Experience the living traditions of a Norwegian Christmas at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum on December 3 and 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.
A lively event that appeals to all ages, Vesterheim’s Norwegian Christmas Weekend features folk-art demonstrations, live music, Scandinavian food, and many holiday traditions, both old and new.
Traditions
Norwegian traditions are fun for everyone. At the juletrefest young and old join hands and sing Christmas songs while they circle around the tree and hear about Christmas in Norway. Visitors might catch a glimpse of the julenisse, the Christmas elf, or julebukker, costumed folk who roam the museum complex during the weekend scaring away evil spirits.
Art
Hands-on activities for children include making traditional ornaments from simple materials like straw, paper, and yarn. Volunteers will be on hand throughout the weekend to help visitors of any age make traditional ornaments to take home at no charge. Free will donations are welcome.
Artists demonstrate figure carving and other forms of woodworking, rosemaling, rug hooking, jewelry making, embroidery and beading, straw-ornament making, spinning, and weaving. Christmas trees decorated with examples of the folk arts of Norway are integrated into the museum’s exhibitions.
Music
Several Decorah-area musicians and vocal groups will help create a festive atmosphere, including the Luren Singing Society, Touch of Brass, the Decorah High School Madrigal Singers, Northern Lights, and fiddlers from Erik Sessions’s studio. Regional radio station KVIK/KNEI will broadcast live from the museum on Saturday morning.
Food
Vesterheim’s Kaffistova (coffee shop) will offer an á la carte menu of traditional tastes such as lefse, ertersuppe, smørbrød, tyttebær saft, and a variety of desserts, including rømmegrøt, søtsuppe, julekake, krumkake, rosettes, and sandbakkels.
Book Signing
Kathleen Ernst from Middletown, Wisconsin, will sign her newest book, “The Heirloom Murders,” as well as earlier titles, “Old World Mystery” and the American Girls Mystery series, “The Runaway Friends—A Kirsten Mystery.”
Gifts
Many of the artists demonstrating throughout the museum complex offer their work for sale during the weekend. Shopping at the Museum Store is a great way to support the museum’s mission.