Lier Bunaden

The Bunads of the Lier Valley, Norway

Bunads [boo-nhads) are the traditional folk costumes of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.  Every valley has its own design and the patterns usually come from the folk traditions of the area.  However, until the mid 70s, there were few bunad traditions to be found in the lower parts of Buskerud.

The Lier Bunad was designed by Ruth Strand, my mother's cousin's wife.  She was married to "Onkel" Willy Strand, my grandfather's nephew and my mother's cousin.   Ruth designed this bunad, and submitted it to an offical Norwegian bunad committee.  The bunad was subsequently formally adopted as the official bunad of the area, and first shown in 1974. 

The bunad was inspired by Lier's bountiful apple orchards.  The bodice, skirt and reticule are covered in embroidered apple blossoms, created from 8 different colors on blue woolen cloth.  The cloth is specially woven by the Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrikk AS, Lillehammer.  The shirt is made in white linen or cotton.  Even the silver shirt buttons are special - engraved with the appleblossom motif.

The men's version of the bunad, as shown above, was developed by the Lier Valley Cultural Arts board in 1980.  The child's version of the bunad was worked out by Sonja Reiersgård in 1994.  She is also the offical producer of the bunad to this day.  She has a website where you can order your own.  But beware!  The real deal is incredibly expensive!

This beautiful bunad has been included in the coffee table book of Norway's bunads that was published in the 1990s.

Marit Strand Evensen

Here is my cousin Marit Evensen wearing her aunt's design.  Okay, the funny thing about Marit, is that she is my third cousin on my Strand family line, and her husband's Evensen family has no connection whatsoever to my American Evensen family (which descended from Even Iversen of Ringsaker, Norway, who emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1800s).  This confuses people a great deal! 

Marit recently posted this beautiful picture of herself in the bunad on Facebook, and I blatantly borrowed it, because I love her, and because I thought she looked lovely, AND because I knew I was going to be doing a piece on Ruth's beautiful bunad creation. 

Marit and her husband Jan are currently serving in the LDS Swedish Temple presidency.  It was her urging that got me to start this family history blog.  You go, girl!  Love you!

Here is a detail of the embroidery on the back of the bodice.  You can imagine how much time goes into this hand embroidery!

Ruth Strand with Lillemor modeling her Lier Bunad in the late 1970s

There were two Ruths in my mother's life, Ruth Ertsaas in Levanger and Ruth Strand in Lier.  Ruth Strand became generally known in the family as 'Ruth-i-Lier' to distinguish her from Aunt Ruth who lived up north in Levanger.  An article I read said that Ruth originally came from Vestre Nøste.  That she was clever with her fingers and had an eye for color and design is apparent from these pictures.

This bunad is officially registered i Landsnemda, which answers questions concerning the authentic use of and wearing of bunads, and controls the bunad industry.  The design became copyrighted (mønsterbeskyttet)  in 1977 by the governing body of industrial rights (Styret for Det Industrielle Rettsvern). 

Since the creation of this bunad in 1974, there have been thousands of them sewn and worn, not only in Lier, but throughout Norway and abroad.

I'm proud that this design that so beautifully represents the area of Norway that my grandfather came from was created by a member of the family.  It's a fitting tribute to my great uncle Erling, and my grandfather Einar - who loved the Lier valley so much.

Kåre Siem, Norwegian Celebrity

If you're ever in Oslo, go down to the Aker Brygge (wharf) down by the harbor and check out all the shops and restaurants.  Don't worry about it being a touristy kind of place, the locals go there, too.  There, at a restaurant called the D/S Louise, is a bronze bust by the artist Per Palle Storm.  It depicts the Norwegian musician, author and chef, Kåre Siem.  Kåre Siem was Bestefar Strand's nephew, the only son of his sister Elida. 

Elida Anthonsen married Sverre Siem in the early 1900s.  Sverre was a struggling artist who never made a mark on Norwegian society with his art.  However, his surviving works show not only an artistic competence, but a great talent.  Among other themes, he painted a large portrait of the Savior which hung in the old LDS chapel at Osterhaugsgaten 27 for nearly a century.  (Sverre was not LDS, however the local LDS authorities commissioned this painting as a reminder to critics that we were, indeed, a Christian religion.)

