#HNS2013 Q&As with Panelists and Speakers

As part of the run-up to the 2013 Historical Novel Society conference (next week!), Q&As are being hosted each day with different event panelists and speakers—and today, Margaret Cook at Just One More Chapter is hosting a Q&A with me!

You can find the full list of all of the Q&As at the HNS Conference website.

Summer Banquet Hop: Oleanna Winner!

Congratulations to Jessica McCann! She won paperback copies of Oleanna and Andreas Viestad's wonderful cookbook, Kitchen of Light as part of the Summer Banquet Hop.

Jessica, I'll be in touch to make arrangements.

Thank you to everyone who visited and commented. And big thanks to David and Maria for organizing this blog hop; I learned so much!

#HNS2013 Panel: Historical Fiction Off the Beaten Path

I'm super excited to be part of the Historical Fiction Off the Beaten Path panel at the HNS conference. I'll be chatting with book bloggers Andrea Connell and Audra Friend, and fellow author Heather Domin, on Saturday, June 22 from 2:45-3:45 p.m. (in Plaza C).

Here's a bit of background on our panel, and a clarification about what we mean when we say "mainstream" and "off the beaten path":

There’s nothing wrong with popularity! But with so many books out there and only so much time and space for promotion, the most popular themes naturally get the most attention, while others remain out of the spotlight.

In this panel we will explore current themes and trends in historical fiction and take a look at some books that veer off these paths. Our goal is to show readers the wide variety of historical fiction available to them, and to show writers that there is an audience for every story. If you’ve ever asked, “Doesn’t anyone write (…)?” this panel is for you.

In this panel, “mainstream” refers to the most well-known settings, eras, characters, and/or styles in current historical fiction.

What our definition of mainstream is NOT:
- A method of publishing
- A list of targeted topics
- Overdone (aka “popular = bad”)

As part of the panel, we'll also be providing a list of our favorite off the beaten path historical fiction from the last few years, as well as books coming out soon that we can't wait to get our hands on!

Summer Banquet Blog Hop: A Norwegian Midsummer Feast

I'm so excited to be participating in this blog hop! Foodways and food history absolutely fascinates me.

A great way to get quickly to the heart of a foodway is to look at holidays and celebrations; this is where the traditions are cherished and while sometimes improved upon, not changed without a lot of fuss.

At this time of year, I think most about the Midsummer feast.

Midsummer is important throughout Scandinavia; in Norway, it is known as Sankthansaften (St. John's Eve) or Jonsok (John's wake, from the Norse Jonsvaka), as it is always celebrated on the night before St. John's feast day (June 24). In the days before Christianity came to Norway (approximately 1,000 AD), Midsummer was a pagan celebration, marked by large bonfires throughout the countryside and along the coast.

The bonfire tradition, which is particularly prevalent along the coast, goes back to pagan days, and was believed to produce fertile soil, while protecting from witches and evil spirits. Some believed the witches to be especially active on midsummer nights, gathering their witchcraft ingredients and preparing for witchery at evil gatherings. 

The magic of the fire was seen as a remedy against the evil magic of the witches. However, not only was the fire seen as magic; so were plants and herbs – a belief that gave birth to a tradition that may still be found today: If a girl could find seven different sorts of flowers and hide them under her pillow on midsummer night, her dreams would reveal the image of her future husband. (Norwegian consulate in America)

The Midsummer bonfire, and later the St. Hansbål (St. John's Bonfire), have been celebrated with relish for more than a thousand years; the artist Nikolai Astrup captured many of these Midsummer scenes in the late 19th and early 20th century. Astrup grew up near, and later returned to, the area of Jølstravatnet (Lake Jølster, where Oleanna is set), and his bonfire scenes are some of his most vibrant and beloved works.

St. Hansbål ved Jølstravatnet, Nikolai Astrup

These days, the local fire brigade keeps close watch on bonfires, so most families make do with a municipal bonfire, or their own campfire over which they roast sausages and pølse, and even marshmallows. Other families will have a good old fashioned BBQ with your traditional BBQ fare, and maybe finish up the day with some vafler for desert.

But how did they celebrate Jonsok in Oleanna's day, and indeed for centuries before? Norwegians would eat foods associated with celebration—specially brewed celebration beer, akevitt, whatever is fresh from the lakes and streams and ocean. But above all, you can't have a celebration without rømmegrøt.

What in the world is rømmegrøt?

It is a savory sour cream porridge often served with cured meats like spekemat (cured dried leg of lamb) and flatbrød (crisp bread), but it can also be served as a breakfast or dessert dish. Versatile!

Ingeborg Nygaard, the chef at the Norwegian Embassy, said, “Why we eat sour cream porridge on this day? Well, it is a tradition. Eating sour cream porridge on special holidays is a strong tradition in Norway, and St. Hans is a special holiday. Sour cream porridge is a tradition that goes far, far back in time. It is such a simple and timeless recipe."

OK but really. Porridge? Doesn't sound terribly festive, does it? Well, according to Kathleen Stokker, an expert on Norwegian holidays and foodways,

Porridge has a long history as a festive food in Norway...Regardless of its origins as a Christmas treat, porridge is the oldest warm dish known in Norway, and it constituted for centuries the main staple of the Norwegian peasant diet...To stir the porridge the husmor [house wife] used a tvare (branched stirring stick) made from the trunk of a spruce tree, which her husband had selected, then shaped and smoothed into usefulness. Traditional Norwegian porridge had to be thick, some said "so thick you could dance on it," but at least thick enough to cling to the tvare or even make it stand up straight... (71-72)

In Norway rømmegrøt still appears on festive occasions, though more likely on St. Hans (Midsummer's Eve, June 23) and Olsok (St. Olav's Day, July 29)... (267) 

Kathleen Stokker, Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land; Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2000

So, this midsummer's eve, bust out your BBQ, indulge your inner pyro, drink some akevitt (...after the pyro bit), stay up late, and make up a big pot of rømmegrøt. You'll be partaking in an ancient Norwegian tradition!

Rømmegrøt (Sour Cream Porridge)
Recipe courtesy of the Norwegian Embassy

This recipe serves 4

Ingredients
1 pint thick sour cream
12 tablespoons flour
1 pint milk
Salt

Preparation
1. Boil the sour cream, covered, for 2 minutes. Add half of the flour and stir carefully to bring the butter to the surface. Skim it off, reserve it and keep it warm.
2. Stir in the rest of the flour and add the milk. Simmer the porridge for 5-6 minutes. Season to taste with salt.

If one prefers a slightly tangy sour flavor, half of the milk added may be sour milk or kefir.

Sour cream porridge is eaten sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and with the reserved warm melted butter. Red juice, such as raspberry or currant, is usually served with the porridge.

If you'd like to learn more about Norwegian foodways, here are some other food- (and holiday-) related posts:

• Beer traditions in Norway
• Syttende mai (Norwegian Constitution Day)
• The history of akevitt and the art of the toast
• The "Seven Kinds" of traditional Christmas cookies

As part of this blog hop, I'm giving away two paperback books (open to participants worldwide):

Enter between now and 11:59 p.m. PDT on June 7; winner will be announced by June 10.

How do you enter? Simple. Leave a comment here on this post before the deadline. Tweet about this post (and let me know @juliekrose), and get an extra entry!

Below are the links of the other participating blogs in this Summer Banquet Hop.  Skål!

1. Random Bits of Fascination (Maria Grace)
2. Pillings Writing Corner (David Pilling)
3. Anna Belfrage
4. Debra Brown
5. Lauren Gilbert
6. Gillian Bagwell
7. Julie K. Rose
8. Donna Russo Morin
9. Regina Jeffers
10. Shauna Roberts
11. Tinney S. Heath
12. Grace Elliot
13. Diane Scott Lewis
14. Ginger Myrick
15. Helen Hollick
16. Heather Domin
17. Margaret Skea
18. Yves Fey
19. JL Oakley
20. Shannon Winslow
21. Evangeline Holland
22. Cora Lee
23. Laura Purcell
24. P. O. Dixon
25. E.M. Powell
26. Sharon Lathan
27. Sally Smith O’Rourke
28. Allison Bruning
29. Violet Bedford
30. Sue Millard
31. Kim Rendfeld

This giveaway is now closed.

Gratulerer med dagen! Norway's Constitution Day May 17

Gratulerer med dagen (congratulations on the day)! It's Syttende Mai!

Wait. What?

The 17th of May is Norway’s Constitution Day. It is a celebration on the anniversary of the declaration of the Norwegian Constitution signed in 1814. Denmark had ruled Norway since the early 1500s but because they were on the losing side of the Napoleonic wars they traded Norway to Sweden. Norway took this opportunity to reclaim independence, signing their constitution on the 17 May to govern their country – however, the celebrations only lasted 10 days. Sweden was on the winning side of the Napoleonic wars and used their power to overthrow the Norwegian claim for independence. Norway was forced to enter into an agreement with Sweden which is known as The Personal Union of Sweden and Norway. It wasn’t until 7 June 1905 that the union was dissolved and Norway regained its independence. (However, Norway’s independence was not recognised by the Swedish king until October 26 the same year.)

Today the 17th of May is a national holiday and a celebration of Norwegian traditions and culture. The focus of the day is the Children’s Parade which takes place in cities, towns and villages all over the country.  (From My Little Norway)

ThorNews has a wonderful description of what happens on a typical Syttende mai in Norway, and there are some fantastic pins at Pinterest, with photos and artwork celebrating the day.

Syttende mai is also celebrated throughout the world in Norwegian immigrant and ex-pat communities. Unsurprisingly, the celebrations in the upper midwest and Pacific northwest are the largest, with parades, bunad, lefse, pølse, music, kransekake, and lutefisk dinners (which is...well, kind of like a dare, honestly). (Learn more about Syttende Mai around the world at Wikipedia and find a Syttende Mai celebration in the US.)

Norway Day for me is pretty low key; I'll put on my mom's sølje pin and maybe make some Norwegian waffles (my family's recipe here, as part of an interview with Oh, For the Hook of a Book).

But in 2004, my husband and I were lucky enough to be in Oslo on Syttende Mai. All photos are (c) Craig Allyn Rose.

 
The view down Karl Johans gate from the palace toward the Storthing, May 16, 2004.




The view down Karl Johans gate from the palace toward the Storthing, May 17, 2004.

The children's parade is the centerpiece of the day's celebration.

In Oslo, the parade winds past the Royal Palace, where the King and Queen greet the crowds, and then down to the harbor and the City Hall on Oslofjorden (site of the Nobel Peace Prize awards).

In Oslo, after the parade, it seemed everyone relaxed at sidewalk cafes--both real and makeshift.


Of course, it's a great excuse to wear your bunad!

Even the little ones get in on the bunad action!

Syttende mai was very important for Oleanna and her family in 1905 as well--especially when we meet them in the book, as it's John's last Constitution Day with his family. Plus, there's a new excitement in the air...could it be true independence at last?

So, gratulerer med dagen! Raise a glass of akevitt, or at least maybe a pølse (hot dog), in honor of Norway today!

Historical Fiction Enticements: Find Your Next Favorite Read!

Debra Brown has very graciously included Oleanna in her latest Historical Fiction Enticements feature--synopses of great historical fiction reads that may just entice you into adding five more books to your To Be Read list/pile!

"So evocative that it verges on poetic." #OleannaVirtualTour visits Let Them Read Books

The last stop of the Oleanna virtual tour brings us to Let Them Read Books, where Jenny has some really lovely things to say!

"It's not often you'll hear me complain that a book is too short, but in this case, I liked it so much that I wanted more...Oleanna is more than enough to carry the story on her own, the setting is fresh and inspiring, and the love story is both tender and tumultuous. I was also very impressed with Ms. Rose's ability to write honestly and naturally and yet so evocatively that it verges on poetic. And her author's note at the end cinched it for me with an old letter that brought tears to my eyes, a sweet homage to the natural magic of the land that had such a hold on Oleanna. Oleanna was a very different read for me, and very satisfying, and one I would recommend to anyone looking for a change of pace in historical fiction.

She's also hosting an international giveaway, which ends on April 19.

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature and Giveaway at Passages to the Past (giveaway ends April 11)

Tuesday, April 2
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at The Lit Bitch (giveaway ends April 10)

Thursday, April 4
Review and Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages (giveaway ends April 20)

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview and Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court (giveaway ends April 21)

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book! (giveaway ends April 23)

Wednesday, April 10
Review and Giveaway at Let Them Read Books (giveaway ends April 19)

"characters that will stay with you long after you finish the book" #OleannaVirtualTour visits Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Erin from Oh, for the Hook of a Book! has reviewed Oleanna, and says,

"Oleanna is a novel that will slowly seep into your subconscious as you read it, provoking at first angst, frustration, and emotional sadness that will leave you breathless, then giving you encouragement and strength as you draw fortitude from the cast of characters that will most certainly stay with you long after you finish the book."

