Explore More - 2018

with Denmark and Finland

with Denmark and Finland also in the top 10. NORDIC STYLE Following the success of our cookbook, The Kitchen Table, we are delighted to introduce you to our second book, Nordic Style. Karine Hagen shares a preview Midsummer celebrations, including dinner, games, dancing and drinking, are held outside in Scandinavia to celebrate the never-ending sunlight of the solstice. A CELEBRATION OF SCANDINAVIAN LIFE MidsummerNordic Style A chair decorated with ribbons for The Norwegians and the Danes celebrate Midsummer, but in these places its pagan roots have been Christianized, and so it is known as St. Hans Aften—St. John’s Eve, to honor the birth of St. John the Baptist. This is a more subdued affair, yet still retains the pagan elements involving the local community gathering around a communal bonfire with a Guy Fawkes-style witch’s doll on top to scare off trolls, witches and evil spirits. Where the wild things are Scandinavian wildlife includes wolves, lynx, polar bears (found in Svalbard in Norway and Denmark’s Greenland), elk (below) and reindeer. The undisputed King of the Forest, though, is the brown bear (left), which can be spotted in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Floral hair garland Garlands are worn at festivals and celebrations throughout Scandinavia, including Midsummer. You wilL n d: Scissors Green floral wire—you will need this in two different sizes, a thicker one for the wreath and a thinner one to attach the flowers Flowers (keep these in water until you are ready to start making your garland) Floral tape Method 1.Wrap the floral wire around your head to make a large circle—this should be fairly loose to accommodate the flowers. Add a loop on one end, which you’ll be able to use to tighten or loosen the garland when you have finished adding the flowers. 2.Cut the bottom stems off the flowers, but leaving enough to wrap around your wreath. 3.Wrap the flower stems around the wreath, starting at the back and working your way towards the front. 30 NATURE 4.Secure the flowers around the garland using the thinner wire, ensuring that all the wire ends face out and not inwards. Add as many flowers as you like. 5.To finish your garland, wrap thin floral wire around the stems so they are as neat as possible, and then wrap floral tape over the wire. You can then add a colorful ribbon (or ribbons) at the back for that authentic Scandi look. TRADITIONS 65 Because of their close affinity with the natural environment, conservation and green living is hugely important to many Scandinavians. In fact, Sweden and Norway regularly top the league of most environmentally friendly countries in the world, NATURE 31 64 TRADITIONS The Scandinavian countries were the Vikings’ homelands, and also our home. My father, Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, was born in Nittedal, Norway, and though we spend much of our lives traveling the world, we are both passionate about the Nordic region. Impressions of Scandinavia have influenced the design of both our river and ocean ships, where the themes, colors and textures of nature all contribute to the serene onboard ambience—from the tactile wood, stone and other natural materials used throughout the ships, to the constellation of stars that welcomes you into the Explorers’ Lounge on our ocean ships, to the clinker-style bar on the Viking Longships. In this book, we celebrate Nordic style: its traditions, people, culture and cuisine. It beautifully illustrates what makes Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark unique. I hope you will enjoy this book and that it will find a place on your coffee table, on your bookshelves or in your kitchen, inspiring you to set off on your own voyage of Scandinavian discovery and bring a touch of Viking living into your home. Nordic Style, priced at €25/, is available on board our ships 48 EXPLORE MORE 2018

EXPLORE MORE 2018 49