Scandinavian Christmas festival held this week

The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation is expecting nearly 5,000 attendees to pack the Ballroom of Portland State’s Smith Memorial Student Union for ScanFair, the foundation’s annual Scandinavian Christmas festival, which features food, dancing and shopping.

Scott Burns, a PSU geology professor, is a regular attendee and event volunteer for ScanFair, which will be held Dec. 6-7.

“I have been coming to this event for 12 years. I love to bring my son, who loves to eat the different foods every year!” Burns said.

This year Burns is the Master of Ceremonies for the crowning of “Lucia Queen of Light,” an Oregon tradition for the past 52 years based on the Scandinavian custom celebrating the charity of Lucia in her candle-crown.

“It began as a way of supporting Nordic language classes here at Portland State,” said Mike O’Bryant, the foundation’s director. According to O’Bryant, PSU offers Finnish, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian language classes.

“I strongly support SHF because it gives back to PSU–this event raises money for us to teach Scandinavian languages,” Burns said.

The festival, now in its 24th year, is also beneficial to Scandinavian groups around Portland, said Ann Grangaard, general chairman for the fair.

“The fair raises money for smaller Scandinavian nonprofits around the Portland area, and for the language classes at Portland State,” she said.

Both Grangaard and O’Bryant agreed that the food is the pinnacle part of the event.

“I love Aebleskiver–it’s a really yummy doughnut hole looking thing, but its even better,” O’Bryant said.
The pickled herring eating contest, another favorite fair tradition, takes a tremendous amount of strength, O’Bryant explained.

“I love it, but I can’t eat it that fast. They have about 8 ounces in 15 seconds,” he said.

Pickled herring is actually a favored food for many, and is a great breakfast food or small snack before dinner, Grangaard said.

“If you haven’t tasted pickled herring, you’re in for a treat!” she said. “The quickest eater wins a bottle of Scandinavian flavored liqueur.”

Shopping ranks second on O’Bryant’s list of favorite event-traditions. Vendors and craftsmen come out to make and sell various products either made in or inspired by Scandinavia.

Burns said he always buys 10 Danish Kringle pastries to give as Christmas gifts.

“It gives people a chance to buy Scandinavian-made Christmas presents,” O’Bryant said, “It’s a great place to go Christmas shopping.”

Saturday evening of the festival is celebration with dancing, bands and dance lessons teaching traditional Scandinavian styles

ENTERTAINMENT
Dancing on Saturday night, 7-11 p.m.
Live music from Scandinavian musicians from Oregon and Washington, including the Fossegrimen Band, all weekend
Pickled Herring Eating Contest, noon Saturday
Performance from The Nordly’s dance group
54th crowning of Lucia, Queen of Light, 1 p.m., Sunday
Video room featuring Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Swedish and Norwegian films, all weekend

ARTS & CRAFTS
Marketplace featuring gifts for sale, featuring Rosemailing, photography, Hardanger (Norwegian embroidery), and dolls in traditional clothing, all weekend
Pippi Longstocking room, which offers craft making for kids

FOOD
Danish Aebleskiver (apple pancake balls)
Norwegian lefse
Krum Kake
Swedish Meatballs with loganberries
Pickled herring with flat-bread
Rice pudding and fruit soup
Vorm Korv (hot dogs)