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Our October meeting began memorably with the arrival of several colorful Pippi look-alikes in the St Luke’s parking lot. Everyone looked amazing, from the braided hair to the mismatched long socks. After our business meeting, we marked Pippi’s 80th birthday with suitably decorated cakes, followed by Marit Knollmueller’s presentation on award-winning author Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking, and Astrid’s other children’s characters. Thank you to all attendees and volunteers. Everyone enjoyed themselves and the event was a success. Now, we are busy preparing for two upcoming holiday bazaars. Several members gathered recently to price items that we will sell at these fundraising venues. In the months before, our Swedish Sewing Group met to create popular bazaar items. These sessions are excellent opportunities to connect with other Drott members and enjoy some fun camaraderie. New volunteers are always welcome! |
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Another approaching volunteer opportunity is at the Icelandic Holiday Bazaar in Fairfax on Saturday, November 8. We need volunteers for a few hours—set-up starts at 8 am, sales at 10 am, and pack-up at 3 pm. This is the first of our two annual fundraisers that help support our programs. Swedish foods, gifts, and “Made by Drott” items like aprons and tote bags will be sold. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. You can also do some shopping while you are there and taste some Icelandic food. Contact Julie for available volunteer time slots. Register now our November 18 cultural program. Marit Knollmueller is going to present highlights from the Nobel Prize Ceremony. | She will also share information about the fantastic Nobel Dinner menu--we may even get some samples. Drott members are welcome to invite guests. Our annual Jul and Lucia celebration is on December 14. We’re delighted to welcome back the children’s Lucia procession. | Watching young children dressed in white robes and holding glowing candles is a truly memorable sight. Come and enjoy a family-friendly, small event. Register for the Julfika on our website. If you have a child or grandchild who is interested in participating in the Lucia pageant, please email Julie. |
District 9 Scholarships Youth and Adult It’s time again for the bi-annual District Scholarships! Youth members are invited to apply for scholarships to attend language camp at Concordia’s Swedish Language Village. New this year—the youth scholarship will also cover up to $500 in travel expenses. Adult members are encouraged to apply for a scholarship based on an individually designed proposal. For complete details, including eligibility requirements and application deadlines, see the Scholarship page. |
Upcoming Events
|  Shakespeare Theatre Company: The Wild Duck Through November 16 The DC Shakespeare Theater Company is putting on a show by the renowned Norwegian Playwright, Henrik Ibsen. He is considered one of the world's preeminent writers of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." |
Member Spotlight: Ashley Mullinax
I’ve been a member of Drott Lodge for nearly twenty years, thanks to my grandmother, Karla Dirst, who first brought me along to help at the annual bazaar and other food events. We were very close, and Drott Lodge quickly became “our thing.” Through the Lodge, I became curious about my Swedish heritage and relatives still living in Sweden. My grandmother and I spent hours doing genealogy research and reading old letters from Swedish family members. She often spoke about a relative named Magnus who visited her as a teenager in 1968, and I became determined to find out who he was. That opportunity came when I saw an ad in the Drott Lodge newsletter for Allt för Sverige, a reality show that takes Americans to Sweden to explore their ancestry. After auditioning four times, I was selected for Season 8 in 2018. I met the mysterious Magnus, visited the home where my great-great-grandmother grew up, and traveled across Sweden for a month—from Helsingborg to Luleå. It was an unforgettable experience shared in spirit with my grandmother. Although I didn’t win the show’s family reunion, Magnus invited my grandmother and me to Sweden for one the following year. Her health kept her from going, but she helped me plan the trip and wrote a letter I delivered to Magnus. It was a deeply meaningful, full-circle moment. My great-great-grandparents, Hanna and Charles Anderson, emigrated from Sweden in the late 1800s. In 2022, I visited their graves in California—another powerful connection inspired by my roots and Drott Lodge. I stay active in Drott Lodge because of the friendships I’ve made and the shared love of Swedish culture. The Lodge helps me maintain a bond with Sweden from thousands of miles away. |
Now, I bring my two-year-old son, Kasper, to meetings, and I know my grandmother would be proud that the traditions she instilled in me are continuing with the next generation. |
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