidköping Nr 636 bildades den 17 november 1956. Fadderlogen var Skövde Nr 626. Inga kan berätta att Lidköpingslogen och deras medlemmar var mycket aktiva. Damerna tillverkade dukar och regalier. Standar kom till Logen från USA. Kvällarna avslutades nästan alltid med dans.
Sy Inga kan inte längre besöka logen men uppskattar besöken vid jul och påsk då Br. Einar kommer med en blomma och berättar lite om vad som händer i logen. Inga har också besök av släkt och vänner. Inga Johansson 100 år - Grattis! Alla bjuds på mat, kaffe, goda kakor och tårta. En trevlig eftermiddag som också ger tillfälle att informera om Vasa Orden då besökarna ser telegram och ställer frågor. Vasa Orden önskar Sy Inga ett fortsatt friskt och gott liv. submitted by connie grön
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THE VASA STAR / Spring 2019
SWEDISH-AMERICAN EVENTS IN SWEDEN Sverige-Amerikadagen in Kalmar Sunday, June 9 2 p.m. in Kalmar Castle Around 4.30 p.m. the program will continue in the Krusenstierska Garden
American Festival in Kinda and Ydre Friday, July 19 Festival opening in Kisa, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Vråken and Kisa hembygdsgård. 3-6 p.m. Andrew Peterson Museum in Asby open Saturday, July 20 9.30 a.m.-3 p.m. Peter Cassel day, opening of the Kisa Emigration Museum 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open Sunday, July 21 Garden party in Asby 10 a.m.-4 p.m. School & Andrew Peterson museum open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Kisa Emigrant museum open 1-4 p.m. Cruise with M/S Kind on Lake Åsunden, 4 p.m. Gospel choir Delight sings in Asby church Monday, July 22 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Kisa Emigrant museum open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. M/S Kind, Rimforsa-Linköping guided tour 2-6 p.m. Geneaology at Rimforsa library 3-5 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open Tuesday, July 23 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Kisa Emigrant museum open 3-5 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open 4 p.m. Geneaology lecture by Ted Rosvall at Ydre library. SEK 50 7 p.m. Sing-along at Kisa Local Heritage museum
Wednesday, July 24 10 a.m.-8 pm Kisa Emigrant museum open 10 a.m.-1.30 pm Boxholm II steamship tour, Torpön 2 p.m. Talk show with Zacheriah & Krisitin Kramers ”Our attempt to live a good life,” Rydsnäs 3-5 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open 4-7 p.m. Waffle café and guided tours at Kisa Local Heritage museum 6 p.m. ”Kristina from Duvemåla” Musical theatre play at Tidersrum Local Heritage museum 6-9 p.m. Cruise with Boxholm II, storyteller Johan Birath 6.30 p.m. Peter Cassel at Kisa Emigrant museum. Role play 7-8.30 p.m. The Emigration to North America, movie at Valö Thursday, July 25 10 a.m.-6 pm Kisa Emigrant museum open 10.30 a.m.-1.30 pm Boxholm II, 2-hour tour Hätte 2 p.m. Christian Julisson: ”Origins of the Cassel family – puzzle solved with the help of DNA?” Lecture at Kisa library 3-5 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open 3-6.30 p.m. Geneaology at Ydre library 4-6 p.m. Boxholm II Guided nature tour, Malexander 7 p.m. Kulturcentrum in Österbymo Admission 50 SEK Talk show (30 minutes) about emigration Musical slide show from “The Emigrants to Last Letter Home” Friday, July 26 10 a.m.-6 pm Kisa Emigrant museum open 3- 5 p.m. Andrew Peterson museum in Asby open 7-9.30 p.m. Rockabilly festival at Valö When the sun sets: Outdoor cinema, Åsundabadet, Rimforsa Hembygdsfest i Barkeryds Hembygdsgård Barkeryd (1 km from Barkeryds Church) Sunday August 4 at 2 p.m. “Texas Lucia” 2018 from The Swedish Club of Houston
STORMÄSTARENS MEDDELANDE kära vasasyskon, Island Distrikt 3. Det var en glädje Hälsningar till alla i att åter igen träffa våra många vänVasavärlden. Våren ner på mötena. Vi gratulerar de nya har kommit, blomtjänstemännen i DL 15 och DL 3 och morna blommar här tackar de utgående. Jag uppskattar det i Vasa Park New Jerhårda arbete ni gör för Vasa. sey och regnskurarna Härnäst kommer vi att delta i disfortsätter. triktsmötet för New Jersey Distrikt 6 Nancy och jag tog ett uppehåll från i soliga Cape May New Jersey och vintern i New Jersey för att delta i sedan iväg till Distrikt 19 och 20 i distriktsmöte för DL Pacific South- Sverige. När jag återvänder till USA west No. 15 i Woodlands utanför Los kommer min garderobschef att vara Angeles i februari. Vi flög från Tampa fullt sysselsatt eftersom det efter bara istället för New York området. Det tre dagar bär iväg till Distrikt No. 18 i visade sig vara bra planerat, eftersom Alberta, Kanada! en vinterstorm utvecklades utanför Vid denna tid på året, maj och juni, östkusten den dag vi flög! Förra veckan börjar Vasa aktiviteter på allvar att hade vi ett Grand Lodge Executive öka; eftersom det blir många festivaler Board möte och ett styrelsemöte för och parader. Bra tillfällen att delta och vårt arkiv i Warwick, Rhode Island i presentera VASA. samband med distriktsmöte för Rhode Den nya webbplatsen för Storlogen
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är igång men behöver fortfarande togs upp på styrelsemötet: insatser från alla distrikt och loger för 1. OAB-formuläret och matrisen har att bli aktuell. Vi ber alla distrikt och reviderats. Båda är tillgängliga från lokala loger att utse en medlem för GL-sekreteraren. att till att börja med uppdatera sina 2. GL historiker Alice Iverson, 285 respektive webbsidor med tjänstemän 23rd St, Astoria, OR 97103 söker mateoch en aktuell kalender. För att komma rial till boken om Vasa inför 125-årsjuigång, kontakta Grand Lodge Webmas- bileet. Artiklar och bilder från 1995 till ter Robert (Bob) Anderson och be om aktuell tid kan skickas in. hjälp med att skapa ett användarnamn, 3. Storlogemötets knappnål för lösenord och en handledning i hanter- 2022-mötet säljs för 5 dollar per styck. ingen av webbsidan. Alla medlemmar i GLEB har dessa Glöm inte att Grand Lodge ligger nålar till salu eller kontakta mig. på alla Sociala Media-plattformar. Jag Kom ihåg att vår Order vill se ett VIgillar att se många loger publicera TALT och ENTUSIASISKT MEDLEinformation och bilder på Facebook. MSKAP, SPRID VÅRT NAMN! TVI år gav Grand Lodge 17 stipendier TV (Talk Vasa) – eller PV-PV (Prata och 10 stipendier till Sjölunden. Dina Vasa) med ENTHUSIASM! generösa donationer hjälper till att göra det möjligt. i sanning och enighet, Några av de intressanta ämnen som art bkorkner, grand master
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On a hot day in New York City, I was inspired to create these beautiful, comfortable garments. Packing light and wearing layers is one trick I use often when traveling around the globe. Preferably with pieces to suit any number of different occasions on a trip. White, black and yellow-green are the colors I’m packing in my minimal suitcase at the moment – plus sturdy sandals and a complementary scarf or two. designer
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Stockholm | Est. 1976
Sweeping “Little Italy” eco-cotton dress, $139