Viking Parade

Viking Potluck Dinner

2013

     The Nordik Folk Vikings came out for our Annual Viking Potluck Dinner on November 10 all decked out in the finest Viking garb!  The costumes get better every year...and so does the food!

Herb, our Odin

Emily & Jennifer Pearson

Nordik Folk Chairman, Mike Pearson Jr.

Lynda & Herb Smith

Janice Tomky

Barb Hannigan

           

             

Joanne Ortman & Don

Harry Ogrentz

Joella Hultgren & Tonia Tomky

Viking Artifacts

     The Pearson Family went above and beyond AGAIN with their incredible display of Viking artifacts.  They set up a beautiful display of museum worthy replicas for us to view and touch!  We were treated with some authentic relics and some replicas of weapons, coins, armor, beads,  and jewelry.  

     

Nordik Folk Viking Potluck Dinner

Sunday, November 10, 2013

1pm

12:30 Set-up

at

Munster Presbyterian Church

http://www.wpcmunster.org/267000

WE'll be having a pork roast:

Bring a side dish or dessert to share

The Pearson Family will be sharing their collection of Viking Artifacts.  Please join in the fun!

Kanelbullens dag (Cinnamon Bun Day), 4 October 2014

Kanelbullens dag (Cinnamon Bun Day), 4 October 2014

Swedish Cinnamon Bun Recipe

Swedish Cinnamon Bun Recipe

GENEALOGY WITH

NORDIK FOLK

Monday, October 7th

October 7th

6:30pm

Ridge United Methodist Church

8607 Columbia Ave.

Please join us as we begin our genealogy quests for the season!

Beginners and pros are all welcome!

Bring any information you have as well as your questions and ideas for general topics of discussion. 

If you have any questions in advance, email Herb Smith at 

hwsmith3@hotmail.com

The First Vikings

 Scandinavian Days

VASA Park

September 8th

     We had a lovely time up at VASA Park for Scandinavian Day.  The weather, while overcast at first, turned out to be perfect.  The Westlund, Ogrentz, and Nelson families were on hand to help set-up, sell & take down.  Sales were less then stellar, however it was still a great way to spend a Sunday.

     If you have never been up to the park for this event, I really hope that you strongly consider it next year.  It is nothing like Midsummer in VASA Park!!  So many vendors and so much more food; more activities & great music and entertainment.  They have any kind of Scandinavian merchandise you might want:  all kinds of clothing, figurines, books, dolls, plates, collectibles, jewelry, antiques, rosmaling, dalamalning and so much more!  It is a one stop shop for Christmas.

     It was also  nice to see many of our district friends.  Stopping by the booth were Joann Ortman who presented me with a fascinating write up on this attached article from the July/August issue of Archaeology Magazine.  It is about a 55-foot-long, 10-foot-wide boat which was uncovered in Estonia which dates to around 650, and appears to be a pre-Viking raiding vessel.  So thank you to Joann for that!

 

The First Vikings

     

Viking Lecture Series
From Vikings to Crusaders   and   The Viking Legacy
8701 Munster Public Library
Calumet Avenue
Munster, Indiana
Tuesday, September 3rd
 6:30pm

To register:  call 836-8450 - OR - go online to this web page:
http://www.libraryinsight.com/calendar.asp?dp=&sm=&jx=xvp&nMonth=9&nYear=2013&x=3

Scandinavian Day

Sunday

September 8th

9am- 6pm

Vasa Park

Route 31

South Elgin, Illinois

http://www.scandinaviandayil.com/

***** Dear Lodge Members****

As you know, Nordik Folk Lodge will be manning a booth selling floral Head Wreaths and Scandinavian items as a fundraiser for our lodge.  Please let me know at ogrentz@gmail.com if you will be able to attend and help out  at the booth.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is a wonderful event with food, entertainment & lots of Scandinavian shopping!  Fun for adults and children alike.

August Business Meeting:

Small but Spirited!

Read the minutes here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/123u8n80kIgqJsg9xAcY97tC38j5k0ad4MPP0KPr4VLA/edit

Nordikids at camp

Nordikids Invade Sjolunden

 This summer, 4 of our Nordikids had the opportunity- thanks to Nordikid and District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Camp Scholarships- to experience Sjolunden at the Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji, Minnesota!!!!  Sofia and Erik Nelson, Jennifer Pearson and Harry Ogrentz will be fully immersed in the Swedish Language for two weeks.

