The Scandinavian Culture Day begins its 22nd year on Saturday, Oct. 5. Sponsored by the Scandinavian Studies Program, this event is held the first Saturday of each month from October to May. Culture Day is an educational and fellowship opportunity with a series of workshops about the Scandinavian Culture occurring at 10 a.m. and at 11 a.m. It begins with coffee and lingonberry drink at 9:30 a.m. and lasts until noon. It is in the Hamilton Collegiate Center of Jamestown Community College and is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.

A special program for the October 5 session at 11 a.m. is titled “Experience Dalarna: The Heart of Sweden,” led by Claire Hanley. The villages of Ra’ttvik, Orsa, Mora and Leksand, along the shore of Lake Siljan in the ancient province of Dalarna, have become magnets for Swedish traditional musicians, dancers and folklorists, as well as for visitors who want to experience a part of Sweden that is steeped in a history that was already old when the Vikings were sailing their ships out to the Ostersjon (East Sea). Members of the Thule Swedish Folk Dance Team will dance to the music of their fiddlers, Kathy Petersen and Cheryl Ritch. We’ll learn about the famous church boats that rowed the shore of Lake Siljan before roads and see an authentic Leksand folk costume. Discover why almost all Swedish houses are painted red. We’ll sample traditional knackebrod, made in Leksand, with smor (butter), lingonsylt (lingonberry jam) and bondost (farmer cheese).

The Book Discussion Workshop, led by Dr. Julie Boozer, also at 11 a.m., will begin the study of a new book, “I Go to America,” by Joy K. Lintelman, that focuses on Swedish American women, specifically the life of Mina Anderson. Unlike Wilhelm Moberg’s Kristina, who is lonely and depressed, Mina herself writes about how grateful she is for the opportunity to be in America, where her pay is better, class differences were unconfined and children – even girls – had the chance for an education. She writes, “I have never regretted that I left Sweden. I have it better here.” Lintelman is a Professor of History at Concordia College in Minnesota, whose primary areas of research include Swedish immigration and women’s history. Not only will we read Mina Anderson’s own writings, but these will be analyzed and embellished by Lintelman detailing the social, cultural and economic realities experienced by countless single Swedish women in her station…including our own grandmothers! Copies of the book will be available to purchase at a discount.

The Swedish School for Juniors, children of any age, will begin its fall term with folk dancing at 10 a.m. followed by a series of educational activities. This is a significant community-free event for children or grandchildren. Leaders are Susannah Ecklof and Maria Malmstrom.

The day before, in Sweden, is Kanelbullar Day, so the cooking workshop at 10 a.m. will demonstrate cooking and sampling kanelbullar (Cinnamon Buns.) All morning, Karen Livsey will help those doing genealogical research about their Scandinavian ancestors. The Craft Workshop at 10 a.m. will be making wooden Swedish tomtes. Other workshops include learning the Swedish language by Jeff Kroon, displaying and information about making Swedish folk costumes, Norwegian knitting, Swedish weaving, chip carving, Norwegian Rosemaling (hand painting), and playing the Viking games of Kubb and Hnefatafl.

For more information call (716) 665-0883.