What Sverre lacked in fame and fortune, his son more than made up for. Kåre was born on June 8, 1914, back when Oslo was still being called Kristiania.  He became a classical pianist and made his debut in Oslo in 1938.  he served as a concert pianist and accompaniest throughout Norway and abroad.  He also served as a musical director and conductor in many theatrical productions at the famed Oslo nightclub Chat Noir and also at the Oslo Nye Teater (new theater).

The picture above is taken from the cover of Kåre's recording, Kåre synger viser (RCA, 1961)

Kåre wrote two memoir's, the first, titled "Bingo" (1978) mentions his kind uncle (Einar Strand) in the first chapter.  The second, "Klokken Ringer For Meg" or The Bell Tolls For Me, was printed in 1979.  

His childhood was in many ways bleak. Indeed, his family struggled to get by.  He grew up in the most dismal neighborhood of Oslo, the poverty-stricken area around Lakkegata, on the east side of the Aker river.  His kindly Uncle Einar helped support the family through many crises.

The cover of På tokt med Mathilde with Ulf Wengard and Bente More. Together with texts by friends Alf Proysen, Per Asplin and Kari Bremnes, Kåre wrote the music for this children's production (RCA 1962, Polydor, 1976).  He became a national celebrity overnight for this TV series.

A lighting quick mind, rapier wit and great comedy timing were among Kåre's many gifts.  He and his friends compiled and published 3 volumes of Norwegian folks songs - the country's largest ever compilation of folk music (titled The Red, The Blue and finally, the Yellow Songbooks).  He was popular for his weekly columns in the newspaper, his comedy recordings and appearances on Norwegian television and radio.

He accompanied many Scandinavian stars on their record albums.  He even appeared with Charlton Heston in the film, The Call of the Wild.

The times I met Kåre, I remember him being a down-to-earth, sweet and kindly man who loved his mother a great deal.  He would bring the ailing Elida for visits to Mauritz Hansensgate and would delight his Onkel Einar with gift copies of his latest books and records. 

Kåre married a ballet dancer from the Norwegian Opera, Alice Mürer Siem (1925-2002), and worked with her in the theatre.  Alice performed with the Ballet Russe in Monte Carlo, and had also danced in New York City.  She made many TV appearances.  A slim blonde, Alice was a not just an excellent dancer and artist, she was a kind and charming woman.  I remember her calling me following the death of my Tante Lillemor (in 1999) to offer her condolences.  She was already in an assisted living facility then, and only lived a few more years herself.

Kåre was a big man, who didn't apologize for his size or his appetites.  An enthusiastic chef, he authored a cookbook,  "Kåre's Nam-Nam Bok" in 1974 (which is exactly what it sounds like in English - a book of good noms!).  He won the Brewery Associations title of "Årets ølhund"  or, the Year's Beer Hound, in 1975.

Kåre passed away on the 23rd of June, 1986, having left the world a better, more interesting, and certainly a funnier, place.

Hurrah for the 17th of May!

Here is my mother (on the right in the dark dress) with her Aunt Ruth celebrating Norwegian Independence day with four little friends in Levanger.

May you have a peaceful and beautiful 17th of May celebration!

A Day with Lillemor

These are memories from Oslo in the early 1990s.  Here, we are waiting for the trolley (trikken) at the Parkveien stop, around the corner from my grandparent's place.  We take the Number 11 trikk all the way up to Majorstuen and then start walking down Bogstadveien towards Hegdehausveien.  This is one of the best shopping areas of Oslo.

One of the first stops has to be a small kiosk that sells pølser med lomper, or hot dogs wrapped in a small potato "tortilla" - with lots of good Norwegian mustard!  These are the best hot dogs in the world.

We are always lured into the bookstores!  This one has a flower shop right next to it.  The smell from the blooms was heavenly.

Here is Lillemor inspecting veggies for our dinner.  There is a small supermarket in the neighborhood, but we like the little specialty shops better.  The produce is fresher and they are much more fun to shop in!

