Celebrating Germanic Heritage in the U.S.

[Deary]

The purpose of this thread is to enlighten others of how Germanic heritage is being practiced and preserved in the U.S. today. It could be through festivals, songs, stories, craftwork, politics, religion, and anything else you can think of that is reflective of our Germanic origins. Maybe some of the simplest things have a surprising Germanic history I'll get the ball rolling...

The Syttende Mai (17th of May) or the Norwegian Constitution Day is celebrated in the Midwest. It has been since 1868 not long after a flux of Norwegian immigrants migrated to the area of Stoughton thanks to a wagon works company that helped employ hundreds of the Norwegian immigrants. Stoughton is a city renouned for its Norwegian heritage. It is said to be the most Norwegian city in the country. It also hosts the largest Syttende Mai festival in the U.S. The Norwegians in the area are eagar to show off their roots and rejoice the day even more than the 4th of July. Citizens cook traditional Norwegian foods, take part in rosmaling, attend Norwegian church services, dance, sing the Norwegian National Anthem and more. Hundreds of Norwegian flags fly on Syttende Mai.

[Gorm the Old]

It is also celebrated in the Bayside area of Brooklyn, NY with an annual parade which has been held for over 40 years. It is a large parade with Sons of Norway lodges and Norwegian Lutheran church groups from all over New England, New York state, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania participating.

40 years ago, Bayside was primarily Scandinavian. Now it is largely Muslim. Still, we march and wave our Norwegian flags, perhaps a bit defiantly these days, while veiled women in burkas look on in bewilderment.

[Dagna]

I believe this is a great illustration of preservation of Scandinavian-American heritage:

A taste of Norway in Washington

POULSBO, Wash. -- They don't call this place "Little Norway" for nothing. Come at the right time of the year and you're liable to see bands of hairy-legged men roaming the streets in Viking helmets and ratty-looking furs -- and maybe even brandishing the occasional sword or broadaxe as well.

"There are about 20 of our younger guys who like to dress up like this for parades and special events," said Vern Herrick, who has been a member of the local Sons of Norway lodge for more than 30 years. He calls the outlandish costumes their "ugly suits."

He said the young men and the rest of the town have a lot of fun, though, starting with the annual Viking Fest in May, the Midsummer Fest in June and the biggest of them all -- Yule Fest -- which marks the winter solstice in December. (This year it took place on Dec. 1) The celebration begins with the arrival of the legendary Lucia Bride -- a symbol of Scandinavian giving -- in a torch-lit canoe piloted by helmeted Vikings, who escort the chosen maiden to a huge bonfire and the lighting of the traditional yule log.

The festivities all take place in Poulsbo's little waterfront park beside Liberty Bay on the Kitsap Peninsula which lies between the Hood Canal and Olympic Mountains to the west and Puget Sound and Seattle to the east. Seventy kilometres long and 30 km wide with more than 450 km of saltwater shoreline etched by countless fiords, coves and bays, the heavily forested peninsula reminded its early Scandinavian settlers of their homeland in Europe.


More information:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/travel/story.html?id=f6d3d123-61d0-4137-8e9d-d0a22d983691

[János Hunyadi]

Sadly, in 2006 the citizens of Poulsbo elected an African-American woman as "Miss Viking" in their annual Norway Fest.

Campbell loves being this year's Miss Viking Fest. The yearly Poulsbo festival is a celebration of all things Scandinavian. In spite of its heritage, no one was surprised when the articulate, pretty young woman won this year's competition.

"You don't have to be of Viking stock," says Kathi Foresee, Viking Fest secretary, "I don't even know that all of us that work on the organization are of Viking stock," she laughs.

http://www.komotv.com/news/archive/4186251.html

[Schmetterling]

Viking Fest - Poulsbo, WA USA

Poulsbo (the first syllable is pronounced like the name Paul) is a Viking-inspired city on Liberty Bay in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. It is the third largest city in Kitsap County and one of the main suburbs of Seattle in the Kitsap area. The population was 6,813 at the 2000 census.

Poulsbo has a long history as a destination for immigrants from Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Finland. Downtown Poulsbo maintains a Scandinavian theme in its shops and restaurants, and is a popular regional tourist destination. One of its local products is now available worldwide, Poulsbo Bread, originally made in the local bakery. Many visitors arrive by boat; there are three marinas near the town, and the town's harbor is an excellent anchorage.

[mischak]

Sadly, in 2006 the citizens of Poulsbo elected an African-American woman as "Miss Viking" in their annual Norway Fest.




http://www.komotv.com/news/archive/4186251.html

That's disgusting.

[Northern Paladin]

Sadly, in 2006 the citizens of Poulsbo elected an African-American woman as "Miss Viking" in their annual Norway Fest.




http://www.komotv.com/news/archive/4186251.html

It was probably a joke. :p

[Ensomheten]

It's pathetic. Maybe she got elected because her resemblance of a thrall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrall

[Leof]

Don't worry guys, the neo nazis here got on the phone and let the judges have it. A lot of liberals shed tears from their words . The Norwegian princess loves coming over to our Scandinavian towns and cities here because they actually like her still. Why she even had a book signing at the Nordic heritage museum in Ballard. I wanted to go and be like "heh, I saw you naked on the internet ". During the summer and autumn we have a lot of viking themed festivals.

[Soten]

Hmm...This may not be exactly what you are looking for but I will throw these few things out there.

First, there is the Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival (I think that's what it is called). Kutztown University is doing its best to preserve the legacy of the Pennsylvania Dutch. They even offer Pennsylvania Dutch studies now to re-teach the kids the language. However, it is more of a historical preservation and re-culturation attempt than a celebration of a living culture.

Other than that there is of course the Mayflower Society and the Sons and Dauthers of the American Revolution. I know, I know, not exactly preservation of a single European ethnicity but it is a place where old stock Americans can take pride in being old stock. They take it really seriously (probably too seriously), especially the Mayflower Society. They have periodicals and meetings and books they put out and picnics...and even badges :p. Technically anyone who can prove descent from a Revolutionary soldier or Pilgrim can join but typically only Germanic types will join. I couldn't imagine a Black guy sitting around at a Mayflower picnic.