Imagine the emotions felt by immigrants who had left their homeland to go to America. It is not surprising that they wanted to be in contact with others who had done the same. In the early 1900's a group of immigrants from Nordfjord, on the west coast of Norway, decided they wanted to organize and in June, 1909 a preliminary organizational meeting was held at Como Park in St. Paul, MN. Temporary officers were elected and a committee appointed to draw up a constitution and make arrangements for a constitutional meeting. That meeting was held in June, 1910 and, with one exception, meetings (stevner) have been held every year since except during World War I and II. The constitution states "The purpose of this organization shall be to foster and preserve the cultural values of the emigrants from Nordfjord, Norway and their descendants." The stevner were popular events attended by hundreds of people, many coming long distances, having a chance to visit, hear news from Norway and renew friendships. In 1913 the lag started a memorial fund and in 1920 sent a $12,000 memorial to Nordfjord. Originally, and continuing until 1950, Norwegian was the language of each stevne. The stevner have been in various locations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Norway.

Many gifts have been received by the Nordfjordlag. At the 1919 stevne in Bricelyn, Minnesota a beautiful banner was received from Nordfjord which has been displayed at the stevner ever since. Another special gift, a complete bridal costume with an ornate crown, was presented to the Nordfjordlag at the 1933 stevne in Fargo, North Dakota. The gown was made by the women in Nordfjord and the crown, belt and other ornaments were created by goldsmith M. J. Hestenes of Bergen The gift, from the Firda Youth Society, was exhibited at Nordfjord 1933 Syttendei Mai festivities then immediately shipped to Fargo where it arrived on June 6 for presentation at the lag held that year on June 8-10. Obviously the Nordfjordings were thrilled with the gift. From an article written about the event, "...the gift was received not only with happiness, but with an enthusiasm which is seldom seen in the calm and restrained Norwegian character."

The by-laws of the Nordfjordlag specifically designate the use of this treasured bridal costume. Traditionally, each stevne includes a Bryllupsmarsj (a bridal march or wedding procession) with a member of the lag wearing the bridal costume. On a Saturday afternoon at the 1949 stevne an actual wedding took place with the bride wearing the dress and crown. For the Nordfjordlag the wedding procession often begins the final event of the stevne as the fiddlers and the bridal couple lead the procession to the banquet hall. Depending on the location of the stevne and the weather, this is ideally an outdoor event as it was in Sunburg, Minnesota on a beautiful sunny June day in 1994 when the bridal march started at the meeting site, the Sunburg Community Center and proceeded to the nearby Hope Lutheran Church for the banquet. The music for the procession is Hardanger fiddle music usually played by two of our lag members, Oswald Rodi and Albert Svor. The fiddle players are immediately followed by the bride and groom. Next in our procession are those wearing their traditional Norwegian bunads followed by the rest of the lag members and their guests. At the 1996 stevne at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota the indoor bridal march was led by the fiddle players, followed by the bridal couple Sharon and Gene Rodi, and Det Norske Folkedanslaget (The Norwegian Folk Dance Association), all wearing bunads. The presentation of the bridal couple and the bridal march are always a special part of the stevne. The stevne concludes with a banquet and, though the menu for the banquet may vary, it must always include one of the Nordfjordings' favorite foods -- R&oslashmmegraut.

The 1981 stevne was held in Nordfjordeid, Norway, and 88 members of the Nordfjordlag in America traveled to Norway to participate. Arriving from Bergen on the boat "Sognefjord" on the morning of June 13, they were greeted with an official welcoming ceremony made extra special because some of the arriving lag members had relatives waiting on the dock to greet them. There were greetings by the Mayor of Eid, music by the Eid band, and presentation of flowers and gifts. A very busy three days of activities followed which included programs, luncheons, concerts, banquets and church services. Bus trips were made to various points of interest including Grodaas, Stryn, Lake Loen, Briksdal, Innvik, Utvik, and Sandane. At one of the luncheons, Nordfjord men and women dressed in traditional bunads (national costume) participated in an impressive ceremony for the presentation of the r&oslashmmegraut. Another banquet was preceded by a wedding march led by a Nordfjording fiddler, the bride dressed in Nordfjord traditional wedding costume and bridal crown, and everyone dressed in Nordfjord bunads. During the visit, several gifts were received by the Nordfjordlag from the Norwegian hosts.

Music is a popular part of each stevne and everyone joins in singing the old favorites. In 1940 Lars Gimmestad wrote the Nordfjordlagets Sang to commemorate the stevne. The translated final verse is "Bless this our gathering dear God, with friends and members dear, with richest blessings from on high to crown the coming year."

Originally, the Nordfjordlag was a two or three-day event. Currently we alternate a two-day stevne one year with a one-day picnic the next year. In 1997 the Nordfjordlag held a picnic at Swift Falls Park in Swift Falls, Minnesota. Swift Falls is a picturesque village in West Central Minnesota and has been the site of several Nordfjordlag stevner and picnics. This is an appropriate place for the gathering -- so many Nordfjord immigrants came to this vicinity that an area south of Swift Falls has often been referred to as Nordfjordings' Prairie. The Pratestund (coffee and visiting) started at 10:00 a.m.; potluck dinner at 12:00 noon, followed by afternoon events. And yes, the menu included R&oslashmmegraut!

Article written in 1997 by Connie Olson, Plymouth MN