New Vesterheim exhibit discusses how Norwegians cope with winter

A new exhibit at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum explores how Norwegians survive winter.

When days are short and nights grow long, Norwegians turn to warm drinks, wool socks and close friends.  The technique is described by an untranslatable word—"koselig."  To give people a feel for koselig, Vesterheim will host a series of free community events, including Koselig Cake Break, Nordic Noir Film Nights, and Board Game Nights, during the winter.

Vesterheim Exhibition Manager Zach Row-Heyveld says, "Cozy is the closest translation (to 'koselig'), but it's really much more than that. It's a very deep feeling of warmth and contentment, a sense of intimacy and comfort. It's a candlelit dinner party with your close friends and family. A wool sweater, a cup of hot cocoa, and a comfy couch with the latest Nordic crime drama on TV. A fresh batch of warm waffles from scratch with homemade jam after a jaunt through the woods on your cross-country skis."

Every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. through April 22nd, Vesterheim will serve treats and teach empathy during Koselig Cake Break.  "Nordic Noir Film Nights" will be held at 7:00 p.m. on January 9th, February 13th, March 13th  and April 10th in the museum's Main Building.  Koselig Board Game Nights will be held from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on January 23rd, February 27th and March 27th in the museum's Main Building.