Nordic Festival October 10, 2015

During the past year the International Order of Runeberg downsized to a group of lodges called the Order of Runeberg Lodges.  Over their many years they were no longer the large number of larger-sized lodges and this name change reflects the size.  When I have visited at the Nordic Festival in Edgewood, although the Order of Runeberg has not officially participated, some lodge members have been present.  This year's festival is on October 10, 2015.

The International Order of Runeberg was part of my mother's life.  Part of the work I have been able to do as a volunteer at the Pacific Lutheran University has been about the work she did with the lodge as a talented piano accompanist for the lodge choir, when they visited Finland in 1930 to give performances, and later as choir director.  When I was in elementary school, she was their choir director.

Marie Cain and Syrene Forsman '08
Swedish-Finn Historical Society

Over seven and a half years ago the International Order of Runeberg sponsored dancers and singers who visited Seattle and Olympia and gave wonderful performances.  At the Nordic Festival participants sometimes wear Scandinavian Costumes - at the Seattle and Olympia performances in 2008 included was a costume from Malax, Finland. 



Dancers in Olympia 2008

Both my mother and her cousin Signa had costumes from Malax, Finland.  These came from 1938, when my mother visited Finland on a Runeberg Excursion on which her family dance band performed as the Soumi Band on the Atlantic crossing from New York to Helsingfors. 


Marie Cain and Dancer
Malax Costume 2008

Laura Jensen and Dancer
Malax Costume 2008

These are one or two photos of the great visit from 2008.  Marie Cain, Signa's daughter, and I both have Malax Costumes like these.