Men's bunad from Northern Gudbrandsdalen and women's bunad from Oppdal. These costumes are 20th century constructs only loosely based on tradition. The purse has no roots in tradition, and is generally frowned upon by purists.

Bunad is a Norwegian umbrella term encompassing, in its broadest sense, a range of both traditional rural clothes (mostly dating to the 19th and 18th centuries) as well modern 20th century folk costumes. In its narrow sense the word bunad refers only to clothes designed in the early 20th century that are loosely based on traditional costumes. The word bunad in itself is a 20th century invention.

The bunad movement has its root in 19th century national romanticism, which included an interest for traditional folk costumes not only in Norway, but also in neighbouring countries such as Denmark and notably Germany. However, in Norway national romanticist ideas had a more lasting impact, as seen in the use of folk inspired costumes.

Designs and popularity[link]

The designs are typically elaborate, with embroidery, scarves, shawls and hand-made silver or gold jewelry known as sølje. There are bunads both for men and women, although women's bunads are more diverse and popular.^[1] However, according to daily manager Turid Liss Agersborg at Husfliden Oslo, they now produce and sell more men’s bunads than women’s for the first time in history. The male customers are often characterized as urban and modern, and range between the ages of 20 and 40 years old.^[2]

A number of books on the history of bunads recount the story of how once when on holiday in Hardanger with her Danish husband the British Princess Maud of Wales thought that the Hardanger bunads worn by the women in Hardanger were so beautiful that she had one made for her. At that time she could have had no inkling that a decade and a half later she would return to Norway as its queen, the matriarch of a new dynasty of Norwegian kings. She later wore this Hardanger bunad at numerous public appearances in Norway, a tradition maintained by the present Queen Sonja, the Crown Princess Mette Marit and Princess Martha Louise, although Queen Sonja and her daughter wear the East Telemark bunads, Telemark being the ancestral county of the Queen's own family.

Bunad traditions in Norway[link]

Nordic bunad and folk dress on Faroe Islands stamps

In Norway, it is common to wear bunad at various celebrations such as: folk dances, weddings, and especially the May 17 National Day celebrations. In recent years, its use has reached far outside folk dancing, folk music, and particular holidays. Accepted as proper gala attire, it is increasingly common to see people, and especially women, dressed in bunad. The former Norwegian foreign minister, Thorvald Stoltenberg, made history by presenting his accreditation as ambassador to Margrethe II of Denmark dressed in a bunad.^[3] Bunads were also conspicuous among those present at the Blessing of the Reign of King Harald and Queen Sonja, demonstrating that the bunad is now considered acceptable as an alternative form of formal wear even on the most solemn public occasions. Moreover, people tend to wear bunads to festive celebrations such as anniversaries and birthdays, and for religious occasions including baptisms, confirmations and Christmas.

There is ongoing debate about the official status of various outfits, and what allowed variations are. In 1947 an official institution, the Landsnemda for Bunadspørsmål, was organized to act in an advisory capacity on all questions dealing with bunads in Norway. Due to ongoing discussions on the status of bunads, it is not possible to state accurately the number of different types of bunads in Norway, but most estimates place the number at around 200.^[4]

From the late 19th century until quite recently the image which was most commonly used to represent the Norwegian traditional rural dress in general was that of the Hardanger woman's bunad, but in more recent times this image is being increasingly superseded by that of the East Telemark woman's bunad.

Design and origins of bunad[link]

The various bunads have been designed through different means. Some of them are based on old local customs; other models are constructions made in the 20th century, relying (often very loosely) on local and historical material. The interest for bunads dates back to Norwegian romantic nationalism and gained increasing interest with the folk-dance movement at the beginning of the 20th century. In some parts of the country, folk-costume tradition was alive as late as the early 19th century. Bunads with such long traditions are to be found in the Bergen area on the west coast, in Setesdal in the south, in some districts of Telemark, Numedal, Hallingdal, and Gudbrandsdal, and at Røros in eastern Norway.^[5] The names of these traditional bunads are based on their geographic origin, and traditionally, people choose their bunad based on their own or their ancestors’ origin.

Hulda Garborg (1862–1934) and Klara Semb (1884–1970) are cited as pioneers in bringing bunads into mainstream culture. With Garborg's publication of the pamphlet Norsk Klædebunad in 1903, the focus moved from the creation of a single national costume to the development of several regional bunads. Although bunads are based on traditions in various areas, these designs are embellished by additions such as embroidery. The overarching sense of bunad design is to preserve the way people dressed for festive occasions in one particular era. This has led local and national councils to impose official constraints on various details in the bunad, including colors, fabric, embroidery, jewellery, cut, and allowable headwear.^[6][7]

The bunad movement[link]

Traditional folk clothing of eastern Telemark, 1880s

The bunad movement has been carried forward by enthusiasts all over the country and new bunad variations are frequently created and proposed for approval. Designers such as Lise Skjåk Bræk have developed entire lines of costumes based on the bunad tradition. In the field of folk costumes it is common to differentiate between bunad and folk costume, the latter being the local dress in previous times with all its variations and use. Bunads are used for festive occasions and today they date back to the folk costume tradition of the 19th century.

