2025 Group Photo
Hallingdal
"Hallingdal is a rugged mountain valley in
Norway, part of Buskerud County (fylke).
Many people migrated from this valley coming to America and
Canada, especially during the 1800's. The Hallinglag is an organization formed in 1907 by these
immigrants and their descendants. The Hallinglag aims to preserve and promote the unique cultural
heritage given to us by these pioneers."
The above
paragraph appears in each issue of Hallingen-the magazine that
keeps Hallinglag members up-to-date on lag happenings and the
message sums up why this group has actively pursued knowledge about
its Norwegian heritage. The
Hallinglag has published Hallingen, which was given that name
in 1912, since 1908. The
magazine is just one of the lag's many strengths. Several historical societies and libraries have complete
collections, as do members and others. Although Hallingen was printed entirely in Norwegian for
years, today only an occasional article is written in Norse.
The Banner
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The Hallinglag banner was
presented to the Hallinglag of America in Gol, Norway, June
1914. Members of the Hallinglag of America take pride in the
lag's banner, which is pictured on the front of each issue of Hallingen
and was depicted on a commemorative plate created in 1975.
Sixty-one years before that, Hallinglag members helped establish
the tradition of commemorating the lag's heritage when a group
of them traveled to Norway to celebrate the country's 100th
anniversary of independence. A total of 1,242 Norwegian
Americans went on that trip.
The Americans brought the Norwegians many gifts; in return the
Norwegian Hallings traveled to America the following year and
presented the Hallinglag of America with a silk banner made in
Christiania.
The banner's motif is from Hol, Norway, and Hallingskarvet is in
the background. The man's costume is from the Norwegian town of
Aal and the woman's is from the town of Gol. The banner proudly
declares the lag's theme, "Let Us Not Forget Our
Forefathers" which is from an Ivar Aasen poem.
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The original banner was retired in 2017 and is housed
at the Myra Museum in Grand Forks ND. That original
banner was beautiful and a treasure, however,
transporting it to yearly Stevnes became a logistical
problem. This new, retractable banner was created in
2017 and will be used from here forward. The new
banner is 7 feet tall and weighs 5 pounds, making it
easy to transport and store.
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Stevne Information
The 2026 Hallinglag Stevne will be in Northfield, MN,
Wednesday July 29 starting at 3 pm, thru
Saturday August 1 until 1 pm, at
St John’s Lutheran Church
500 Third Street West
Northfield, MN 55057
Phone: 507-645-4429
Venue web site: StJohnsNorthfield.org
A block of rooms is being held at:
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites
114 2nd Street West
Northfield, MN
Note: You must use the QR code or the special link found at
the bottom of the reservation information letter, below, to get
the special Hallinglag rate.
Hotel reservation information!
Use this form to register for the stevne:
Printer friendly Stevne Registration Form.
The genealogy room will be open throughout the event.
Questions can be directed to the Hallinglag President,
Marie Renneke.
Tentative schedule for 2026 Stevne Northfield and Minneapolis, Minnesota
*Wednesday, July 29 - Location: St. John’s Hall, Northfield
- 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Genealogy Room Open
- 2:00 p.m. Board Meeting
- 3:00-5:00 p.m. Registration and Silent auction drop off
- 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. OPTIONAL: Tour of St. Olaf College and NAHA (Norwegian-American Historical Association)
- Dinner on your own
- 7:00- 8:00 p.m. Meet-and-Greet Reception
*Thursday, July 30 - Location: Norway Block: Mindekirken and Norway House
- 8:30 a.m. Start loading bus at the Fairfield for 8:45 departure to Norway Block in Minneapolis
- 10:00 a.m. Welcome – Hallinglag President, Marie Renneke
- 10:15 a.m. Speaker at Mindekirken: “Carl Ben Eielson: Norwegian-American Aviator,” by Dr. Lawrence Moe
- 11:30 a.m. Catered lunch at Mindekirken, followed by a tour of the building and crossing the parking lot to Norway House
- 2:00 p.m. Speaker at Norway House: “Norwegian Weaving” by Robbie LaFleuer. She will also be available to examine and discuss any weaving samples that are brought in.
- 3:00-5:00 p.m. Break into small groups to tour Norway House, including the Bibliotek and Ingebretsen’s Gift Shop. OPTIONAL: The Saga Center and exhibits is also available, at a special group rate of $8.00 per person.
- 4:00 p.m. Hardanger Fiddle player and demonstration of Norwegian dancing
- 5:30 p.m. Catered banquet at Norway House
- 6:30 p.m. Hygge Happy Hour with special music
- 7:15 p.m. Start loading bus for 7:30 departure back to hotel, arriving at 8:45 p.m.
*Friday, July 31 - Location: St. John’s Hall, Northfield
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Genealogy Room Open
- 9:00 a.m. Lur call
- National Anthems of Norway, Canada and U. S. A. – accompanist, Carol Lacey
- 9:15 a.m. speaker: “Thorstein Veblen: Connections to Northfield, MN and Beyond,” by Sandra Huemann-Kelly
- 10:15 a.m. Break
- 10:45 a.m. Speaker: “Hand of the Huldra” – Norwegian Jewelry, by Liz Bucheit
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
- 1:30 p.m. Presentation by Brekke Tours regarding the 2027 joint trip to Norway with Valdres Samband
- 1:45 p.m. Annual Meeting
- Officer Reports
- Elections to Board (Vice President, Secretary, and Membership Chair)
- Memorial Service
- 80- and 90-Year-Old Recognition
- 2:45 p.m. Break
- 3:00 p.m. Speaker: “The New Sweden Butter Maker” and research completed at the Minnesota Historical Society and NAHA”, by Karen Humphrey
- 4:00 p.m. Free Time to explore Northfield and have dinner on your own.
- 7:00 p.m. Movie and popcorn at St John’s Hall
Hallingen Index 1984 - 2014
The above link loads a .pdf file with an index to issues of Hallingen,
published by the Hallinglag of America between 1984 and 2014.
This index also includes information on where these issues may be found.
Membership Information
For a mail in Membership Form
Click Here
LINKS
This is the home page of the Red River Valley Genealogical Society
in Fargo, North Dakota where the 400+ resources in the
Hallinglag of America M.Kay Buckingham Memorial Family History
Collection are housed and available to researchers. Click
on the "Norwegian Collection" button for more information.
This link is to the page of the local radio station in Hallingdal.
This link is to our FaceBook page.
This site hosted by Norwegian-American Bygdelagenes Fellesraad
: www.fellesraad.com
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