Ya Sure, It's Syttende Mai!
/Norwegians like to keep things simple. That's probably why Norwegian Constitution Day--a national holiday in Norway--is called Syttende Mai. That translates to seventeenth May in English. What more do you need to describe it than the date?
This celebration began in Norway with children's parades back in the 1800's and has evolved into a full-scale tribute to Norwegian culture and heritage.
Syttende Mai in the Midwest
Syttende Mai is also being celebrated in Norwegian-American communities throughout the United States today and through the weekend. It is especially prevalent in the Upper Midwest where many of the Norwegian immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries settled.
For the next few days, their descendants will dress in bunads (think Elsa in Frozen), hunt for trolls, and dance to old-fashioned music.
Norwegian bunads are part of the Syttende Mai tradition
Grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those trail-blazing lefse makers will roll out endless circles of dough for their own lefse grills this week as they demonstrate to onlookers how you really handle a rolling pin like a boss.
For those of you who don't know what lefse is--which is almost unthinkable if you live in the Upper Midwest--it's kind of like a tortilla but it's larger, thinner, more tender and with a different taste than tortillas. The dough is potato-based and that accounts for the flavor difference. You spread it with butter, maybe sprinkle it with some white or brown sugar, or fill it with some cold meat and roll it up. Okay, maybe it's not really like a tortilla after all, but it looks like one.
An endless variety of delicate, sugar-crisp Norwegian cookies will also be made and served with a bottomless cup of coffee.
Lutefisk and lefse will be served along with Norwegian meatballs for dinner.
Folk artists will be on hand to demonstrate the heritage skills they have so carefully honed and preserved. Rustic wood carving, hardanger embroidery, rosemaling (rose art painting), tatting, and other hand crafts will be on display.
And of course, there will be parades.
In other words, it's just a great time for some good old-fashioned family fun with Norwegian flair.
“Keep the heritage, as they say in old Norsk: “Dei unge skal ein læra; dei gamle skal ein æra.” (One should teach the young and honor the old.)”
Gnomes and trolls are very Norwegian.
I feel very fortunate to live in an area where celebrations and reminders of my Norwegian heritage like Syttende Mai are quite common. In fact, the welcome sign in my community says, "Velkommen Til..." (Welcome To) and it's decorated with that lovely Norwegian folk art called Rosemaling.
I live down the lane from a lefse factory and I only have to venture 30 minutes away to eat at one of the best little Norwegian cafes in the country where the pie is reminiscent of my very Norwegian mother's own delicious creations with their flaky crusts and flavorful fillings.
In the opposite direction lies Westby, Wisconsin (which any good Norwegian will call "Vestby") where the celebration for Syttende Mai kicks into high gear this Friday.
Stoughton, Wisconsin, near Madison, is also host to a large Syttende Mai festival.
In Decorah, Iowa, the date will be celebrated at the national Norwegian-American museum, Vesterheim.
If you don't hail from the Midwest, never fear. The Sons of Norway have celebrations throughout the country. You may have a chapter near you.
For more information and details on each of these Syttende Mai celebrations, click on these links:
Westby Syttende Mai Heritage Tent Full of Area Artistry, Music, and Food
Syttende Mai in Stoughton, Wisconsin
Syttende Mai: 10 Fun Facts from the Sons of Norway
I will be featuring heritage posts for the rest of the week in honor of the celebration.
Please stop back daily for my own take on Norwegian-American recipes, customs, and traditions.
Mange Takk!
