Welcome to the Christmas edition of Nordic events!

It’s a slower season of virtual events, but 15 Weeks of Friluftsliv is back for the fifth year with weekly inspiration to get outside and welcome winter. Channeling the Scandinavian ethos of “friluftsliv”, Tacy Quinn and Lauren Theis invite you with your family, friends, or on your own to join them each week for 15 weeks from early December to March and the start of spring to make time to get outside for a meaningful, easy, outdoor activity. “These winter adventures will transform you as you realize you can embrace and move through all seasons with joy and awe.” They will share weekly inspiration for winter outdoor activities and fuel for your adventures. Everything they host and share is something you can modify to do wherever you live. Are you in? For more information, visit Gnome Matter the Weather or Friluftslivingfamily on Instagram.

For readers in Southern California, the Olafur Eliasson: OPEN exhibit at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Downtown Los Angeles comes highly recommended. This is a site-specific installation created by Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson as part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide, a Southern California art event in partnership with museums and institutions across the region that explores the intersections of art and science. “In line with Eliasson’s career-long exploration of light and color, geometry, and environmental awareness, the installation playfully engages with material and immaterial qualities of the museum’s architecture.” It is on view now through July 6, 2025.

Virtual Events for December and Bit Beyond

Online book clubs continue to meet. Check out Nordic Book Club Meetings to see what is being read this month. Does anything look interesting to you?

Typiskt svenskt / Typically American Culture Discussion (Wednesday, 12/11)

Enjoy a fun, open discussion about Sweden and the United States. What do we assume and generalize about each other’s countries? Let’s compare and find out how different and how much alike we are.

December Filmprat: Christmas as Usual (Wednesday, 12/11)

Dr. Maren Johnson, Luther College’s Associate Professor of Nordic Studies and Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies Director, facilitates a regular bokprat (book group), discussing Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. December’s discussion is a twist on the usual format and features the film Christmas as Usual available on Netflix. Thea is going to her rural hometown to celebrate a classic Norwegian Christmas with her family, but this year she’s bringing along Jashan, her Indian boyfriend, which will put everyone’s preconceived beliefs and traditions on their heads.

ASI Nordic Table Event: A Festive Brunch with Kristi Bissell (Thursday, 12/12)

The holidays call for special meals at every time of day! Join Kristi Bissell of the True North Kitchen food blog and gather a collection of new recipes perfect for holiday breakfasts and brunches. Whether you’re interested in mastering a classic like aebelskiver (Danish filled pancakes) or prefer a make-ahead dish like baked porridge, these Nordic-inspired recipes will make your holidays both memorable and delicious. You’ll be ready for any holiday breakfast or brunch, from a visit from Tomte on Christmas morning to New Year’s Day and beyond.

Nordic Spirit Classics’ Second Friday Series: Santa Lucia (Friday, 12/13, Free)

Join the Scandinavian American Cultural & Historical Foundation for their next presentation pulled from the archives of their Nordic Spirit Symposia. This month view a delightful program from Gränna, Sweden, originally broadcast December 13, 2019. Every year in Sweden a Santa Lucia program from a different locality is broadcast nationally. The 2019 program from Gränna is a favorite for its involvement of children and a range of ages. As a Christmas bonus, please enjoy an interesting article on Christmas in Sweden, from the program booklet for SWEA Los Angeles Christmas Fair in 2010.

New Nordic Appetizers for the New Year with Patrice Johnson (Saturday, 12/14)

Join Vesterheim to ring in the New Year with some appetizers inspired by New Nordic cuisine! Celebrated chef, cookbook author, food historian, and Nordic Food Geek Patrice Johnson will demonstrate creative takes on classic appetizers. Recipes will include new spins on old favorites, something sweet, and signature cocktails/mocktails. This Vesterheim cooking class is designed as a small-group cook-along and they invite exchange between the instructor and students in order to build community around food traditions.

Family Norwegian Language Adventure: Immigration (Registration deadline: December 18)

In January, join Vesterheim and Nick Rogness for family fun and learn some Norwegian language and culture along the way! Through hands-on activities, fun crafts, light-hearted games, and short videos, you and your family will learn and practice your new Norwegian skills. A kit will be delivered right to your home containing supplies for these language activities, a helpful reference sheet for all the new words and expressions you will be learning, a fun craft, and a yummy treat. The adventure starts on January 1 and the vocabulary and phrases will focus on the experiences of early Norwegian immigrants to the United States. It will be available all month.

ASI Nordic Handcraft Event: Needle Felted Reindeer (Friday, 12/20)

Create a felted reindeer ready to take off for the North Pole in this afternoon-long class. Students will follow step-by-step instructions to transform hand dyed wool from instructor Laura Berlage’s own sheep into a felted reindeer complete with antlers and bell! This class builds on basic needle felting skills and is appropriate for students who have previous needle felting experience, such as one of ASI’s other ASI classes. Suitable for ages 16+. Kits ($32 value) are included in the class fee. Each kit includes the tools and materials for one student. Registration closes December 11.

Norwegian Cinnamon Buns with Kristi Bissell (1/11)

Join Kristi Bissell of True North Kitchen as she walks you through the step-by-step process for making deliciously soft and billowy Norwegian cinnamon buns at home! While baking cinnamon buns might seem intimidating, Kristi’s easy dough recipe and thorough instructions make the process simple and fun. Registration is currently full but you can request to be placed on the waitlist.

The Norwegian Mayflower: The Voyage of the Restauration (1/20)

In the period beginning in 1825 and for about 100 years following, nearly 40% of the population of Norway – more than 800,000 Norwegians – immigrated to the United States. Most of those immigrants came for “economic opportunity,” but the first immigrants – known as the Sloopers of 1825 – came for religious freedom. The voyage was three years in the planning by an alliance of Quakers and Haugean Lutherans. Beginning on July 4th, 1825, a 54-foot sloop named Restaurasjonen (The Restauration) took 52 passengers on a 98-day journey from Stavanger, Norway to New York City. This presentation follows the story from its roots (in the Napoleonic Wars), through the voyage itself, the reception in New York City, and finally to the first Norwegian settlement in the United States in Kendall, New York.

Which events or experiences look interesting to you?