She also hosted a very in-depth (and very fun!) interview—complete with my family's Norwegian Waffles recipe! Plus, she's hosting an international giveaway of Oleanna (through April 23).

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature and Giveaway at Passages to the Past (giveaway ends April 11)

Tuesday, April 2
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at The Lit Bitch (giveaway ends April 10)

Thursday, April 4
Review and Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages (giveaway ends April 20)

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview and Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court (giveaway ends April 21)

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book! (giveaway ends April 23)

Wednesday, April 10
Review and Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Oleanna Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden's Court

Heather at The Maiden's Court is hosting an interview and a giveaway of Oleanna!

Don't forget, there are international giveaways still running at Passages to the Past, The Lit Bitch, and Peeking Between the Pages!

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature and Giveaway at Passages to the Past (giveaway ends April 11)

Tuesday, April 2
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at The Lit Bitch (giveaway ends April 10)

Thursday, April 4
Review and Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages (giveaway ends April 20)

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview and Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court (giveaway ends April 21)

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview, and Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, April 10
Review and Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

A primer on bunad, the folk dress of Norway #OleannaVirtualTour

The latest stop on the Oleanna virtual tour brings us back to So May Books, So Little Time, where Denise has been kind enough to let me give a brief overview of bunad, the folk dress of Norway!

The tour continues next week, with more reviews, interviews, and giveaways.

Don't forget, there are international giveaways still running at Passages to the Past, The Lit Bitch, and Peeking Between the Pages!

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, April 2
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview & Giveaway at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, April 4
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, April 10
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

"...beautiful, lyrical writing." The #OleannaVirtualTour visits Peeking Between the Pages!

Dar at Peeking Between the Pages has reviewed Oleanna as part of the virtual book tour (which is a blast so far!) and she has some wonderful things to say about the book!

Oleanna by Julie K. Rose is quite simply a beautifully written book. The story was inspired by the author’s great-great aunts and takes place in Norway in 1905. This novel paints such a vivid picture of life at this time in history and you feel drawn in from the very first page. You feel the hardships, love, loss, loyalty and family that flow from the pages of this book all the while feeling haunted by the shadows of ghosts past. I don’t often turn the last page of a book and want to go right back to the beginning but that’s how this novel has made me feel with all the beautiful passages and the quiet but deep and touching tale.

 Dar is also offering a giveaway copy of Oleanna (open internationally); enter by April 20!

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, April 2
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview & Giveaway at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, April 4
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, April 10
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

"You do not want to pass up this sweeping novel!" #OleannaVirtualTour Visits The Lit Bitch

The Lit Bitch has reviewed Oleanna as part of the Oleanna Virtual Book Tour, and gives it 4 of 5 stars!

I was astonished at the breathtaking use of setting! Norway sounds absolutely stunning! The flourishing landscapes, forest, and lake all drew me in and made me feel like I was reading about a place both foreign and familiar at the same time. But the novel isn’t just about a refreshing setting, it’s a novel about love, loss, and a woman’s journey to find peace within herself...You do not want to pass up this sweeping novel!

Plus, she was kind enough to let me ramble on in response to her awesome interview questions, and is hosting a giveaway.

Tomorrow's stop on the tour is a review and giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages!

An "absolutely beautiful story": #OleannaVirtualTour visits So Many Books, So Little Time

The second stop on the Oleanna Virtual Book Tour is at So Many Books, So Little Time, and the review is just lovely. Here's a snip:

I was very surprised by what an absolutely beautiful story Oleanna is.  The writing is superb and every last character is well-developed and unique...I really enjoyed the author's description of the fjords of Norway.  I am not familiar with Norway at all so it was new and exciting for me. 

Big thanks to Denise for the review, and for hosting me this Thursday, when I'll have a guest blog on bunad!

No Joke! Win Oleanna at Passages to the Past

So excited to be starting my Virtual Book Tour for Oleanna today!

The festivities kick off at the fabulous Passages to the Past blog, with a feature and international giveaway. The tour schedule is below, or you can follow the tour on Twitter, using #OleannaVirtualTour !

