Winter Newsletter 2017

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Page 2 HYGGE THE INTERNATIONAL DANISH PHENOMENON In the last year, you have probably seen the word hygge. Well, the time of year to fully embrace the hygge lifestyle is upon us again: winter. A great portion of southern Scandinavia is on a similar latitude to Oregon and Washington, with a wet coastal chill and occasional snow. This is where hygge comes in, and why its popularity spread quickly in the Pacific Northwest. With over a dozen books on hygge published in the last two years, it’s clear that what the world needs is more warmth, more simplicity, more hygge. Adopting a hygge-centric lifestyle isn’t about going out and purchasing cozy socks, a shearling rug, and pounds of coffee. Hygge is a savoring of the existing elements of your life, and in good company. In Signe Johansen’s book, How To Hygge, she lays out a full picture of how to incorporate aspects of cozy Nordic vibes into your life. Try one or try them all, here are some of her best guidelines on how to do it: Spending time in nature calms you. It allows you to step back and to reflect on the very essence of what living is about. The Nordic spirit of self-sufficiency means knowing how to do and make a few useful things (as opposed to trying to master everything). Being kind isn’t just about the self, and those moments of quiet solitude. It’s also about spending time with others, about being sociable and taking pleasure in simple things together. It's community! All are welcome! Enjoy a visit to Nordia House this winter to get hygge-inspired. Take something home with you from our Vintage Sale or our Holiday Pop-up Shop! We also have outdoor walking paths, an in-house café Broder Söder, and special winter dinners to warm you up and have you saying “skål” to the upcoming season. • JULBORD Nordia House will be having a Julbord celebration in partnership with in-house Swedish café, Broder Söder, on December 15 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM! Call for tickets, and check out the other dinners in this Julbord series, including one at Broder Nord on December 2. Julbord——directly translated to Christmas table——is a longheld tradition in Sweden and Norway where the Christmas bounty is celebrated after the fast between Advent to Christmas Eve. A table is set for a decadent holiday buffet and always includes a few classic Scandinavian delicacies. Pork typically plays a starring role in the Julbord spread. During times of famine pigs were highly valued for their quick growth. Pork ribs, sausage, pâté, smoked julskinka (Christmas ham), and marzipan pigs can be seen during Julbord as a nod to their significance in Scandinavian history. Additionally, protein was difficult to come by in the dark season and meats like cured fished, including lox and pickled herring, were long-lasting. Put enough sauce and butter on the gelatinous white fish and it can be delicious! Take Home a Nordic Christmas Tradition! Rice porridge, known in Norway as risengrynsgrøt, is associated with the month of December. This warm pudding consists of rice soaked in boiling milk and is typically served with cinnamon, sugar, and butter. Risengrynsgrøt can be served before, during, or after a Julbord feast! Traditional Norwegian Rice Porridge Recipe Old-fashioned rice porridge is easy to make. Remember to stir regularly so it's not scorching! 3 cups water 1.5 cups glutinous rice, (pearl rice or medium grain) 5 cups whole milk (or dried milk and water) 1 ¼ teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar (optional) Let rice and water simmer on medium low heat in a heavy pot, uncovered, until most of the water is absorbed. Stir occasionally. This will take approximately 10 minutes. Add a cup of milk, continuing to add more over the next 45-50 minutes while simmering on low heat. Stir well every five minutes or so. Add more milk whenever the porridge thickens as the milk absorbs until rice is nicely tender and porridge is thick and creamy. Add salt, and (optional) vanilla sugar; stir well and serve hot. If the porridge becomes too thick, add more milk to thin it. Throw blanched almond (or almonds depending on party size) into the pot and serve with sugar, cinnamon and a smørøye——a dice of butter placed in the middle of the bowl. •
BIG CHANGES AT NORDIA HOUSE A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT There is a Norwegian proverb that translates to "Everything does not go as we guess." Transition is one of the things we may not always "guess" or expect. And here, at NNW, we are experiencing transitions. As you may know, our Executive Director, Greg Smith, resigned effective October 31, 2017. Over the past three years, Greg guided us through the successful construction of Nordia House, developed extensive connections to the broader community through exhibits and performing arts presentations and was a tireless advocate to grow our membership and outreach. The board of directors named Sandra Nelson Miller Interim Executive Director effective November 1, 2017. Sandra is a former NNW board member and has 12 years of executive director experience with several local nonprofits. A LETTER FROM GREG SMITH Page 3 It has been my very great pleasure to work with all of you for the last three years on this visionary project. Together we, and those who went before, have created a place that truly celebrates Nordic culture and is a catalyst for enjoyment, learning and personal growth. There could be no greater testament to this shared vision than to see each and every one of you continue to support the ongoing growth and development of Nordic Northwest— with your time, talent and treasure. The Nordic countries offer a unique and important perspective on life and it is worth sharing. Again, my heartfelt thanks to all of you. • Gregory Smith We also have several recent staffing changes. Minna Lindholm is coordinating rental opportunities since Holly Catalina recently left that position. Teresa Fredericks has resigned as our Graphics Designer; she is now Marketing Director for Broder Restaurants. Laila Simon has assumed some of the graphics work for which Teresa was responsible; Laila is also assuming the title of Newsletter Editor. With more than two years learning what Nordia House can do, the board of directors is assessing and updating its strategic plan in preparation for the next several years. Our mission to shine a light on all things Nordic continues with devoted enthusiasm. We ask for your continued support through your participation, membership and generosity. We will continuously work to be the best carrier of Nordic culture in the Northwest——and we will expect that not "everything will go as we guess." • Mike Nelson END OF YEAR GIVING — THE NORDIC WAY A lecture by the Deputy Ambassador from the European Union to the United States on the changing relationship between the EU and the United States. An exhibit on Nordic skiing, with original footage and reproductions of skis. A historic home containing one of the largest private collections of Nordic art in the United States. These are just a few of the things made possible by the generous support of donors like you. This Giving Tuesday, kick off your holiday giving with a donation to Nordic Northwest! The nonprofit answer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is on November 28 this year and is a day of support for local, national, and international nonprofits. Donations can be easily made to Nordic Northwest by calling in to 503.977.0275, mailing a check to 8800 SW Oleson Road, Portland OR, 97223, or by going online to scanheritage.org/donate. Want to set up an ongoing contribution this holiday season? Call Chaney Harter at 503.977.0275 to setup with a payment plan that deducts automatically from your debit or credit card. We will be having a special celebration this Giving Tuesday! Come to Nordia House between 4:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 28 and make your own traditional Scandinavian ornaments, including julhjerter (Danish heart ornaments), to hang on the Nordia House Christmas Tree. Indulge in coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and St. Lucia buns. At 6:30 PM, we will have the official tree lighting! Kids and families are encouraged to come experience the Scandinavian experience of the holidays. Another easy way to support Nordic Northwest is to donate a car. We work with Speed's Towing (the same company that OPB uses for their car donation program) to turn your old vehicles into valuable support for our ongoing activities. The process is simple: you'll fill out a couple of short forms, Speed's Towing will collect your vehicle, and once it sells at auction, you will receive a tax-donation letter recognizing the dollar amount it sold for. Contact Chaney Harter at 503.977.0275 or shf.chaney@gmail.com for more info! •
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Winter Newsletter 2017

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