There is a continuing debate about the extent to which bunads must conform to the standards, or whether it is acceptable to vary or improvise based on general themes. Some groups (sometimes derisively referred to as the bunad police) argue that bunads must be sewn and worn according to strict standards; others advocate a more creative, lenient approach. Although these differing groups show little sign of reaching consensus, both factions agree that traditional under-garments—commonly known as frillies — should be worn with the Bunad.

Bunads are nowadays often viewed as a status symbol, ranging in the price of $2,000 - 10,000, depending on the desired design, material, embroidery, gold, silver and accessorizes. The price also depends on whether the customer buys from a well established company like Husfliden, from local sewers or decides to sew or do part of the embroidery themselves. It usually takes up to a year to finish making the bunad, and it has become a tradition for parents to give their children a bunad as a confirmation gift, which they will wear on their confirmation day.

Criticizing that only wealthy people can afford to purchase a bunad and to carry out this tradition, Norske Bunader moved the production of some Norwegian bunads to China.^[8] This shift has lowered the price and made the national costume more affordable. It has also caused major concerns by patriotic citizens who believe the Norwegian national costume should be completely authentic and only produced domestically. Although some people argue that traditional bunad producers such as Husfliden and Heimen contradict themselves by having immigrants sew bunads and make embroideries at their company, they respond by claiming that the immigrants are equally licensed as Norwegian sewers and that the bunads are still made in Norway.^[9]

• 

  Hardanger bunad with a bridal crown (brudekrone)

• 

  Hulda Garborg in bunad

• 

  Hulda Garborg in bunad

• Wang sisters in USA.jpg

  Norwegian immigrants in the U.S. wearing their traditional bunads

• 

  Budeia - painting by Gerhard Munthe (1890)

• 

  Frieriet – painting by Nils Bergslien (1853-1928)

• 

  Kven er størst måttru – painting by Nils Bergslien (1853-1928)

• 

  Folkedrakter fra Gran i Telemark – painting by Johannes Flintoe

• 

  Bunad of Hardangerfjord

• 

  Two young women in bunad in Trøndelag

• 

  Young girls in different national costumes at Akershus

• 

  Girl in Asker bunad

• 

  Bunad from Setesdal (Setesdalsbunad, female)

• 

  Setesdalsbunad (male)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bunad

References[link]

Other sources[link]

• Fossnes, Heidi Norges bunader og samiske folkedrakter (Cappelen. Oslo: 1993) ISBN 82-02-13874-4 [1]
• Noss, Aagot Adolph Tidemand and the Norwegian Folk Costumes (Universitetsforlaget. 1981) ISBN 82-00-05712-7
• Scheel, Ellen Wigaard Norske drakter, stakker og bunader (N.W. Damm. 2001) ISBN 82-512-0585-9

External links[link]

• [2]The Norwegian Institute of bunad and folk costume, file in English
• Bunads and accessories from all regions
• Pictures of Bunads
• Telemarksbunads Bunads from Telemark
• Oslobunaden
• Bunad pictures in Nasjonalbibliotekets

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Ben Adams
Adams performing in Norway, 2010
Background information
Birth name	Ben Adams
Born	(1981-11-22) 22 November 1981 (age 30)
Origin	Ascot, Berkshire, England
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Vocals, Piano
Associated acts	A1
Website	Official website

Ben Adams (born Benjamin Adams, 22 November 1981, Ascot, Berkshire, England) is an English singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the boy band, a1.

Early life[link]

Adams attended Westminster Under School, where he became head chorister of the school choir, . He later attended Bedales School, leaving aged 16 after completing his GCSEs.

Career[link]

A1[link]

Adams was a member of four-piece boyband A1, who won a BRIT Award in 2001 for Best Newcomer and had two number one singles, "Take On Me" and "Same Old Brand New You", before separating.^[1] Whilst in the boyband, Adams also scooped a Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Award for Most Fanciable Male in 2001.

It was announced in 2009 that A1 were to reform to compete to represent Norway in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.^[2]

Personal life[link]

Adams was a member of boy band A1. The band was around from 1998 to 2002. Since then he decided to become a solo star and released his album Sorry. He has worked with Har Mar Superstar and Alexandra Burke. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 2009, and became friends with Michelle Heaton. He has been romantically involved with Miss Norway 2009 Sara Skjoldnes, meeting her right before she took part in the Miss World Pageant.