Norway has some of the best bread ever.  And let's not even discuss how wonderful their pastries are!  A grovbrød (whole wheat bread), en lof (white bread) and some wienerbrød (what we in America sadly call "Danish" pastries), please!

 We're close to home when Lillemor's legs give out.  It's been a long walk.

She opts to take the trolley all the way home.  "Bye, Tante Lollo!  See you at home!"

Slottsparken

Slottsparken, or the park surrounding the Norwegian King's royal residence in Oslo, is just a few blocks from my grandparent's home.  It became a beautiful playground for their children who would spend a lot of time there.

Bestefar Strand loved nature and had a fondness for birds.  He would take all the stale bread in the kitchen, carefully cut it into cubes, put it into a sack, and take it to the King's park to feed the ducks, seagulls, and other birds.  A champion of the underdog, he would chuckle and be tickled when a little sparrow would dive in and steal a morsel from the bigger birds.

I have fond memories of the park shrouded in snow in the winter.  A few brave souls would skate on the duck pond once it had properly frozen over.  The local children would make sled runs on the small hills surrounding the park on the north side.  I remember a few breathless slides down on a little round plastic sklibrett, or sledding saucer (I'm sure they have them in the USA, but I have no idea what they're really called).  I was ecstatic when I got a beautiful one for Christmas that year!  I was five years old.  The older boys in the neighborhood would monitor the runs, and make sure the little ones, like me, were okay.  They also made sure the kids all took turns, and would arbitrate disputes.  I remember them as tall and scary - but very kind.  Looking back, I realize they couldn't have been more than 12!

My mother had a great story about the private, fenced off area of the park.  The private gardens are for the royal family.  My mother was about 10 or 11 when she and her sister and assorted little girls from their neighborhood were playing in the park.  There were two little girls watching them from behind the private fence.  After a while, an adult came and asked my mother and her friends if they would like to play with the girls behind the fence.  The girls agreed, and the whole ragamuffin bunch was taken around to a gate and ushered into the private area.  They had a great time laughing and playing with the little girls all afternoon.

It wasn't until years later that they came to realize that the little girls they had played with that day were none other than Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid, the daughters of King Olav, and sisters to the current King Harald!

Mamma and her new doll

When my mother was a little girl, she spent part of her summers in Levanger, Norway, with her Tante (Aunt) Ruth.  Ruth wasn't really her aunt, or any relation at all, but that's a story for another day. 

Tante Ruth had a ceramic doll made for my mother in Germany which had Ruth's own long hair put on it.  Ruth never had any children of her own, and doted on little Anne-Berit, her sister and brothers.  Ruth is standing in this picture, with her dog, Lady, at her feet.  Anne-Berit is holding her precious doll.  I don't know who the lady is sitting on the grass on the left.  (Circa 1931)

The doll still exists, though slightly worse for wear.  She has lost her eyes and her shoes, but the knit red-riding-hood dress still looks as fresh as it was over 80 years ago.

Vestre Gravlund, Oslo, Norway

Our family plot is very near the Chapel at Vestre Gravlund, so it's easy to find.  You can see the chapel in the background.  Here is Lillemor standing near the headstone.  She told me that the cemetary doesn't allow large stones like theirs any more, so it is noticeable for its unique size and modern shape.

Here lies Great-Aunt Ragna, Great-Grandmother Oleane, Grandmother Sigrid, Grandfather Einar and Uncle Per Gunnar Henriksen.  Not too many years after this picture was taken, we added Aunt Lillemor's name to the headstone.  She was laid to rest with her mother, father, grandmother, aunt, and her beloved Per Gunnar.  It's me in the picture - this was taken in the early 1990s.

This is my great-uncle Christian Evensen's grave.  It's on the far side of the cemetary from our family plot.  Uncle Christian was married to Bestemor Strand's sister Aagot.  I think she is buried here as well, but her name is not on the stone.

Vestre Gravlund is a beautiful place.  A short walk from our family plot, through the trees, past the chapel, and you are in the famous Vigeland Sculpture park, just northeast (I think I got that right!) of the great monolith.