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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Astoria Regatta: Vikings on parade

We have another guest photographer today, as Stephanie Roley took this photo of the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Float during the August 15th Regatta parade in Astoria, Oregon. Many of Astoria's early settlers were Scandinavian, and people I know can still remember when you'd hear these native languages spoken on the street. This is no longer true today, although you occasionally hear the accents. I loved the viking ship and colorful blue water on this float. From left, the shields on the boat represent the flags of the US, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland. Thanks, Stephanie, for sending today's photo!

I believe that the building behind the float is a care facility for geriatric patients, but I'll check on it, or if you know, please tell me! It may have been part of the original St. Mary's hospital. I hate to throw info out there without checking, but business is calling. . . .

. Today is Watery Wednesday, and I'm using this photo as my contribution. After all, who can picture a Viking ship without thinking of water? See all the blue? You've seen plenty of water around Astoria. Today the water is representational and imaginary :)

7 comments:

VP said...

Nice to learn that even Vikings have an holiday on the 15th of August,not only us Mediterraneans. Very funny image, I think we can accept that water (with flowers) as watery enough!

cieldequimper said...

Fun to see and good of them to remember their origins. After all, they were the first in America, well before Columbus!

Christina, Sweden said...

Nice to see that Scandinavia participates ;-)
Thanks for commenting on my blog and very welcome back!

Christina, Sweden

amanda said...

Sheryl this is a great contribution. How sad that Language has been lost I am very staunch on using English in this country but I believe in preserving old traditions as well! I am incidentally Swedish (family name was Roosa) and Vikings are my ancestors, I would love to attend this some day!

Lowell said...

Ya shure! I bin meaning to ask ya about da Svedes dere in Astoria!

Cute float.

Both my parents spoke Swedish. But they never taught me. I think that's because they wanted to communicate without me knowing what they said!

Don and Krise said...

Oh no! Stop them before they pillage!
Great contribution.

Anonymous said...

Finns were not vikings so need to be afraid of us ;)

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