The Summer Side of the Primstav In-person class

Nordic Roots educator Kari Tauring leads a class in which you learn about Nordic Primstavs, then make your own.

Primstav comes from Latin prima for first or new and stav meaning staff in Norwegian.

They are transitional calendar sticks marking the church and saint days of the new

religion. The oldest examples of these calendars date to the 1300s. The folklore

surrounding these days preserves land-based rituals relied upon by ancient farmers and

fishermen in Scandinavia.

The two seasons, Winter and Summer, are represented on the two sides of the calendar

stick. A mitten starts the Winter Side on October 14, and a Drinking Horn marks

Christmas. The Summer Side is marked with a tree on April 14, which is stylized

regionally. There are several mid-summer days from June to July for both Julian and Gregorian calendars. Catholic Saint Day markings reminded people when it was time to go to church.

Learn how Christianity both changed and preserved the ways our ancestors reckoned time: from the seven-day week to fixed saint days to calendars whose months no longer follow the moon.

In this class you will make a summerside primstav with symbols relevant to your life and gain an appreciation of the calendar's history and the many tasks of farm life that it was used to put in order.

Please note: Be certain that you are able to attend on the date and at the time of this class. Norway House does not issue refunds or class credits.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Norway House, 913 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, United States