17th of May - Norway's National Day

I'm almost not sure where to begin when writing about what the Norwegians refer to as "Syttende Mai" (17th of May).  Norway's National Day is a big BIG day!.  We had been hearing all about this holiday since we moved to Sandefjord last fall, and we were excited to experience it.

Let's start with the dress code for the day.  EVERYONE dresses up (okay...perhaps not everyone...but those who missed the "no jeans" memo stick out like a sore thumb!).   This is a far cry from the typical 4th of July "picnic couture" collection seen in the states  (aka shorts and T-shirts).  Adults and children are often wear traditional Norwegian clothing...called a bunad (pronounced something like "boo' nahd").   If you do not have (or choose to wear) a bunad, then a dress or suit is strongly suggested (I have never seen so many teenage boys wearing suits!).  The bunads have elaborate embroidery and may also be adorned with handmade silver or gold.   Young women may given a bunad as a confirmation present...quite a special gift as they typically cost several thousand dollars (yes, thousands of American dollars!).

Some of our friends in their traditional clothing

We were lucky to have Norwegian friends who loaned us a bunad for each of the girls

"The hills are alive...

...with the Sound of Music"

Bunad? Check.  Norwegian flag?  Check.

Parade #1 was the Barnetog (which means Children's parade or "train" when directly translated).  After a short presentation (with a few speeches, songs and dances), the children marched through the city together with their classmates.   Marching bands were also included in the first parade.  Full disclosure....the following two photos were taken beforehand...the girls moved too quickly during the parade to get good pictures!

All the kids buddy up...safety first!

And they all wave a Norwegian flag

Many MANY Norwegian flags throughout the parade

After Parade #1, it was time for some ice cream.   Several Norwegian friends informed us that on the 17th of May children are allowed to have as much ice cream, sausages (i.e. hot dogs) and soda as they want.   To me, that sounds like a recipe for disaster!

I LOVE Norwegian traditions!

Yes...I see that you have eaten the WHOLE THING!

After a brief rest back at home, we headed back to town for Parade #2 which was for the sport clubs and other organizations in town...called the Borgertog.  

Looking very official!

Post parade...

We headed home right after the second parade (before the children thought to ask for more ice cream).  Some friends were kind enough to invite us to dinner which was our final event of the day.  It was wonderful to sit and enjoy a "proper" meal after all of the junk food we had consumed.  Of course, we managed to save room for dessert afterward....my friend made an amazing chocolate mousse cake and I baked an angel food cake (angel food cake is quite unique around these parts- perhaps a new Syttende Mai tradition??)

Of course I had to sample a slice of each!

After a very eventful day and evening, the whole family pretty much collapsed.  It was a great day in Norway with friends, family, and beautiful weather!  I don't know if I could suggest anything that could have made the day more exciting....well maybe I have one small suggestion...

Easter Break 2014

Yes, I realize that I am a bit slow in sharing our activities from Easter break.  Since we are only a week away from a HUGE Norwegian Holiday, it's pretty much now or never with this post! Easter Break, known as Påske Ferie here in Norway, was the full week before Easter plus the Monday after.   Since we had not planned a "real" vacation for the week (and my husband was traveling for business), I decided to take a road trip back to Sweden with my girls  (For those of you new to this blog- we lived in Sweden for about 18 months before moving to Norway).  Last year we were invited to a very traditional Easter in Sweden- follow the link if you would like to check it out. http://ourfamilyinsweden.blogspot.no/2013/04/our-easter-in-sweden.html 

For this trip, we were fortunate to find three different friends to take us in for a night or two.  You never want to wear out your welcome in any one place, right?  As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days".  So true!

Our journey started with a 2.5 hour ferry ride from Sandefjord (where we live) to Strømstad, Sweden.  The ferry was pretty crowded, but we managed to find seats and settle in.

iPad and the fuzzy blanket...life is good

This was the first time I had made the trip to Sweden, or any trip which included a ferry, without my husband.   The driving is no problem for me, but I had one big (possibly unrealistic) fear about driving onto the ferry... that I would forget where I parked!  I have seen those people...wandering around looking for their cars.  Luckily I paid close attention and we found the car upon arrival.

Our five days in Sweden were VERY relaxing.  Note to self: my children are much more relaxed when their mom is not stressed out, worrying about a schedule and/or multitasking.  Coincidence?  Perhaps not.  These days away also helped me to realize how lucky we were to have met such wonderful people in a relatively short time.

First stop....such sweet girls!

Chilling out....we LOVE vacation!

Visit with our first neighbors!

Awwwwwww!  

The younger sister....showing her strength

I'm regretting that I didn't take more pictures of the kids and me with our friends.  I realize in these moments that I wish I were more like my mom who tries to bring out her camera at every opportunity.  At the time, this is often met with groans and eye rolls, but later you're so happy to have the photos!

After the whirlwind trip to Sweden, we still had three whole days left before we returned to our normal schedule, school, etc.   We celebrated Easter with some traditional American traditions...

We colored some Easter eggs...

and were paid a visit by the Easter Bunny!

I really hadn't planned on creating a traditional Easter Sunday dinner...it was just the four of us and no one was really interested in the work involved....so we started a new tradition of "Easter Tacos".  The girls had a Norwegian friend over for dinner who was quite amused by our dinner menu.  Okay...maybe Easter tacos will be a short lived tradition,  but at least there were no complaints and no leftovers!

An extra bonus was that the weather in Sandefjord was fantastic during the break!  We spent an afternoon with friends riding bikes and hiking in the woods.  This was followed by a picnic lunch at an old Viking gathering place (there is probably an official name for this place, but I'm not sure what it is).

The rocks are arranged in the shape of a Viking Ship

Happy girls enjoying nature

All in all, it was a fun yet relaxing week, enjoying time in Sweden and in Norway (while including a couple of American traditions).  

Vinterferie (Winter Holiday) in Norway

Last week (known also as Week 8) was winter break, or Vinterferie, as it is called here in Norway.  The kids were free from school and many parents take at least a few days off from work.  When I think of winter break, I think of a "break from the winter" and envision a week in a warm climate with my toes in the sand.   Unfortunately, it is really difficult to find a place warm enough this time of year (unless you would like to spend 10 hours in an airplane!).

Looks relaxing, right??

Here in Norway, however, people seem to have a different idea.  Winter break is a time for many Norwegians to go forth and find as much snow as humanly possible.  Many families head to the mountains to their cabin, called a "hytte", to go skiing.  Since I had never done skiing of any kind until last month, this snow-filled skiing holiday idea is all very new to me!  We did consider a ski trip in Austria with some friends, but decided that that may have been a bit ambitious for a family with three novice skiers.

Let's face it...I probably would have broken a leg!

We decided to spend most of the week relaxing (the kids), working around the house (me) and just plain working (the husband).   However, we did spend a couple of days with some friends at their cottage in the mountains.  This offered a great opportunity to experience what vinterferie is all about.  There was so much snow that you could hardly see their "hytte" from the road.

Is anybody home??

It was the most snow I've ever experienced...and I'll be honest...I have never been one of those people that LOVE the snow!   However, I found that with the right winter clothing (and an open mind), it was truly a wonderful getaway for the family.

Amazing views!

Of course, we had to do some cross country skiing during our visit.  It was great weather and the environment was quite peaceful...with the exception of the "thud" sound my body made when hitting the ground at the bottom of every hill.  My attempts at slowing down or stopping were futile and only seemed to make me ski faster down the hills.  I guess I had the wrong idea about "cross country" skiing....I kept thinking that the terrain should be a bit more flat. On a positive note, I am quite certain that my numerous "wipe outs" provided a good laugh for the more experienced skiers (which included pretty much everyone else on the mountain that day).

Luckily our girls generally stayed on their feet and are really enjoying their first season on skis.

C'mon mom...this is so EASY!

The youngest trying out the snow board!

After a fun visit to the mountains, I am beginning to see why the Norwegians LOVE the snow (I do understand that was a very broad generalization).  I can also appreciate what appears to be a much better work/life balance here compared to what exists in the U.S. (I won't elaborate on that...perhaps that topic deserves its own post).

