Culture Classes

Borgund Lodge offers Norwegian-inspired culture classes in the Spring and Fall.

Borgund Lodge has built our programming around these traditions, which classes include traditional Norwegian folk art such as rosemaling, hardanger, and woodcarving. Also offered are courses in traditional Scandinavian cooking, Norwegian literature works, and genealogy. Our Norwegian customs and traditions bring generations together and preserve and keep our heritage alive.

For a full listing of upcoming classes:

Norwegian traditions and customs bind people together through shared rituals around food, craft, and seasonal celebration. The unifying thread is participation in traditions and customs passed between generations where they connect to regional identity and ancestral skills creating a sense of belonging.

Rosemaling (decorative painting) originated in rural Norway during the 18th century when artists took inspiration from Baroque and Rococo styles and eventually developed Norway's unique regional styles. Hardanger embroidery, a whitework needlecraft tradition, dates back to at least the 1700s, and traces its historical origin from the Hardanger region. Norwegian woodcarving dates back to the Viking era (roughly 800-1100 AD), with the finest examples coming from ancient timber stave churches and ecclesiastical chairs.

"Friluftsliv" (or "open-air-life") is the Norwegian philosophy of embracing the great outdoors.

This concept is as Norwegian as cross-country skis and woolen sweaters.

We honor the courage and hard work of those who came before us. Their stories of perseverance and hope continue to inspire us and connect us to our past, wherever we are today.

We want to share with you a video of the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, which holds the most extensive collection of Norwegian-American artifacts in the world. The lives of the people who settled our nation were often as colorful as their folk art and their stories speak through the objects they left behind. As you watch this video, you will learn about Norwegian traditions and see how Norwegian-Americans have sustained and shared their heritage in their vesterheim ("western home). We hope you enjoy the video tour.

Our lodge is proud to share its heartfelt journey called “Traditions for a New Generation.” You can't know where you're going until you know where you've come from.

This journey is an invitation for members old and new to celebrate, share, and teach the Norwegian customs that shaped us and to share our culture with others. From the art of lefse rolling to the sweet snap of rosettes, these are the threads that tie us to our past and strengthen the fabric of our future.

What is your vision for the new generation?  Is it to get to know your ancestors through genealogy research--who they were, where they came from, and what they did with their lives? Is it maintaining your heritage by participating in culture classes, sharing traditional recipes, dancing around a midsummer pole, enjoying the outdoors, or grandparents teaching grandchildren the Norwegian traditions so to capture and preserve the Norwegian culture that defines Norwegian American identity today? We hope you will join us in preserving and keeping our heritage alive.

Chapel In The Hills

Rapid City is home to the beautiful Stavkirke, or better known as the "Chapel in the Hills." The Stavkirke is an exact, full-size replica of Norway's 850 year-old Borgund Church. It is all wood and held together by pegs. Carvings include dragons and apostle heads.

Borgund Lodge is proud to honor its Norwegian heritage through its name, which was inspired by the historic Borgund Church in Norway—a lasting reminder of the traditions and culture we celebrate today.