Scandinavian Heritage Foundation

Upcoming Events

—    Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

A Summer Solstice Celebration for the entire Community!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Scandinavian Foods, Vendors, Beer Garden, Music, Dancing & Games

Viking Re-enactors and Encampment

Raising of the Maypole 1:00 p.m. featuring

Olaf Söderböck and David Elliker-Vågsberg

Kids' Zone 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dancing 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with Fossegrimen

German American Cultural Center

7901 SE Division

$5 adults/ $3 children 6 - 12

Scandinavian Foods, Vendors & Beer Garden

Sponsored by IKEA

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång pole). Here in Portland that tradition has been celebrated for 81 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Midsummer in Scandinavia's northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland's Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

However, Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day with century old traditions.

Scandinavians in traditional dress will greet hundreds of visitors beginning at 11 a.m.. Food and crafts are available from local Scandinavian clubs and vendors. Two stages of entertainment and a beer garden promise continuous entertainment with live music and dancing, all with a Scandinavian flavor. The Maypole will be raised at 1 p.m. and the Scandinavian of the Year award will be given during that festive event.

The festival concludes with folk dancing, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Kids Zone, a family-friendly space

For the children the highlight of the day is taking part in decorating and raising the maypole. Adults and children alike dance around the pole together and sing traditional songs like “Smaa Grodorna är lustiga att se” (Little Frogs are funny to watch). As is the custom around a few large holidays, the children will make and wear flower wreaths which are worn by both women and children. Long ago it was believed that everything that grew contained special magic powers. This belief lives on in the tradition to collect flowers before going to bed on Midsummer night. Young girls pick seven to nine flowers from different locations in silence. Some even say you have to jump seven fences. Still in silence you go home and put your flowers underneath your pillow. The legend says that you will dream of the man you will marry!

For this 81st annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival in metropolitan Portland, the League of Swedish Societies is joined by the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation (SHF), with its large membership representing the five Nordic countries -- Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland.

The Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is an important cultural event for the entire Portland community regardless of heritage. It is one of the many ways SHF and the League of Swedish Societies, along with the regional Scandinavian community, celebrate, demonstrate and preserve their Nordic heritage.

—   Nordic Business Council

The Nordic Business Council is a good chance to network with people interested in conducting business with Nordic countries.

Believe in the Wind: Vestas Senior Manager of Government Relations, Henry R. Tilghman, speaks to the Nordic Business Council about the rapid growth of wind power in the world. Vestas is a Danish company with its North American offices in Portland. It is the largest wind turbine company in the world.

When: June 18, 2009, Noon to 1:30

Where: University Place, Portland State University, Willamette Room, 310 SW Lincoln

Cost: $20 per lunch. Reservations required.

Call the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation at (503) 977-0275, or shf@mindspring.com.

—   Nordic Business Afterhours

Join us for the first quarterly Nordic Business Afterhours, an informal afterhours gathering and open house at businesses around Portland that have a Nordic flair.

When: Thursday, June 25, 5:30 pm to 7 pm

Where: Relish Design Inc., 1715 NW Lovejoy Street, Portland, OR 97209

As a member of the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation you will:

—      Receive the quarterly newsletter with event calendar,

—      Receive an SHF static decal for your car,

—      Receive invitations to Scandinavian events and activities,

—      Receive an invitation to the SHF Annual Meeting,

—      Participate in our various Scandinavian heritage activities,

—      Associate with other persons interested in Scandinavia and

—      Support locally Scandinavian culture, and the Scandinavian language classes at PSU.

Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Mission Statement:

To Preserve, Communicate and Celebrate Scandinavian Heritage and Culture.

Last Updated: Friday, June 12, 2009

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