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, April 2 Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview & Giveaway at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, April 4
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, April 10
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Stuart MacAllister, indies review editor for the Historical Novels Review, and proprietor of the historical fiction blog Sir Read-A-Lot, has posted a lovely review of Oleanna. Here is a snippet:

Julie Rose is a talented writer who deserves a wider audience. Oleanna is based in part on a distant relative and her character is crafted with care and intelligence. There is a great deal of deep thinking and emotional turmoil weaved through the main plot and the story will stay with with you long after you have finished the book.  I would urge my male followers to read "Oleanna", even if they would initially dismiss it as a novel aimed at the female market, because the writing is exceptional and proves that independent writers are equally as good, if not better, than those in mainstream publishing.

He has also kindly let me ramble answers to his excellent interview questions and is hosting an international giveaway of Oleanna through March 31!

Thank you, Stuart! What a grand time I've had at your blog!

Well, this is most excellent. Audra at Unabridged Chick has named her top 10 of 2012—and Oleanna is one of her picks!

This historical novel set in early 20th century Norway hit all the right notes for me. Reminding me of Willa Cather and Sigrid Undset, Rose's sparse, simple narrative style swept me away and I was charmed and moved by Oleanna.  While without a flashy plot, the simple evocation of Norwegian life -- both modern and old-fashioned -- and the pain and loss of ordinary individuals was delightfully articulated.  I miss Oleanna and the world Rose evoked.  

What wonderful company the book is in—including Maryanne O'Hara's wonderful Cascade!

This is the right way to start the week!

I'm Going--Are You? #HNS2013

Starting to get really excited about the Historical Novel Society North American conference! It's a fabulous conference for both readers and writers--a great program and plenty of opportunities to chat with fellow attendees.

It will be held June 21-23 in St. Petersburg, Florida; if you are interested and haven't registered yet, you can do so at http://hns-conference.org/. 

I'll be on a panel with Heather Domin, Audra Friend, and Andrea Connell, looking at Historical Fiction off the beaten path—novels that explore unique settings, overlooked eras, or non-traditional relationships (or all of the above!).

And if you can't make it, you can follow the shenanigans on Twitter #HNS2013

Oleanna Q&A and Give@way!

Today, Melissa at Confessions of an Avid Reader asks me some really interesting interview questions; I hope my answers are interesting too!

She is hosting an international giveaway of Oleanna through March 5, so if you are interested, make sure you stop by her blog and leave a comment to enter to win.

"...a beautifully written story of loneliness, guilt and hope."

Melissa at Confessions of an Avid Reader has just posted her review of Oleanna. Needless to say, I'm pleased!

"One of this novel's greatest strengths is Rose's lovely prose, which is particularly striking when describing the setting.  Indeed, it is not difficult to envision the sheer beauty and peacefulness of the fjordland as one reads this novel...Oleanna is recommended to all readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in reading about a time and place not generally featured in the genre"

Melissa has been kind enough to host an international giveaway of Oleanna as well! Simply comment on the review by midnight (EST) on March 5, and you'll be entered to win a paperback copy of the book.  She's also been kind enough to let me blather on, so look for the Q&A this Thursday!

Oleanna Virtual Book Tour

My goodness, has it been almost two months since my last blog post?

I've been busy working on two of my works in progress, and it's getting serious now with one of them, so I've been focusing a lot of my attention on that.

I've also been posting quite a bit over at my Facebook page — updates on my WIPs, tidbits from Oleanna's world, and the like. Come on by!

Plus, I'm so excited to announce a virtual book tour, with huge thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, and all of the participating bloggers. You'll have the chance to win one of FIVE copies of Oleanna!

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

Monday, April 1
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, April 2 Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Wednesday, April 3
Review, Interview & Giveaway at The Lit Bitch

Thursday, April 4
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, April 5
Guest Post at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, April 8
Interview & Giveaway at The Maiden’s Court

Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

Wednesday, April 10
Review & Giveaway at Let Them Read Books

Oleanna Makes Another Best-Of List!

Now that the holidays are over and the dust has settled, I can finally check in here again!

It's been a good week, getting back into the groove at the day job, and getting back into the groove on my current WIP. I love the holidays, but I love getting back into a rhythm and schedule as well.

In any case, here's a few things I think I neglected to share here during the festivities:

• Stephanie at Layered Pages kindly took a few moments to interview me about Oleanna
• Deborah Swift's fantastic Royalty Free Fiction is a great resource for historical fiction that features regular people and non-royals. My post about the genesis of Oleanna is now live!

I was very, very pleased and humbled to learn that Oleanna has made a number of Best-Of 2012 lists:

• Ana at Historical Tapestry
• A Bookish Affair
• Darlene Elizabeth Williams 
• Queen's Quill Review

2012 was an amazing year, and I'm so thrilled that I was able to share Oleanna's story with so many of you. Here's to a 2013 filled with creativity, joy, and peace!

The Timeless Nature of Patience

Hello and happy holidays! Dropping in for a quick happy note—my friend Anna Scott Graham has released the very satisfying final book in her Alvin's Farm series, The Timeless Nature of Patience.

Anna's characters will get under your skin—they show up in my dreams! If you enjoy character-driven family sagas (and don't mind ugly sobbing as you follow their ups and downs...have your kleenex handy) then I definitely recommend these books.

The World of Oleanna: Luciadagen

St. Lucy with her eyes on a plate. Gruesome!

St. Lucia's day, December 13, is observed throughout Scandinavia, but particularly in Sweden and Norway. The only other saint's day observed in Norway is St. Olaf, who codified Christianity in the country in 1024; he was Norway's king from 1015-1028 and was canonized in 1164.

The observance of St. Lucia (Luciadagen) fell out of favor in Norway after the Reformation, well until after WWII. And though Oleanna and her family probably didn't observe Luciadagen, it's just such a lovely thing, I couldn't help but share. 
 
Lucy was a 3rd century virgin and martyr in Sicily, the patron of blindness (as her eyes were put out), whose name means "light". So why on earth would Scandinavian countries embrace the celebration of a 3rd century saint?



As with most celebrations and feast days, the history is more complicated. Here's a nice, concise background on the historical observance of Luciadagen from My Little Norway:

St Lucia Day was introduced to Norway when Christianity spread over the country in the late 1000s. This day became a mark on the farmer’s primstav – a wooden calendar stick.  

With the elements from Catholic faith mixed with ancient traditions, Lucia being confused with Lucifer and with the use of the Old Julian calendar which made the 13th of December the darkest day of the year, came the tradition of Lussi langnatt (Lucy Longnight).  

As such, Åsgårdsreia (Asagard parade – a trail of unsettled dead souls) became a tradition. The restless souls would travel from farm to farm seeing if people were preparing for Christmas.  If the people weren’t the lost souls could vandalize the farm. Also, people who were not preparing for Christmas could be abducted into the trail. To protect themselves people would paint tar crosses above doors of houses and barns.

Isn't it a beautiful tradition?

The tradition morphed, and the darkness of Lussi (Lucifer) was said to be chased away by the light of Lucia.

Luciadagen stayed alive in Sweden, but died out in Norway after the Reformation, and wasn't re-adopted by the Norwegians until after WWII.

Thus, it's not a day Oleanna and her family would have observed, but the generations of Myklebosts that preceded her on that farm on the banks of lake Jølster surely would have.

So, how do Scandinavians observe Luciadagen today? In Sweden it is quite an important celebration, with both public and private activities, while today in Norway the focus is on schools.

Traditionally, the eldest girl in a family would get up early on December 13, donning a white robe and a crown full of candles, then serve her parents Lucia buns (Lussekatter) and coffee or mulled wine.

These days, the observance centers around schools. There is a Lucia selected, and the other girls are her "maids", and the boys are "Star boys". They process through their school and sometimes town, singing the Sankta Lucia song, and taking  Lussekatter to places like senior centers and nursing homes, bringing light in the middle of the dark days of December.

Here's a fantastic recipe for Lussekatter. They're delicious warm with butter, and though it's probably not traditional, some lingonberry jam. There's very little that can't be improved by lingonberry jam.

I hope you have a Luciadagen filled with light, hope, and delicious treats :)


For more information:  
http://mylittlenorway.com/2008/12/saint-lucia-day/
http://mylittlenorway.com/2011/11/preparing-for-saint-lucia-day/
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luciadagen
http://www.aktivioslo.no/hvaskjer/lucia/
New Advent catholic encyclopedia
catholic.org

Historical Holiday Blog Hop

Amy at Passages to the Past has put together the First Annual Historical Holiday Blog Hop, running from December 10-17.

