Follow our blog to follow our story as we report on exciting developments as the Cultural Center grows.
Presented as the Library’s February film pick in honor of National Saami Day: Je’vida (2023)
A black-and-white film, Je’vida is an emotional portrait of a woman unwittingly confronting the past she struggled to bury after abandoning her family and community decades earlier. It is a language drama film written and directed by Katja Gauriloff.
Saturday, February 8th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | Tickets
in Finnish Skolt Sámi with English subtitles | 103 minutes | Drama
Presenting Sponsors:
A new fantasy book inspired by Norwegian folklore… Twelve-year-old Madsi loved the tales that her bold sister, Lisbet, told… until Lisbet became a story, stolen away by the Northern Lights.
When Madsi begs the Lights to free her sister, another girl falls to Earth. Torin demands that Madsi find a witch who can put
her back into the Lights. If Madsi takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back.
As they endure the wilds and face monsters Madsi has only heard about in tales, she learns the old stories sometimes don’t tell the truth about the wider world. Can she also find the truth of what’s happened to Lisbet?
Meet the Author!
When: Sunday, March 2nd, 2025 @ 3:00 PM at the Scandinavian Cultural Center. This event is free to attend.
S. J. Taylor will share a brief presentation about weaving traditional folklore into modern children’s fiction. There will also be time for Q&A. A book signing will follow. Copies of Madsi the True will be available to purchase at the event.
About the Author: S. J. Taylor writes stories steeped in folklore and magic where young protagonists tackle big adventures and bigger questions. Although she grew up in Arizona’s desert, her heart yearns for her ancestral Nordic lands. When she’s not writing, she can often be found knitting yet another sweater (sweater weather is the best weather).
The Nordic countries have a deep-rooted love affair with mustard! With a history that stretches back to the Viking era, mustard was cherished not just for its bold flavor but also for its potential medicinal properties. Over the centuries, it has become a staple of Scandinavian cuisine, finding its way into sandwiches, sauces, marinades, and more.
Though each Nordic country has its own take on this versatile condiment, their shared passion for mustard is undeniable. Join us to celebrate this tangy tradition!
Each ticket includes a sampling of various Nordic mustards with Nordic style hotdogs, sausages and pretzels led by Ken Zuckerman. Ken, based in Arlington, MA, serves as the Board Member & Marketing Chair of the National Mustard Museum.
Friday, February 7th | 6-8pm | advanced registration required | $45 adults; $10 children (12 and under)
Thank you to our generous sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors:
Duo Råmark” is a mix of Bruno Råberg and Oskar Stenmark’s last names, loosely meaning ”bare ground”. The duo is finally coming back to SCC&L after a couple of years of touring and releasing new albums. The music will give you a hint of folk and jazz, electronics add an exciting dimension to well known melodies, improvisation and soundscapes that will surely take you back to the forests of Värmland and Dalecaria – with a twist of the eastern seaboard.
BRUNO RÅBERG (playing double bass and electronics) is an internationally renowned bass player and composer. Since coming to the US from his native Sweden in 1981, he has made 12 recordings as a leader, about 30 as a sideman, and has performed with numerous world-class artists.
OSKAR STENMARK (playing horns and electronics) was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is a Yamaha Artist, trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn player, recording artist, composer/arranger and educator. Oskar, tenth generation musician, has a Master’s degree in Jazz Arts from the Manhattan School of Music and continues to develop his playing and artistic vision while being based in New York and Sweden.
Saturday, February 1st | 1pm | $20; $10 for members | Tickets
Presenting Sponsors:
The Scandinavian Cultural Center Presents: A Traditional Wood Fired Sauna Experience.
Got Sauna will be at The Scandinavian Cultural Center — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday January 24-26, 2025.
There are many sessions available each day, starting as early as 10:00am. Choose between 60 minute and 90 minute sessions. The session cost is the same regardless of the number of people in your party. The sauna comfortably accommodates 3 people at once. Ten minutes of each session is allotted for turn over. You are welcome to book available consecutive sessions for a longer sauna experience.
SOLD OUT
Got Sauna will be back in February! So if you are interested in booking a session, click here!
We are offering sessions on Friday beginning at 4:00pm. Each session is one and a half hours long, 80 minutes of heat.
Sauna Mestari will be on site to provide a full orientation to all participants
Daring souls are invited to experience the thrill of thermal extremes with a dip in the cold plunge tank, or snow angels, if Mother Nature and Ol’ Man Winter cooperate.
Afterwards relax around the fire pit to share stories of sauna adventure while enjoying tasty snacks.
Participants provide their own towels, swimsuits and hydration.
Preregistration is required. A welcome/orientation packet which includes a liability waiver which must be signed by each participant.
If you have specific questions about this event email Mark@Gotsauna.com or go to Got sauna
Screening: Rahčan – Ella’s Riot
Saturday, January 25th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | tickets
In Norwegian with English subtitles | Documentary | 72 minutes
Presenting Sponsor:
Presented as the Library’s January film pick: Loveable (2024)
Loveable is an interpersonal film about a break-up, but also a woman´s opportunity for self-knowledge, growth and having to deal with unconscious and dysfunctional patterns in herself.
While Sigmund is always away on business, Maria juggles her career with childcare and managing the home. Like many other relationships, theirs was also all about love and harmony in the early stages, however, after years of married life, the cracks started to appear. Sigmund is ultimately the one to ask for a divorce, and Maria is forced to confront her greatest fears. While ostensibly a divorce drama, this debut by writer-director Lilja Ingolfsdottir nevertheless takes us further, delivering a multilayered character study of a woman experiencing a crisis that leads her to self-knowledge. Loveable isn’t a story about the quest for true love; on the contrary, it takes a fresh approach to examine contemporary ideas of romance, equality within the relationship, and the power of womanhood.
Directed by Lilja Ingolfsdottir, Loveable (Elskling), received its world premiere as part of the Crystal Globe main competition, won an five awards at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. As well as the Special Jury Prize and the Award for Best Actress (for Helga Guren), the film received the Europa Cinemas Label Jury Award, the FIPRESCI Jury Award, and the Ecumenical Jury Award.
Saturday, January 11th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members | Tickets
In Norwegian with English subtitles | Drama | 100 minutes
Presenting Sponsor:
** PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PREPARE A DISH TO SHARE WITH THE GROUP. THE FUN OF IT IS ABOUT THE PARTCIPATION**
What’s a cookbook club? It’s the idea is that — like a traditional book club — every month you get together as a group. Instead of talking about a book you will make a recipe from a chosen cookbook, bring it in and the group will sample the recipes and discuss the the recipes and the cookbook. If you love to cook or bake, (especially Scandi recipes) and love sharing food with friends this is the perfect place for you!
Each month we will choose a different cookbook from a Scandinavian country and pick out 15-20 recipes for people to choose from. On January 9th, 2025 we will be trying out multiple Icelandic recipes from the Homestyle Icelandic Cooking for American Kitchens by Heidi Herman
The cookbooks we choose are available on amazon to purchase. Icelandic Cookbook
This event is full, but we have two other cookbook club dates coming up: Feb 6th, March 6th
Presenting Sponsors:
