Scandinavia

There’s Ole:

“Ole got a job in the fertilizer factory. The boss tried to determine the extent of Ole’s abilities. ‘Tell me, do you know anything about nitrates?’ Answered Ole… ‘All I know is dey are cheaper dan da day rates.”

And then there’s Lena:

By Carolyn Spargo

Norway has a long history beginning with the well-known Vikings.

Their first king was Harold I who introduced Christianity in Norway in the 900s. Around 1000, Leif Ericson sailed to North America. In 1380, Norway was united with Denmark. Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were united under Danish rule in 1397. Sweden revolted and broke away in 1523.

So Ole walks into the bar with a Chaska Herald … . OK. I’m not quite sure how to end that bit.

Anyway, the Nordic Heritage Club is holding its next meeting at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 9 at the Acorn House in Victoria.

The event commemorates May 17 – Norwegian Constitution Day, and includes refreshments and a viewing of a Norwegian film.

By Carolyn Spargo

April is the transition month from winter to spring, or so we hope. In Sweden, the celebration, Valborgsmässafton (Walpurgis Eve) is celebrated on the last day of April. In pagan days, the ritual of setting bonfires may have been to scare off evil spirits in the evening, but for thousands of years it has been the time for burning the old brush for the new spring growth.

Vademecum. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

However, just over 40 years ago, it was one of the first companies to settle in Chaska's new Jonathan industrial park.

The Swedish toothpaste manufacturer built the plant, its first in the United States, to supply the entire U.S. market with its product. It planned to produce 20,000 tubes a day.

By Unsie Zuege 

With a resurgence of interest in Swedish history in Carver County, we thought we'd interview one of the instigators, Carolyn Spargo.

Q: What prompted your immersion into all that is Swedish?

A: My family is Swedish — my maiden name is Johnson, and I practically grew up at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.

By Mark W. Olson

Carver County’s bourgeoning Swede scene received a high profile guest last week.

Swedish Consul General Bruce Karstadt toured the historic Andrew Peterson farm on Jan. 31, followed by a reception in Victoria.

Besides representing the country of Sweden as consul, Karstadt is CEO/president of the American Swedish Institute, a museum and research center located in the historic Turnblad mansion in Minneapolis.

The Nordic Heritage Club’s next meeting is 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8 at the Acorn House in Victoria, at 8475 Kochia Lane, next to the Victoria Field House.

The meeting features Elise Peters, executive director of the Swedish Council of America, based in Minneapolis.