The following copyrighted article was written by Sarah Strandberg and appeared in an addition of the Decorah Newspapers following the 2004 Nordic Fest.
Used with permission.
The 38th annual Nordic Fest honored the heritage and traditions of the immigrants who settled here 150 years ago.
The Fest in itself continues to be a tradition for families, who use the weekend celebration as a reunion, or as a place to pass on appreciation for Scandinavian music, art and food.
That was evident before opening ceremonies concluded Thursday night, as junior Nordic Dancer Brittany Hudson entertained her younger cousins and siblings by teaching them one of the dances she's learned this year.
As Floyd Foslien of Hudson, Wis passed on plans for making a psalmodikon to Torjus Myron of Paradise, California at Vesterheim Museum Friday morning.
As blacksmith Mike Ameling of Highlandville discussed his trade with Lyle Christensen of Lennox, S.D. in the Museum-sponsored outdoor Viking encampment.
As brothers, sister and cousins, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents, reunited for the weekend over varme polse and krumkake, or while sitting on a cub watching the Nordic Dancers.
Suzanne Kramer, one of the exhibitors at the Fest antique show, said fer family brings three generations to Nordic Fest every year.
While examining ornate silver spoons at Kramer's display at the high school, Ruth Weaver of Peoria, Ill. said it's the same for her family. She brings her children to the Fest, just as her late mother, a first generation Norwegian, did when she was a child. Even though she's not from Decorah, the Fest is where her family gets together every year.
Something new
The Fest also offers the opportunity to try something new.
This year's lutefisk eating contest winner was Brandon Mathers of Edgewood. While obviously proud of his success, he admitted it hadn't been a pleasant experience.
"It's horrible. It's God awful." he said of the lye-soaked cod.
Mathers, who was playing in a softball tournament in town, was put up to the test by his teammates.
A Decorah native now living in Pascoag, R.I., Brian Rodecap took second place in the contest, in his first attempt.
"I was never dumb enough to do it until now," he said.
Although Mathers was signaled the clear winner by contest judges, Rodecap jokingly said he's be filing a formal complaint with the Nordic Fest board over this second place finish.
"I felt gypped. He (Mathers) took too long to swallow his (fish). Mine was already down," he lamented.
Nevertheless, the two finalists shook hands after it was all over, with Mathers even informing Rodecap that during his eating frenzy, he'd managed to get fish stuck to his classes.
Others competing in the contest couldn't get enough fish. After the contest, Rose Lensing of Waukon, who failed to place, was back for more. She said she fixed lutefisk every year for Christmas.
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