Viking Magazine - Nov/Dec 2023 - 17

Learn a new
Host a
The diverse world of Nordic crafting is a great place to lose
yourself, offering not only a peaceful escape from reality but an
insightful dive into Nordic heritage. The extra time afforded by
Romjul offers the perfect opportunity to truly master these crafts
and carry them on to future holidays and family occasions. Here
are a few ways to engage in Nordic crafting this Romjul and
beyond.
Setesdal
Selburose
1
Develop an eye for
Nordic patterns.
A great place to start is by
educating yourself on Nordic
patterns, among which some
of the most popular include
Setesdal (which inspired the
Marius sweater), and Selburose,
which have spread to
far corners of the world,
often represented in knitted
creations including scarves,
socks and sweaters. Understanding
these patterns can
open doors to many Nordic
crafts-and can give universal
crafts like knitting a distinct
Norwegian touch.
2
Try your hand at
rosemaling.
Norwegian rosemaling or
" rose painting " is a decorative
folk painting style that originated
in rural Eastern Norway
in the 1700s. The style pulled
infl uences from the decorative
Baroque and Rococo styles
popular throughout Europe
in the early 17th and 18th
@sonsofnorway
centuries. Rosemaling can
often be found in murals,
on walls and ceilings and
throughout Norwegian
churches and homes, an honored
style and craft that has
carried on for generations.
Follow a YouTube beginners
tutorial by member Lise
Lorentzen to help you get
started. For a simpler, yet still
informative approach, color
in your rosemaling creations
using " Marlys Hammer's Telemark
Rosemaling Coloring
Book " by Diane Hammer.
3
Train yourself in
hvetevefting.
Hvetevefting, or
" wheat weaving " is
a traditional Norwegian
Christmas
craft that consists of
braiding wheat into different
patterns and shapes. The
resulting creations are often
used as Christmas tree
ornaments or hung around
the home as holiday decorations.
To fi nd your wheat
stalks, stop by an outdoor
market or a local craft store.
It is recommended to soak
your wheat in water for up to
an hour to soften the fi bers
and make it more fl exible for
braiding. Consider tuning
into an online class to get
started, as the craft can take
some training, but the results
are beautiful and well worth
the patience required.
Get cozy, pour some cocoa and invite friends
to a relaxing game night in. This is a perfect
activity for members to enjoy from the comfort
of their lodge, providing both entertainment
and togetherness. Consider engaging
in some traditional games to dive deeper
into your Norwegian heritage, some of which
originated as early as the Viking Age. One
such game is Hnefatafl , also known as The
King's Table. Widely regarded as one of the
oldest board games in the world, Hnefatafl
likely originated in late Iron Age Scandinavia,
played by Vikings as a way to sharpen their
minds for battle. Archeaologists have uncovered
early versions of the game near burial
sites, likely signifying the Vikings' wish for
the game to be passed on through generations.
And indeed, it has. Still a widely popular
game in Norway today, the tactical board
game is slightly similar to chess, compiled of
a square game board and 37 playing pieces
including a single king. Play a few rounds
and start developing your strategy-by the
time Romjul is over, you'll be a natural at this
fun, challenging and historic game.
Brush up on your
Romjul is a great time to practice the Norwegian
language, regardless of if you are a beginner or
already fl uent. With the new year coming up,
consider setting a language goal for the end of
year, and commit to practicing regularly to meet
it. Below, fi nd some basic Norwegian greetings
and sayings you can practice to get started-and
fi nd more language lessons online at sofn.com.
God dag.
Hello (good day).
God kveld.
Good evening.
Hyggelig å treffe deg!
Nice to meet you!
Hva heter du?
What's your name?
God Jul!
Merry Christmas!
Godt Nyttår!
Happy New Year!
Nov/Dec 2023
17
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE RIGHT) FLICKR/ALINE MOLLERI, ADOBE/ANDRZEJ TOKARSKI,
VISIT NORWAY/CHRISTOFFER SANDMARK, VISIT NORWAY/RUBEN SOLTVEDT
http://www.sofn.com
Viking Magazine - Nov/Dec 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - Nov/Dec 2023
