Bunad ~ traditional Norwegian national costume, each county has its own designated dress, you can pinpoint where people come from. |
On a small section of the road nestled between the Norwegian and Finnish church in Rotherhithe, South London on the penultimate weekend in November every year you will hear the singalong voices of joyous Scandinavians. An important market for those unable to travel back to their homeland for Christmas, where they can pick up food delicacies not found in an English superstore. Where wearing a National costume is not out of place and where copious amounts of black coffee, open sandwiches, pølse (hot dogs) and waffles are consumed.
Scandinavian market London |
A market is a place where friends who may not have seen each other for sometime meet up and goodies are bought. I meet with my mother's Norwegian 'Klub' friend and daughter this year who I had not seen in over 15years as well as meeting my aunt and a dear dear friend. Whilst waiting for them to arrive I perched on a cold bench outside the Norwegian Seaman church and began to knit.
Public knitting in London |
Knitting outside the Norwegian Seaman Church, London |
Small details on the Norwegian church |
A native Norwegian in her bunad and s selling lots of 'nisse' like Christmas decorations |
In Norway, we decorate anything that stays still long enough for Christmas |
The Danes were there too |
As were the Finnish, but not the Swedes, their church is a short tube ride away, also on the same weekend but I never seem to manage to make it there, one day! |
A Finn perusing the wares in the Norwegian church |
Just loved the clever name |
The brewery between the fjords and mountains in beautiful Flåm |
And for those of you interested there was the new microbrewery from Norway selling their beer too, lovely website, do go and have a look. Microbrewing in Norway
Toilet humour |
As always before a long journey home I like to make use of the facilities, this time in the Finnish church and had to smile at seeing this framed picture next to the toilet.
~ On the journey home I reflected on the richness of my heritage and was not for the first time grateful laden down with kitchen goodies ready to make for the coming festive season...
♥ Sending you warm wishes wherever you are ♥
I love everything about this. ❤ You should have worn your bunad for the occasion! Thank you for showing us all the wonderful things there.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year I will Phil!
DeleteThe Bunad is beautiful. It must be such a pleasure to immerse yourself in these wonderful traditions at this time of year and it makes me so happy that you share them with us.
ReplyDeleteLove the photograph of you knitting. X
Thank you Jules x
DeleteI would very much enjoy visiting a market like that. I've saved so many small match boxes. Might need to paint and glue some small stitchings on them. Hilarious story about being caught knitting in public. :) Happy December!
ReplyDeleteYes you should decorate your matches and with your love of stitching that would be great
DeleteThis brings back happy memories. Glad ou made it again this year. Seeing this I am beginning to feel festive.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should go together next year, or visit Anne Linne at the Hamburg one?
DeleteLooks wonderful. I enjoyed a peek at the craft stall, such beauty.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it x
DeleteOh, I wish I'd realized . . . it was only a few days after I left :-( Oh, well, next time lol! I love bunader (sp?); I have a question for you about them: If your mother is from one area and your father from another, which bunad would a daughter wear? My Bestemor was from Trondheim and my Bestefar from Lillehammer.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky to have pølse and sei while in Norway this summer. And a few other treats, too! I love the everyday food that I ate at my cousin's home. And the baked treats at homes I visited, too. I thought of you almost every day. Love the picture of you knitting, the nisse and the cross-stitched items.
Glad you had such a lovely day! Love ~ Linne
As far as I know Linne, there is no hard and fast rule as to which bunand you use. It often comes down to personal preference in these situations.
DeleteWhich ones Sharon?
ReplyDelete