Category: Cultural and Historical Information

  • International Aquavit Competition June 4, 2016

    International Aquavit Competition June 4, 2016

                Vasa Order of America, District 12 (Northern California) is holding its second annual International Aquavit Competition.  Entitled Akvavit Kryddat Brännvin World Championship, the competition is held at Sveadal (Swedish American Resort) in Morgan Hill, CA.  There are three categories of competition: Most Traditional, Best Tasting and Best Presentation.   […]

  • Crayfest 2015 – the Urban Kräftskiva! August 22

              Psssst….hey buddy, do you like crayfish? Fylgia Lodge in San Francisco and Nordic House in Berkeley Present: Crayfest 2015!   Enjoy an Urban Kräftskiva (Crayfish party) Including: Crayfish, Jansson’s Temptation, appetizers, live music and traditional Swedish/Scandinavian dancing! $30 per person. Space is limited, last year sold out! RSVP is necessary […]

  • Jennie and Mark Walstrom: Skåda Uppå Liljorna

    Gifted Bay Area musicians Jennie and Mark Walstrom played beautiful Swedish music at Nordic House in support of their recently released CD Skåda Uppå Liljorna.  Jennie has an amazing clear and beautiful voice.  both play nyckelharpa, and Mark plays a number of other instruments including sackpipa (Swedish bagpipes), mandolin and guitar.  Their music magically transports […]

  • Official Rules First International Aquavit (Akvavit) Competition 2015

    Here are the official rules for the First International Aquavit Competition in Sveadal (Morgan Hill, CA) May 31, 2015. Official Rules The Official Rules for this International Competition are as follows: Competitors may compete in every category. Most Traditional Aquavit/Akvavit MUST feature         either (or both) caraway and/or dill. Other spices may be used, but these […]

  • Mini Symposium on Swedish Immigration and the Pan Pacific International Exposition of 1915 – Swedish American Hall – SF

    Mini Symposium on Swedish Immigration and the Pan Pacific International Exposition of 1915   Fylgia Lodge #119 VOA presents a night of Swedish and Swedish-American history in honor of the centennial of the Pan Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.   Culled from our recent acclaimed district-wide cultural event, a series of speakers will present on […]

  • Julbock Survives!!

    The famous Gävle goat from Gävle, Sweden has survived to Christmas eve.  The tradition in Sweden has been to erect a Christmas goat and the corresponding tradition for the youth of Gävle has been to light it on fire before Christmas eve (when Swedes celebrate Christmas).  The past several years, the goat has been treated […]

  • Vasa Order District 12 GG Cultural Leader’s Seminar – Saturday Oct 18, 2014

    This event is open ALL Vasa members. October 18, 2014 (Saturday) – Biennial District Cultural Leader’s Event at Sveadal in Morgan Hill. CA.  Start 11 am until evening.  Light breakfast for those who stay overnight after the event. The District 12 Golden Gate Chapter of the Vasa Order of America is holding its’ biennial Cultural […]

  • Lutfisk Event at Nordic House – 9-20-14

    Bring your most traditional or most original Lutfisk and the recipe. Compete for Most Traditional, Most Original or Best Tasting (or at least the least bad tasting). Valuable certificates awarded (along with breath mints and antacids).  Bring enough to share with about 8 people.  Last year we had Baja Tacos, Lutfisk pizza, and Lutfisk ice […]

  • Huffington Post: Aquavit – The Next Big Thing In Hard Liquor

    Huffington Post: Aquavit – The Next Big Thing In Hard Liquor

    Check out this important blog post! Everything old is new again: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5676585

  • Girls, avoid surströmming!

    Girls, avoid surströmming!

    Young women and girls should stay away from herring, the Swedish National Food Agency has warned, as both the fermented and fresh varieties can harm fetuses and infants. Fermented herring, known to the Swedes as surströmming, is a Swedish specialty. It’s loved and loathed, putrid yet popular. And like moist snus, it’s one of the […]

  • Welcome to Sweden – Great New TV Show!

    Just watched the first episode of Welcome to Sweden! It promises to be a very fun and engaging look at cross-cultural issues for immigrants (learning new customs, being a ‘foreigner’, loss of the familiar, idealizing the new country, hope and (likely) disappointment). First episode even included a Kräftskiva (See below and see our post of […]

  • Crayfest 2014 – Date Change! Now Aug. 23, 2014

    Crayfest is an urban version of the Swedish kräftskiva (crayfish party). Ours is an urban version, at Nordic House in Berkeley, Ca. We will have Crayfest on Saturday August 23rd (12 noon to 4 pm). Like last year, we will have crayfish, jansson’s temptation, other treats and live music and dancing! Change any summer plans […]

  • Drone Magic – International Bagpipe Festival in San Francisco (yes, including Sweden!)

    Drone Magic is a unique festival with bagpipe music from around the world. Pipers gather for the ninth time to perform the music and traditions of their heritage. From dark laments to fiery dance music, listen to the piping traditions of Spain, Bulgaria, Scotland, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Serbia and more. Bulgarian food […]

  • Nordic House – perhaps the best place on Earth

    I would really like to give a ‘shout out’ to Nordic House in Berkeley. They have the best supply of all things Scandinavian: delicious food, a tremendous deli section, gifts, cookbooks, clogs and truly the best herring you will ever try. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Nordic house has hosted Swedish cooking classes, Crayfest parties […]

  • Family History Exercise

    I thought it would be interesting to add a different element to our newsletter. As a bit of background, I am a practicing psychotherapist and I teach and provide clinical case consultation in a small clinical psychology masters program. In the program, I teach a year-long theory sequence, and in the second semester I ask […]