What is a blog hop? It's a chance for you to discover new blogs dedicated to reading in general and historical fiction in particular. Plus, at each stop on the hop, the blogger is giving away prizes--Sarah Johnson at Reading the Past is giving away a copy of her Historical Fiction II: A Guide the Genre (Libraries Unlimited, 2009). Meg at A Bookish Affair is giving away six books, including a signed author copy. And Audra at Unabridged Chick is giving away some fantastic prize packages, including a copy of Oleanna (available to international entrants)! 

Check out all the stops on the blog hop to see what they're giving away, and enter by the end of the week.

The Grand Prize packages at Passages to the Past are pretty spectacular, too. Amy is sponsoring a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card, along with four prize packages of literally dozens of books.

Oleanna is included in Prize Package #2 (open to U.S. entrants only):

Prize Package #2
The Master of Verona by David Blixt (HC) 
The Forever Queen by Helen Hollick (PB w/Signed Bookplate) 
At the Mercy of the Queen by Anne Clinard Barnhill (PB) 
The King's Grace by Anne Easter Smith (Signed PB) 
Oleanna by Julie K. Rose (PB) 
The Sumerton Women by D.L. Bogdan (PB)
Rebel Puritan by JoAnn Butler (Signed PB) 
The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen (Audiobook) 
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchahan (ARC, sponsored by Penguin Publishing) 
The King's Concubine by Anne O'Brien (PB) 
The September Queen by Gillian Bagwell (PB) 
The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd (PB w/Tower of London Tea Sachets) 
Selene of Alexandria by Faith L. Justice (PB) 
The Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase (PB) 
The Sign of the Weeping Virgin by Alana White (PB) 
The Queen's Mistake by Diane Haeger (PB) 
The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig (Signed HC) 

So check out all of the stops on the Hop (and follow the fun on Twitter at #HistoricalHolidayBlogHop) and don't forget to enter to win Oleanna at Unabridged Chick, or as part of Prize Package #2 at Passages to the Past!


 

The World of Oleanna: Juletid (Christmastime) in Norway

Ghost stories and animal sacrifice. Getting completely hammered and sleeping with your farm hands (on the floor). Malicious trolls and toasts to Frey, Odin, and Thor. 

Not exactly what you'd associate with Christmas. But in Norway, these are all part of the rich history of the winter celebration, changed since Oleanna's time in 1905—but not that much.

Kathleen Stokker's excellent book Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land is a treasure trove of information on Juletid through history.

The contemporary Norwegian Christmas represents a rich mixture of ancient heritage and modern impulses, merging elements of pre-Christian solstice celebrations, Viking jól, and early Christian practices with more recent folklore. As ancient rituals lost their original function, new customs arose to fit new social realities. Yet a surprising number of today's yuletide practices have their roots in the distant past. (17)

Was it a celebration held for the dead, who were thought to return to their homes during the long, dark nights of the winter solstice? Was it a "festive conclusion to the autumn slaughter and beer brewing"? Or was it "a solstice celebration like those found in many cultures around the world"?

As with many things, the turn of the century in Norway was a time of transition for Christmas celebrations as well.
 
Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree was an import from Germany, by way of Denmark, in the early 19th century. Many rural Norwegians resisted the tree, considering it pagan (while probably also believing in nisser and huldrefolk), but the upper and middle classes took to it quite early.

The tradition of the Christmas tree spread to the isolated peasant communities of Western Norway later, likely in Oleanna's parents' generation. The tradition was not commonly found in all parts of Norway until after the turn of the century, and then became the focus of festivities (including the tradition of holding hands and circling around the tree, singing carols on Christmas Eve).

But before the tradition of home trees became widespread, schools held juletrefester (Christmas tree parties), where children received gifts and sang carols. I expect during the short time John, Elisabeth, and Oleanna went to school, they may have participated; their uncle in town in Bergen likely adopted a home tree quite early.

The tree, at home or at school, was a kind of gift tree, adorned with gingerbread figures, apples, and oranges, and "also featured Christmas baskets (julekurv) shaped like cones and hearts to hold hard candies and raisins."

