A History of Syttende Mai and How to Celebrate Online in 2020 Many people are surprised to learn that the Norwegian holiday Syttende Mai is celebrated in Seattle, Washington. Not only is Syttende Mai celebrated in Seattle, but the annual parade attracts an estimated 10,000 people each year, many even visiting from Norway to attend.…
Bergen (sometimes called by the Norse Bjørgvin), located on Norway’s scenic west coast, is the 2nd largest city in Norway, with a population of about 275,000 as of 2014. Bergen has a rich and unique history, very different than other Norwegian cities. A member of the Hanseatic League, Bergen was home to German merchants in the wharf area…
Honningsvåg, the northernmost city of mainland Norway Honningsvåg is the northernmost city on the mainland of Norway, located in Nordkapp Municipality in Finnmark County. With just 2,436 inhabitants in 2012, Honningsvåg would not qualify as a city in Norway under normal circumstances, since it does not meet the 5,000 person threshold under law. However, because the…
Ulver is probably best known for the 1997 black metal opus Nattens Madrigal, a release so over-the-top that even the Black Metal Hordes were left scratching their heads (while banging them, of course). With the exception of one very brief acoustic interlude, Nattens Madrigal is a textbook example of extreme metal gone extremely wrong. Scorched…
Nominated for a Spellemannspris (Norwegian grammy) in 2002 for their soundtrack to the Swedish short film Lyckantropen, Ulver continue their ongoing electronica experiment with this brilliant EP from 2003, A Quick Fix of Melancholy. Composed of only four tracks, this little gem is a “quick fix” indeed. Short descriptions follow: 1. “Little Blue Bird” features…