Going into Winter – Primstav for Modern Times with Kari Tauring – Minneapolis, MN

Step into the world of the Primstav, Norway’s ancient calendar stick, and discover how it can help us navigate today’s complex world. This unique class invites you to explore how the Primstav can inspire new celebrations, help prioritize our lives, and guide us through the dark half of the year with fresh insights. Did you know that on the Primstav calendar, winter begins on October 14th, marked by the symbol of a mitten? Or that a drinking horn symbolizes Christmas? Learn about these fascinating details, including the two winter solstices, and more!

The Primstav has served as a “rudder” through changing times for teacher Kari Tauring, much as it did in 1300s Norway, a period marked by cultural shifts, political upheavals, pandemics, and climate change. This transitional tool, rich in symbols and lore, marked the church and saint days of the new religion while preserving the land-based rituals and traditions vital to the wool workers, farmstead keepers, and fishermen of ancient Scandinavia.

With origins dating back to the 1300s, each Primstav reflects a unique blend of local symbols, saints, and stories, varying widely across different regions of Norway and even between Norway and Sweden. It’s a tool designed to adapt and evolve with the needs of the people and the land.

Join us and Kari Tauring in this immersive exploration of the Primstav’s symbols, pre-Christian lore, and rituals. Discover how this ancient calendar can become a meaningful guide in our ever-changing world.

Bring a notebook and design a paper template for your very own primstav!

Please Note:
Norway House does not issue refunds. Be sure you can attend on the day for which you registered.

Major Resources:
“The Primstav Explanations: Norwegian legend, lore, and history” by Alfred
Miller, 59 Nick Road, Middlebury, CT 06762 (2006) – No longer in print. A learning pdf is available to students.

Kari’s primstav poetry book: “The Day Begins at Sunset: Primstav
Poetry” (2023) will be available to purchase KariTauring.com

Primstav Project Norway: Questions about climate and culture

Primstav: Time, Land, and Unsettling Ourselves – This learning group on Facebook was begun in 2019 specifically for this study. Sara Axtell continues to lead the group as we discuss the relevance of primstav lessons in our lives as European Americans. Kari Tauring is a founding member and frequent contributor.