Viking Magazine - Jan/Feb 2025 - 30

AMBASSADOR INSIGHTS
Embracing Koselig
BY ANNIKEN HUITFELDT
I t's the time of year when people
like to get cozy (or, as we Norwegians
say, koselig!). Because Norway is
located so close to the Arctic Circle,
winters can be brutal, and that means
we need a way to make the coldest and
darkest months of the year our own.
Kos-coziness-is our answer to that.
Th ere are a lot of stereotypical
answers for how to make your winter
as koselig as possible. Candles, good
books, dinners with friends, cups of
tea and cats who can be convinced
to sit on your lap are all popular, but
one of the fi rst things that might come
to mind is a warm sweater. To hit
maximum kos, it's got to be the kind
that's hand-knitted and made of wool,
whether it's following a traditional
pattern or mixing color schemes in
creative and interesting ways.
Knitting and other fi ber arts have
recently had a resurgence in Norway.
While it was once taught nationwide
in schools, that isn't always the
case today, which fostered worries
that its popularity would decline.
Not so anymore!
Th e COVID-19 pandemic brought
with it a number of craſt -centered
crazes that could be done indoors,
including knitting. But perhaps even
without the pandemic, craſt s would be
back in vogue. In our technologically
advanced society, I've noticed a desire
by many to spend time doing things
that don't involve screens. Knitting fi ts
this bill perfectly-even though digital
media is also full of tips and tricks on
how to master this ancient art.
But what makes knitting such a Norwegian
pursuit? Well, we can go back
quite a long way-we Norwegians have
always needed clothing that adapts well
to cold weather and snow, so we've had
a certain " look " to our sweaters for a
long time. However, the iconic Norwegian
sweater is what we usually call a
30
Jan/Feb 2025
Marius sweater. You've probably seen
them before, or maybe you even own
one! Th ey're most oſt en dark blue,
with an intricate white pattern and a
section of red just under the neckline.
What you might not know is that the
Marius pattern-as well as the other
most popular Norwegian sweater
designs-didn't get their start until the
mid-1900s. During this era, people
were easily able to get knitting patterns
from books and magazines, which
allowed trends to spread more quickly
than ever before. In the 1950s, the
Marius sweater's creator, Unn Søiland
Dale, returned to Norway aſt er a stint
as a fashion model in Paris and London.
Th ere, she had sharpened her eye
for fashion, which she used to create
and sell Norwegian sweaters.
As for why it's called the Marius
sweater, that's thanks to Norwegian
skier, fi ghter pilot, model and actor,
Marius Eriksen. (Truly, the man could
do everything!) Dale developed a
sweater pattern for his role as a ski
trainer in the 1954 comedy fi lm " Troll
i ord " (English title: " Watch What You
Say " ). While you might not be familiar
with the fi lm, Dale's creation would go
on to become Norway's most beloved
knitting pattern.
All of this is to say that, if you're
planning to be the coziest you can
possibly be this winter, you couldn't
go wrong with a knitting project in
hand-and eventually, something
warm to help face the cold winter air.
Th e next time you fi nd yourself in
Norway, you'll fi t right in.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Anniken Huitfeldt
is Norway's Ambassador
to the United
States. An expert
in foreign aff airs,
she has previously
served as Norway's Foreign Minister, and
has had a longstanding career in the
Norwegian Parliament, where she led its
Standing Committee on Foreign Aff airs and
Defense for eight years. Anniken hails from
Jessheim, Norway, and is a mother of three.
facebook.com/
NorwegianEmbassyinWashington
@NorwayAmbUSA
sonsofnorway.com
PHOTOS (FROM ABOVE) MAYLAT/ADOBE, ANNIKEN HUITFELDT
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Viking Magazine - Jan/Feb 2025

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