CHIMACUM — There was no snow, no elves, no reindeer, no candle-lit church in the valley.
But on Sunday, members of the Daughters of Norway Thea Foss Lodge gathered to celebrate Christmas just like in the old country.
The occasion: the lodge’s annual Juletrefest at the Tri-Area Community Center, where four generations — grandmothers, mothers, daughters and granddaughters — gathered to sing, dance and celebrate their heritage.
The youngest: Pilar Lopez, 1 ½, who danced with her grandmother, Tori Twedt.
“It’s the bunad I wore as a child,” said Pilar’s mother, Karen Twedt Lopez, of Port Townsend, referring to the traditional women’s costume — white blouse, red vest, black skirt and white apron.
Karen and her mother, Tori, who was born in Norway, were among the women initiated into the lodge at a brief ceremony preceding the festivities.
Joining the lodge
Also joining the lodge were Georgia Vasiliou and Mara Dotson, both of Port Townsend.
Mara’s guests included her mother, Chris Andoin, a member of the Stillehavet Daughters of Norway Lodge in California.
Mara’s grandfather Walter Nelson of Nordland, father Conrad Ardoin, husband Craig Dotson and daughter, Makaela, 12, also watched as she pledged to support the lodge and received a white rose from lodge officer Symbolyn Sebastian.
“I like the idea of exploring Norwegian culture,” Georgia Vasiliou said of the reason she joined.
“The meetings are fun, and I am interested in rosemaling and other crafts.”
Georgia is the daughter of lodge member Esther Vasiliou.
Family guests included daughters Zoe Sullivan and Thya Sullivan, son Nate Sullivan and Nate’s daughters, Kahlan, 8, and Jade, 6.
“Notice all the prospective members coming along in the next 10 years,” said Jean Kaldahl, an officer and one of the lodge’s founders.
The ceremony concluded, musicians Alison Hedlund, Diane Forsmark and Sally Chapin struck up a jig.
The Christmas tree was brought out to the center of the room, and the daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters decorated it.
Norwegian songs
Christmas songs were sung in Norwegian, with Jade and Kahlan Sullivan accompanying the musicians on bells.
Then George Yount led the dancing around the tree and around the hall. A buffet lunch of open-faced sandwiches, salads and an array of Christmas cookies, pastries and a frosted cake shaped like a yule log followed.
Thea Foss Lodge meets at 1 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, Chimacum. The public is welcome.
Upcoming programs include speakers on traditional costumes, the history of the community of Poulsbo and the country of Finland.
The lodge also holds a monthly Scandinavian movie night, bimonthly book club and writers’ group.
Membership in Thea Foss Lodge is open to Nordic women ages 13 and older who seek to preserve their heritage and promote Scandinavian culture. For more information, phone Jean Kaldahl, 360-370-1802.
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Port Townsend/Jefferson County writer-columnist Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@olypen.com.