Solo career[link]

After a couple of years writing, Adams made a comeback with a new solo recording contract. His first solo single, "Sorry", reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2005.^[3] As well as writing for himself, Adams began writing and producing for other artists. He co-wrote the Lisa Scott-Lee single "Electric" with Guy Chambers, as well as a song called "Get Off My Girl" with Har Mar Superstar.

Adams has his own recording studio situated in Battersea Park called Parkbench Studios.^[4] He is currently the creative director behind the bands Kissing Freddie,^[5] and What Jane Did Next (which Adams is a part of). When he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2009, it was revealed that Adams had worked on songs for X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke.

[edit] Celebrity Big Brother (2009)

Adams was a participant on the reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009, and reached the finale finishing in fifth place after the public vote.

Pantomime[link]

Adams performed as 'Prince Charming' in Milton Keynes' 2009/2010 pantomime production of Cinderella.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Ben Adams on Myspace

Leif Ericson
Statue of Leif near the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul
Born	970s probably Iceland
Died	around 1020 probably Greenland
Nationality	Norse (Norwegian descent)[1]
Occupation	Explorer
Known for	Discovering Vinland (Part of North America; possibly Newfoundland)
Religion	Norse paganism; converted to Christianity c. 999
Partner	Thorgunna (c. 999)
Children	Thorgils, Thorkell
Relatives	Erik the Red (father), Thorvald, Thorstein and Freydís (siblings)

Leif Ericson^[3] ( /ˈleɪf/ LAYF or /ˈliːf/ LEEF; Old Norse: Leifr Eiríksson; Icelandic: Leifur Eiríksson; Norwegian: Leiv Eiriksson c. 970 – c. 1020) was a Norse^[4] explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America (excluding Greenland), nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.^[5] According to the Sagas of Icelanders, he established a Norse settlement at Vinland, tentatively identified with the Norse L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland in modern-day Canada.

It is believed that Leif was born around the 970s—the son of mother Thjodhild and father Erik the Red, an explorer and outlaw from Western Norway.^[6] Erik founded the first Norse colonies in Greenland, and was based at the family estate Brattahlíð in the so-called Eastern Settlement, where Leif had his upbringing. Leif had two known sons: Thorgils, born to noblewoman Thorgunna in the Hebrides; and Thorkell, who succeeded Leif as chieftain of the Greenland settlement.

Early life[link]

Leif was the son of Erik the Red and his wife Thjodhild, and the grandson of Thorvald Asvaldsson. His year of birth is most often given as c. 970 or c. 980.^[7] Though Leif's birthplace is not accounted for in the sagas,^[8] it is likely he was born in Iceland,^[4] where his parents met^[7]—probably somewhere in Breiðafjörður, and possibly at the farm Haukadal where Thjodhild's family is said to have been based.^[4] Leif had two brothers, Thorstein and Thorvald, and a sister, Freydís.^[9]

Thorvald Asvaldsson was banished from Norway for manslaughter and went into exile in Iceland accompanied by young Erik. When Erik was himself banished from Iceland, he traveled further west to an area he named Greenland, where he established the first permanent settlement in 986.^[8][10] Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted to keep in charge of Erik's children, as Leif later referred to him as his "foster father".^[11]

Discovering Vinland[link]

Leiv Eiriksson discover America, by Christian Krohg (1893).

Leif and his crew travelled from Greenland to Norway in 999. Blown off course to the Hebrides and staying for much of the summer, he arrived in Norway and became a hirdman of King Olaf Tryggvason. Leif also converted to Christianity, and was given the mission of introducing the religion to Greenland.^[8][12] The Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders, both thought to have been written around 1200,^[13] contain different accounts of the voyages to Vinland.^[14][15] The two only known strictly historical mentions of Vinland are found in the work of Adam of Bremen c. 1075 and in the Book of Icelanders compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise.^[16] According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Leif apparently saw Vinland for the first time after being blown off course on his way to introduce Christianity to Greenland.^[12]

According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, Leif had heard the story of merchant Bjarni Herjólfsson who claimed to have sighted land to the west of Greenland after having been blown off course. Leif approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered a crew of thirty-five men, and mounted an expedition towards the land Bjarni had described.^[17] Leif's father Erik was set to join him, but dropped out after he fell from his horse on his way to set sail, an incident he interpreted as a bad omen.^[18] Leif followed Bjarni's route in reverse, and landed first in a rocky and desolate place he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island). After venturing further by sea, he landed the second time in a forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly Labrador). Finally, after two more days at sea, he landed in a place Leif named Vinland (Wineland). There, Leif and his crew built a small settlement which was called Leifsbúdir (Leif's Booths) by later visitors from Greenland. After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif returned to Greenland in the spring with a cargo of grapes and timber.^[17][19] On the return voyage, Leif rescued an Icelandic castaway and his crew, earning Leif the nickname "Leif the Lucky".^[20]

Modern recreation of the Norse site at L'Anse aux Meadows.