Adding strings of paper Norwegian flags to the tree started in 1905, after the separation from Sweden; I like to think that Oleanna and her family took especial pride in adding their flags to the tree that Christmas.

Christmas Eve
The dark days of winter and the ongoing echoes of the Viking jól made Christmas Eve a time of more apprehension than you might think. 

Beliefs that ghosts and other normally hidden beings returned at Christmas caused many Norwegians to seek comfort in each other's company on Christmas Eve, when they shared a bed of straw on the farmhouse floor. It was these fears that the Christian Christmas sought to soothe and mediate. But even as the real fear subsided, the telling of ghost stories--including the legend of the Midnight Mass of the Dead--remained a favored custom of Christmas... (15) 

The most famous hidden being associated with Christmas is the nisse (plural nisser). "According to long-standing popular belief, a farm's prosperity derived from this elf's hard work. To ensure continuation of good fortune, the farmer had to reward the nisse appropriately at Christmastime by providing him with a generous portion of porridge..." If Oleanna or one of her siblings didn't leave out the porridge, they might be doomed to trouble on the farm in the coming year--so it was always best to share your special Christmas porridge with the nisser, just in case.

With the long, dark night and the feelings of apprehension, fellowship was important. Christmas Eve often featured "flickering candlelight, a comforting cleanliness, and much finer, more abundant food than the family had eaten since the last Christmas." (85)

They would probably eat ribbe (spareribs) or pinnekjøtt (lamb ribs) and perhaps sing carols, newly revised older songs or those new-made in the mid-1800s, including Jeg er sa glad hver julekveld (I am so glad each Christmas Eve). 

Unsurprisingly, as with many Norwegian holidays (including Constitution Day), strongly brewed celebration beer was traditional. In fact, as far back as the Viking days, it was required. The Law of Gulating (devised at the assembly at Gula), called the Gulatingslov,

...required that beer be brewed by each peasant and drunk on Christmas night in honor of Christ and the Virgin Mary while uttering the toast "Til árs ok friðar" (for good harvest and fertility and peace). The formulation "til árs ok friðar" is so intricately bound up with the Old Norse way of thinking that scholars theorize that the Viking jól featured similar toasts to the gods Frey, Odin, and Thor--toasts that the identical, attested ones to Christ and Mary merely replaced. (8)

Nothing like strongly brewed beer to make you forget about ghosts and evil spirits and the deep, cold snow and the long, cold night.

Christmas Day
So, you've got a rockin' hangover. What sounds awesome? Rowing (or walking) to church! Norway in 1905 was a Lutheran country (with pagan underpinnings) and church on Christmas was universal.

But given the unique geography of Norway, and the fact that, just after the Reformation, there were not enough Lutheran ministers to go around, it would be impossible to reach all congregations on December 25. With the "deeply ingrained Norwegian sense of equality", the people demanded "institution of a no less sacred Second Christmas Day (annen juledag). While the necessity that mothered this invention disappeared long ago, Norwegians continue to observe December 26 as a full holiday." (12-13)

So First Christmas Day was spent at church, and then at home; Second Christmas Day was spent visiting with friends. And what goes better with Church (and visiting with friends), than beer?  

"The only permissible activity away from home on forste juledag was the church service...While the idea of attending church seems tranquil enough in our day, in earlier times the journey seldom proceeded without event. Beer and other strong beverages, available in plentiful supply at Christmas, often came along to ward off both the cold weather outside and the damp chill inside the unheated churches." (90)

I expect that, given all the celebration beer consumed, not much work got done between Christmas Eve and Epiphany, the official end of the Christmas season!

Christmas Today
I think Oleanna and her family would probably recognize Christmas in Norway today. Yes, there are nods to modernity, with lots of presents and lots of electric lights.

But they'd also recognize echoes of the Vikings and the Lutheran experience: Christmas trees with straw julebukk and Norwegian flags. Ribbe or pinnekjøtt on Christmas Eve. Setting out porridge for the nisse (who have been conflated, to an extent, with Santa Claus), and lots of joy throughout the whole Juletid, holding back the darkness with the light of fellowship.

So, here's to fellowship, joy, light, and of course, lots of celebration beer (if you're so inclined) to you and yours this holiday season!


Want to know more about the world of Oleanna? Click here for all of the posts that give context to her world--Norway in 1905.