Nothing like a metropolis parade to stand up the adrenaline and produce on the schmaltz. It was pleasure, pleasure, and remembrances on this final Sunday for the Norwegian Individuals, but in addition for the entire metropolis.
The Norwegian Day Parade kicked off at 1:30 pm on 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, zagged over to fiveth Avenue, previous the Palestinian demonstration, and zigged proper onto 67th Avenue on the border of Leif Erikson Park and the group of Sundown Park.
We have been stunned by how lengthy the parade was and what number of onlookers gawked and cheered. Even so, it’s not the most important parade, however its historic background spans the entire historical past of New York Metropolis. Norway misplaced extra of its inhabitants to emigration, primarily to America coming by means of New York Metropolis, proportionally than every other nation besides Eire.
Folks watching
No one has the wit or talent to inform concerning the journey of the Norwegians in our metropolis. One legend, contained within the Vatican Archives, is that Leif Erikson or his followers even sailed by Lengthy Island and established a small settlement. Most likely, this was made up by a priest to magnify his work of evangelization, although solely God is aware of. What we do know is fairly improbable itself.
Leif Erikson Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn remembers the Viking adventurer however not the first motive that he ended up in America in the future round 1000 AD. It’s possible you’ll be stunned to search out out that he really was a Viking Christian missionary blown off track from his mission area of Greenland.
On task from the King of Norway, off went Erikson to Greenland with a few monks to persuade his father Erik the Purple of the gospel of Jesus. He advised the king, are you positive you need me to do that? Erik the Purple was recognized to settle disagreements with a Viking ax.
Nonetheless, the wind blew the ship the fallacious method again previous Greenland and onto a comparatively unknown land. Leif and his crew ended up ashore in a land with plentiful forests and grapes. Erickson named the land, “Vinland,” a nice identify that recalled how his father bestowed “Greenland” upon a wintery land as an enticement for brand new settlers. This story had the earmarks of legend till we began to fill within the archaeology behind it.
In 1961, some archaeologists discovered the prehistoric ruins of a Viking village in L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, it’s thought that that is seemingly the proof of Leif’s presence. If that is the case, then undoubtedly throughout that summer season and winter, the primary Christian worship companies have been held in America round 1021 AD, based mostly on latest radio-carbon research of the ruins. The constructing there has sure options that grew to become typical of Norse chapels.
The subsequent spring, Leif and his crew returned safely to Greenland with a shipload of lumber and grapes. He shared Christianity together with his father Eric the Purple — who rebuffed him.
Nonetheless, Leif’s mom grew to become a believer and constructed the primary church in America, of which Greenland is geographically half.
She known as it Thjoohild’s Church.
Church buildings & Religion-based Organizations
The Norwegians have been additionally right here for the start of our metropolis within the settlement of New Amsterdam. There Annetje Bogardus was the brilliant shining companion of the heroic pastor Everardus Bogardus. Their marriage was so typical of what would turn into the American melting pot. She was Norwegian and Everardus was Dutch, however an orphan. They have been outliers of respectable society. Additional, they made themselves much more set aside by welcoming the Africans into the church and their household.
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Bands & Colleges
Skip ahead to the 19th Century and we discover that the Norwegian immigration crested with a whole bunch of hundreds of latest settlers right here and within the Midwest. Lots of them expressed their disgust with slavery, and nearly all have been enthusiastic supporters of the battle of liberation of the Previous South.
Their metropolis redoubt grew to become Brooklyn, from Purple Hook by means of Sundown Park to Bay Ridge. One of many metropolis’s biggest feminine heroines was the Norwegian Deaconess Elizabeth Fedde, who based Lutheran Hospital and the ambulance service for south Brooklyn. She was a real Viking girl who struck worry into the hearts of males who wouldn’t help her compassionate works for the poor.
The Norwegian Individuals moved outward to the suburbs (see our map), however they got here to think about their roots as Brooklyn. Many come again to have a good time the Norwegian Day Parade. The precise vacation is Norwegian Structure Day (established in 1814) on Tuesday, Could 17th, however the parade was held on Sunday in order that extra individuals can take part.
Norway Day Avenue Honest
Tuesday, Could 17, 1:00-6:00
Exterior the Norwegian Seamen’s Church, 317 East 52nd St. (First-Second Aves.), Manhattan. Free admission
www.SjomannsKirken.no/kirke/new-york/kalender/17-mai-i-new-york