Research done in the early 1960s by Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad and his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse settlement located at the northern tip of Newfoundland. It has been suggested that this site, known as L'Anse aux Meadows, is Leif's settlement of Leifsbúdir. The Ingstads demonstrated that Norsemen had reached America about 500 years before Christopher Columbus.^[21][22] Later archaeological evidence suggests that Vinland may have been the areas around the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and that the L'Anse aux Meadows site was a ship repair station and waypoint for voyages there. That does not necessarily contradict the identification of L'Anse aux Meadows with Leifsbúdir,^[22][23] as the two sagas appear to describe Vinland as a wider region which included several settlements. The Saga of Erik the Red mentions two other sites in Vinland: a settlement called Straumfjord in the north, and one called Hóp in the south.^[24]

Personal life[link]

Leif is described as a strong man of striking appearance, who was wise and considerate.^[25] During Leif's stay in the Hebrides, he fell in love with noblewoman Thorgunna who gave birth to their son Thorgils.^[9] Thorgils was later sent to Leif in Greenland, but he did not become popular.^[25] After Leif's first trip to Vinland, he returned to the family estate of Brattahlíð in Greenland, and started preaching Christianity to the Greenlanders. His father Erik reacted coldly to the suggestion that he should abandon his religion, while his mother Thjodhild quickly became a Christian and built a church called Thjodhild's Church.^[26] Leif is last mentioned alive in 1019, and by 1025 he had passed on his chieftaincy of Eiriksfjord^[8] to another son, Thorkell.^[25][27] Nothing is mentioned about Leif's death in the sagas—he probably died in Greenland some time between these dates.^[25][28] Nothing further is known about Leif's family beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.^[25]

Legacy[link]

Norse and medieval Europe[link]

Leif's successful expedition in Vinland encouraged other Norsemen to also make the journey. The first apparent contact between the Norse and the indigenous people, so-called skrælingjar, was made by Leif's brother Thorvald, and resulted in hostilities and killing.^[29] In the end there were no permanent Norse settlements in Vinland, although sporadic voyages at least to Markland for forages, timber and trade possibly lasted for centuries.^[30][31] The casual tone of references to these areas may suggest that their discovery was not seen as particularly significant by contemporaries, or that it was assumed to be public knowledge, or both.^[16] Knowledge of the Vinland journeys might have spread around medieval Europe, as writers such as Adam of Bremen made mention of remote lands to the west. Some scholars have also suggested that the knowledge of Vinland might have been maintained in European seaports in the 15th century, and that Christopher Columbus could have heard stories of it when he visited Iceland in 1477, as he claimed to have done in a letter.^[29]

United States[link]

US stamp issued on Leif Erikson Day, 1968.

Stories of Leif's journey to North America had a profound effect on the identity and self-perception of later Nordic Americans and Nordic immigrants to the United States.^[10] The first statue of Leif (by Anne Whitney)^[32] was erected in Boston in 1887, as many believed that Vinland could have been located at Cape Cod;^[10] not long after, another casting of Whitney's statue was erected in Milwaukee.^[33] A statue was also erected in Chicago in 1901, having been originally commissioned for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition to coincide with the arrival of a reconstructed Viking ship from Bergen, Norway.^[10] Another work of art made for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the painting Leiv Eiriksson oppdager Amerika by Christian Krohg, was in the possession of a Leif Erikson Memorial Association in Chicago before being given back to the National Gallery of Norway in 1900.^[8]

For the one hundred year anniversary of the first official immigration of Norwegians to America, President Calvin Coolidge stated at the 1925 Minnesota State Fair, to a crowd of one hundred thousand people, that Leif had indeed been the first European to discover America.^[10] Further statues of Leif were erected at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul in 1949, near Lake Superior in Duluth in 1956, and in downtown Seattle.^[10]

The date October 9 has been used to remember Leif Ericson in the United States. In 1929, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill to make October 9 "Leif Erikson Day" in the state; the bill was signed by Governor Walter J. Kohler, Sr. in May of the same year.^[34] That date was not chosen to commemorate any event in the life of the explorer. Rather, it marked the first organized immigration from Norway to the United States when the ship Restauration, coming from Stavanger, arrived in New York Harbor on October 9, 1825.^[35] In 1964 the United States Congress authorized and requested the president to proclaim October 9 of each year as "Leif Erikson Day".^[10]

See also[link]

• Norse colonization of the Americas

References[link]