Set the table for Syttende mai

Syttende mai

Photo: Lori Ann Reinhall
Scandinavian specialty stores like Nordiska sell the napkins, flags, and runners you need for your Syttende mai table.

LORI ANN REINHALL
The Norwegian American

Most of us will be at home for Syttende mai this year for family celebration, always at the heart of a beloved holiday.

Setting the table for a traditional Syttende mai breakfast is an important part of getting ready for the big day, but this needn’t be too complicated or expensive. Most of us already have what we need right in our own homes, and with a few key purchases, you can create the perfect ambiance for the day.

Kristine Leander

Photo: Lori Ann Reinhall
Kristine Leander is the perfect hostess for Syttende mai.

To get ready for this year, I turned to two good friends: Kristin Klassert, owner of Nordiska, a Scandinavian gift shop in Poulsbo, Wash., and Kristine Leander, president of the Leif Erikson International Foundation and executive director of the Swedish Club in Seattle.  

With a few purchases from Kristin’s store and the use of Kritine’s Norwegian-inspired dining room and a few flowers from her garden, we are all set for Syttende mai 2020. We hope you will enjoy our ideas and use your own creativity for a festive family celebration.

This article originally appeared in the May 8, 2020, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.

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Lori Ann Reinhall

Lori Ann Reinhall, editor-in-chief of The Norwegian American, is a multilingual journalist and cultural ambassador based in Seattle. She is the president of the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association, and she serves on the boards of several Nordic organizations.

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