Scandinavian smorgasbord

By Mollee Francisco 

Germans beware: You may have the numbers, but Scandinavian spirit is on the rise in Carver County.

From efforts to preserve a historic farm in Waconia and the start of a Nordic Heritage Club in Victoria, to the 150th anniversary celebration of East Union Lutheran Church and an invitation to the Swedish consulate, the county appears to be embracing its Scandinavian roots.

“For years I’ve heard ‘It’s all German,’” said Carolyn Spargo, of Victoria. “Well maybe it once was, but there’s a new wave now.”

According to the University of Minnesota, as many as 42 percent of Carver County residents can claim some German ancestry, compared to the less than 4.2 percent of residents who claim to have Scandinavian ancestry (Scandinavian including descent from the countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland). But that fact isn’t quelling a resurgence of Scandinavian pride.

Teaching traditions

Last week, St. John’s Lutheran School welcomed two teachers from Sweden to its classrooms.

“You probably know people with the last names of Johnson and Peterson,” Ewalena Warn said to a group of first graders. “Those are Swedish names.”

Ewalena spent time talking to St. John’s students about her country and its customs while her husband Jan taught the kids some traditional woodworking skills.

“It’s been great having them here,” said St. John’s staff member Mindi Baker.

Spargo, for one, is happy to see Scandinavian customs being discussed in the classroom.

Spargo is about as Scandinavian as they come – her father emigrated from Sweden and her grandmother came to the United States from Finland. And though her father worked hard to assimilate into the America culture when he arrived, Spargo’s mother worked hard to keep her interested in her heritage. Today Spargo teaches Swedish and is involved in several musical groups specializing in Swedish tunes.

But while Spargo is very in touch with her ancestry, she sees many more who only wish they were.

“A lot of people are wondering, ‘What were my roots?’ ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Where did my traditions come from?’” said Spargo.

About a month ago, Spargo and a handful of others started organizing a Nordic Heritage Club in Carver County.  Spargo had previously organized a similar club when she lived in Amery, Wis. Today, it is 30 members strong, she said.

“It’s been done in other areas,” said member Ron Holtmeier, “We thought it would be neat to have things with Scandinavia here.”

Swedish visitors

Spargo said that continued interest in Swedish immigrant Andrew Peterson’s historic farm just east of Waconia convinced her that the time was right to start a local club.

Peterson documented the trials and tribulations of starting a new life in Carver County in a number of journals that would go on to become one of the main sources of material for Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg’s popular series of novels, beginning with “The Emigrants.”

In 2006, the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota placed the Peterson farmstead, which is in private ownership, on its top 10 endangered properties list. Last year, a group of Swedish Andrew Peterson enthusiasts arrived in Carver County to fix Peterson’s granary, almost 150 years old.

This year, on Sept. 12, 27 visitors from Sweden were the latest group of people to show interest in preserving the 19th century farm. The visit included traditional dancing, music and foods – things that Spargo hopes to incorporate into the activities of the Nordic Heritage Club.

“It’s important to have people learn what their background is,” said Spargo. “You learn your traditions and maybe you understand why you do the things you do.”

Spargo said she has seen great things come from that very process.

“You have more tolerance,” she said. “It opens the door to more understanding.

“Kids come, they learn dancing, foods, crafts, etc.,” she said. “And suddenly it’s like ‘Oh, now I understand.’”

Peterson phenomenon

County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik also sees the value of learning more about one’s culture and history. He is working to arrange a visit to the county by the Swedish consulate.

“As an elected official representing Victoria (and Chaska), I think it’s important to help educate people,” he said. Maluchnik, too, was captivated by the Andrew Peterson phenomenon.

“That’s what got me interested,” he said.

Maluchnik said that as the county continues to grow, the importance of preserving the agricultural heritage will need to be a focus.

“It’s very important to who we are,” he said.

Spargo is hoping that the Nordic Heritage Club will help preserve Scandinavian identity in the county. She’d like to see more traditional Scandinavian holidays observed such as Lucia Day (Dec. 13) and Midsommer (summer solstice).

Some of those traditions will be recognized as East Union Lutheran Church, home to one of the earliest Swedish settlements in the county, celebrates its 150th anniversary next year.

A variety of events have been scheduled to commemorate the occasion, including a kick-off concert with the Gustavus Adolphus choir, a May Day church picnic, an anniversary weekend in June and a traditional Swedish dinner in December.

TELL US: What are your favorite Scandinavian traditions or foods?