Our first Vinterferie in Norway taught me a few things.   First, a cold and snowy winter holiday CAN be fun.  Second, it is good to know people with a "hytte" as it is a fantastic place to visit, but I'm not sure that I want one of my own.  And finally, I STILL need some sunshine and warm weather!

Norway- Closed on Sunday

It's early Sunday morning as I begin to write this post, and I'm starting to think about what I can do today.  More importantly, I quickly realize what I will NOT be doing.  I will not be browsing at the mall, shopping for home improvement supplies (which I really need) or even buying groceries.   Why?  Because nearly all stores here in Norway are closed on Sunday.

You guessed it...."Closed"

There seems to be different political opinions related to why stores should, or should not, be open on Sundays, but I think it would be wise for me to stay out of politics after only two weeks in the country.  I'll simply provide my own initial thoughts on the situation.

If I look at the positive side, I suppose one could really focus on using Sunday as a "day of rest" or perhaps as an opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.  Last Sunday, we went on a hike with friends and had a picnic (even built a fire and grilled hot dogs on sticks- these folks don't mess around!).  We did all this in spite of the questionable weather (apparently the "no bad weather, only bad clothing" is a mantra in Norway as well as in Sweden).  The possible downside is having the entire family sitting in front of the TV, computer, iPad, etc. all Sunday long (although I guess that's not a bad thing every once in a while).

Hubby and the youngest with our Sunday "tour guides"

The lack of Sunday shopping does encourage one to plan a little bit better for the coming week (i.e. making sure there is enough food in the house for at least a day or two as well as ensuring there is something to put in the kids' lunch boxes on Monday).  Otherwise, you will be forced to search for essential items at one of the small food stores or gas stations that are open (I agree...that would not be ideal).

Tacquitos and hot dogs for Sunday dinner??

In spite of proper planning, I can foresee situations when I will need (want) something on a Sunday that I just cannot find at the mini-mart.   This may bring my cooking, remodeling, etc. to a screeching halt.  Perhaps then I will begin lobbying for Sunday shopping!

"No shopping Sunday" is only the beginning of what will be many new and different experiences here in Norway.  I am certain that some of these differences will be easier to embrace than others.  I suppose it will be important to keep an open mind and adapt as well as I can.

Have a great Sunday!

Our Easter in Sweden

Glad Påsk! (That means "Happy Easter"...try not to get distracted by the little "a" with the circle on top).  I'll admit I have been a bit of a slacker when it comes to sharing my experiences about new and interesting traditions here in southern Sweden (I managed to completely skip Christmas), but I'm hoping to improve upon that...starting now.  This year Easter consisted of some new friends and new activities as well as some of our American traditions.

Our girls were off from school the entire week before Easter as well as the day after (maybe to nurse the sugar hangover?).  In other parts of Sweden, the children are free the week after Easter.  I worked part of the week, so the girls went to Fritids (which is play time at the school).

Trick-or-Treating ?
No, no....of course the Swedes don't call it that, but when kids show up at my door looking for candy, I call it trick-or-treating.   Folklore suggests that, on Maundy Thursday, witches flew off on broomsticks to dance with the devil at Blåkulla ("Blue Mountain").  In honor of this, kids dress up like witches and go in search of treats (truth be told, they look more like little old ladies, wearing aprons and scarves and painting their cheeks red).  I really don't understand the concept....but you learn to just play along!

 A couple of Swedish "witches"

Although the tradition says that the witches show up on Thursday, I was told kids could show up anytime over the long weekend in search of candy (this is similar to Halloween here...not quite as structured as it is in the U.S.).  Often the children will present you with a small card or drawing in exchange for the candy (which is preferable to Halloween "tricks").

I reckon that's worth a piece of candy!

I purchased bags and bags of candy only to be disappointed that we had only a few children knock on the door.

Easter Brunch
A friend invited us, along with two other families, to a traditional Swedish Easter brunch on Saturday.  The kids were all dressed up in their Easter garb....there were a few witches (mentioned above), two rabbits, an Easter chick and a girl decorated with colored eggs.  From what I understood, we enjoyed a pretty traditional Easter smorgasbord consisting of herring (to be honest, not my all time favorite), meatballs, potatoes, and eggs... among other things.  It was quite tasty!

