Vikings, torches and a bonfire: Hundreds show up to witness Nordic traditions at Poulsbo's Julefest

POULSBO — Vikings, torches and bonfire: It feels very different than anything Tricia Becker and her husband, Michael, have experienced before.

Both working remotely in the tech industry, the couple moved from Seattle to Poulsbo a month ago and went to Julefest for the first time on Saturday.

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The Beckers arrived at Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park at around 4:15 p.m. Shortly after, a group of people dressed in Viking costumes walked along the shore of Liberty Bay. Some wore horned helmets. Most held a torch in hand.

The Vikings headed to a pier when a small boat arrived. Wearing a white dress, a red sash and a wreath of candles on her head, the Santa Lucia bride got off the boat and was escorted by the Vikings to the shore.

On the grass next to the Austin-Kvelstad pavilion, Viking King read a winter solstice proclamation, followed by the group lighting a bonfire.

The crowd cheered and clapped by the flames.

"It's wonderful," Tricia Becker said. "I don't know if everybody here is from the town, but it feels like the entire town comes out for this."

The Beckers are used to seeing a town decorated and having Christmas tree lightings for the holiday season, but nothing like a bonfire lighting, Tricia Becker said.

"... Also, this beautiful sense of community we have not seen in Seattle," said Michael Becker, who'd lived in Seattle for seven years.

Over 280 people gathered at the park to witness the event at dusk. Those near the Vikings lifted their cellphones as high as possible to capture the scene. A few couples smiled at the lens and managed to take a selfie in the crowd.

Attending after a suggestion by his wife, Gregory Patterson and his daughter, Marlie, of Silverdale, whose family is Swedish, went to Julefest for the first time as well. They arrived at around 3:30 p.m. but didn't get a chance to try some Norwegian food before the ceremony because stores were crowded with people lining up, they said.

"I think it's very lovely," Marlie Patterson said. Seeing the Lucia bride made Marlie Patterson more curious about the tradition, she said.

"I loved it. It was just fun," Gregory Patterson said.

Norwegian heritage

Sons of Norway in Poulsbo has celebrated Julefest for 40 years since 1981, said Paul Anunsons, former president of the Poulsbo lodge.

The organization's mission is to preserve and promote Norwegian heritage. Local lodges are encouraged to do the events in their own ways, so how the lodge hosts Julefest may be different from what others do, Anunsons said.

"It's not prescribed," Anunsons said. "We just tried to adhere to some tradition and heritage to celebrate."

Katerina Kraus, 17, was excited to play the Santa Lucia bride this year.

"It's a real experience that I'm so happy I got to do," Kraus said.

A Bainbridge High School student, Kraus joined the Sons of Norway when she was little and has danced for the organization's events for 11 years, she said.

Participating in Julefest is a way for her to show appreciation for the culture her family belongs to, said Kraus, whose grandparents are from Norway. It's also a way to encourage other young people to be part of the culture where they are from, she said.

"I feel like once you start maturing a little bit, you can see that being a part of the culture is a really cool thing," Kraus said.

Prior to the bonfire, Scandinavian vendors sold holiday goods and Norwegian food in the lodge. The event attracted almost 4,000 people visiting the lodge on Saturday, which is more than 2019, according to Anunsons.

Last year, the Sons of Norway couldn't host a public gathering as usual because of the pandemic, but it live-streamed Santa Lucia's arrival on Facebook, according to the organization.

The organization has been planning the Julefest event for three to four months, though everyone wasn't sure if the pandemic would affect the event again, said Sherry White, the president of Poulsbo lodge.

"We were planning for the event to happen. We just didn't know it's gonna be such a success," White said. "It's just magnificent."

Reach breaking news reporter Peiyu Lin at pei-yu.lin@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter @peiyulintw.

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This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Hundreds show up to witness Nordic traditions at Julefest in Poulsbo