When we arrived at camp, the first order of business was checking in with camp passport and choosing a Swedish camp name.  From the get-go only Swedish was spoken to them and they had to make their way to the bank, the nurse, language test, their cabins for contraband check and claiming their bunk.  Then off to paint their nameplate which they will wear around their neck for the next two weeks.

Throughout the two weeks, the campers will experience all of the major Swedish Holidays, as well as participate in dances, shows, International Day, and so much more.  When they return, they will give a presentation to the lodge.  Can't wait!

You can go to http://www.concordialanguagevillages.org/newsite/
to view photos of the activities and progress of our campers.  If you go to the Swedish Language Village Pages, then hover over their session...you can then go to the photos taken each day.
What an amazing opportunity for our Nordikids to experience this together.

Harry, jenny, Erik & Sofia

Pre-camp stop at Itaska State Park 

Erik

Harry

Midsummer

With

Nordik Folk & Nordikids

This summer saw our children's group and lodge split up between two popular Midsummer Celebrations:  Midsummer at Vasa Park in Elgin, Illinois and Midsummer Celebration at Chellberg Farm in Chesterton, IN.  For the last few years, we have been torn between these two events which often occur on the same day.  It is always a joy to attend and perform somewhat locally at the Farm; but it is always a memorable event to serve up our meatballs and perform out at Vasa Park with our other District friends and Scandinavian groups.  

This year, Lynda suggested we divide the troops...and it worked like a charm.  Among families trekking out to Vasa Park in Elgin and volunteering in the kitchen were the Smith's, Pearsons, Raddatz, Ogrentz, Nelson, Westlund, Hannigan & Lesko Families!!!  We profited $600 on our meatball platters and enjoyed a beautiful day in the park.  

Our very own Lynda Smith lead the procession and the traditional Maypole dances.

Lynda in her element

Dancing!!!

Steven, Lisa & lil Linnea, Melissa & Emily

Harry in the middle of a bunch of girls

 Singing & Performing

Steven & Harry Oxdans w/ Katie Westlund

Nordikids

Volunteering

Rachel is a trooper!

April Nelson working hard at sales!

Les Lesko & Barb Hannigan

Lisa Pearson & Linnea Ogrentz 

It was a very special Midsummer, as we had some of our older Nordikids who have been busy at College participate.  It was wonderful to see Katie Westlund and Rachel Hannigan!

Katie Westlund & Rachel Hannigan

Unfortunately, I do not have photos of our Chellberg Farm Crew, but Director Lynnea Sinwelski and Annalisa Blue helped to guide our younger Nordikids in the National Anthems and Spring songs.  Also, I hear it was the debut of the youngest Sinwelski, Brooklyn!  Thanks to the Huszar, Sinwelski, and Blue family for representing us well in Northwest Indiana.  

Also, special thanks go out to Lynda & Herb Smith & Barbara Hannigan for shopping, schlepping & organizing most of this operation.  Another thanks to all the "cooks" especially Tim Ogrentz who cooked his heart out. And thanks to Michelle Westlund who took many of these photos!!

Where Did the Summer GO???????

Eight Seasons 

IN SAPMI

Last June, members of our lodge traveled to the Historic Bishop Hill, Illinois to see the Sami exhibit. This was a collaborative exhibit between Ajtte- Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum, Sami Duodji- the Sami Handicraft Foundation, both located in Jokkmokk, Sweden, and Danish/American photographer Birgitte Aarestrup. The Sami are the indigenous group in northern Europe.  Indigenous people have lived in the same place before the country was invaded or colonized.  They have their own culture, language and customs that differ from those of the rest of Society.  Through photos and artifacts, the common history of these fascinating people was displayed.  Their issues are addressed globally at the United Nations permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues.

The oldest traces of Sami culture are 8,000 years old and go back to a hunting, fishing and gathering culture, which later progressed to reindeer husbandry.  Traces of this way of life can still be seen in Northern Sweden.  Today, the Sami people have adapted to the modern society, but they have held strong to their ways and traditions.  The purpose of the Sami Exhibit is to tell today's stories about traditional Sami reindeer herding life and handicraft.

Here are some of the highlights!

Herb giving geography lessons

Nordik Folk Members watching the Sami Video

Lynda Smith and Tim Ogrentz taking a break