After eating, the children decorated hard boiled eggs.   We then brought the colored eggs to a nearby park where they were used in games such as egg rolling and egg knocking (where you tap your egg against your opponent's....and the person with the cracked egg is "out")

This egg knocking is serious business!

We then returned to the house for an Easter egg hunt.  Each child found a large paper egg filled with candy...this is a traditional Swedish thing.  While the adults went for a short walk around the neighborhood, the kids stayed behind and devoured most of their candy.

A close up of the paper-ish egg

A quick photo before they dig in!

Now, in case devouring a giant egg full of candy didn't provide enough of a sugar high, the kids and adults also enjoyed cupcakes, decorated with flowers, bunnies and "nests" of Easter eggs.  In case you couldn't guess, the cupcakes were our "American" contribution to the Easter festivities.

Yes, all of the flowers are edible...yum!

Eggs and other Easter "stuff"
Yes, eggs are a big sign of Easter in Sweden.  Hard boiled eggs (to eat, roll, knock, etc.) as well as chocolate and other candy eggs are readily available.  The large paper eggs filled with candy are also quite popular.  These are also available at U.S. Ikea stores (for your future Easter planning purposes).

The traditional decorations are a bit different from all of the fuzzy chicks, lambs and bunnies that were displayed around our house.  In Sweden, there is a lot of yellow....candles, chicks, etc.  It is also common for brightly colored feathers to be attached to twigs or branches.  I'm not sure if there is a significance to this....my Swedish friends are welcome to comment!

The Swedish Easter feather tree

Easter Sunday
For many Swedes, it seemed that most of the Easter "celebrating" was completed by Sunday (the "eves" tend to get more attention here....Christmas is the same way).  As you Americans can imagine, our family was not quite finished.   The girls were geared up for a visit from the Easter Bunny....and he did not disappoint!  He made his way all the way to Sweden to deliver baskets of candy and small gifts.   He also hid Easter eggs for the girls....it was quite cold so he decided to hide them indoors.

Interestingly, for all of the beautiful churches here, there is not a whole lot happening on Easter Sunday.  Most churches have some sort of Easter service, but few people attend (this is only an observation...not a judgement).  Anyway, I did miss seeing all of the young girls proudly displaying their Easter dresses (often with matching hats) at church.  My mom always handed out jelly beans to us during the Easter service....which I missed this year!  

We finished our weekend activities with a wonderful dinner with friends on Sunday evening.   Monday was spent relaxing with the family and marked the beginning of the "chocolate bunny detox"!

Fun with pärlplatta

I will try to make this a (relatively) brief post...I think I may have mentioned a New Year's resolution about including shorter stories.

So what the heck is pärlplatta and why am I talking about it?  Pärlplatta, according to Google Translate, means "pearl plate".  Essentially it's a craft (which was invented in Sweden in the 1960s) that involves placing hollow plastic beads on a pegboard.  Once the design is completed, an iron is used to melt the beads together.

A simple one....pre-ironing

The girls started making these last summer and we have accumulated a LOT of them (sometimes on a daily basis).   Day after day, I would ask them what they did at school, and they would respond "pärlplatta".  And day after day, all I heard was "plahblahblah".  I finally decided to spend a few minutes on Google translate (which is a pretty common occurrence) so that I could figure out what the heck my children were saying.

I decided to write about this Swedish craft phenomenon after my 5 year old decided that she needed to hang up her pärlplatta collection.   She proceeded to take her stash of these colorful creations along with some reusable sticky stuff up to her room.  She emerged proudly after about a half hour.   In her window now exists a full-on pärlplatta display for all the neighbors to see.

Do you think we will make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens?

With some help from wikipedia, I discovered that this activity isn't just for the 8 and under crowd.  Here is a photo of the second largest pärlplatta with over 316,000 beads.

Located in Stockholm- pretty inpressive!

I had never seen these little tube shaped beads in the U.S....although I'm not exactly the "craftiest" person (and have probably missed a few activities along the way).  But I did a little searching and found that they can be purchased in the states....they are known as Perler beads and can be found on Amazon and at a few hobby stores.   Enjoy!