So I don’t know my exact PERCENTAGE of Norwegian in me, but I consider myself to be Norwegian-American due to a bit of my upbringing. I feel connected to Norway and the language, I wanna learn more about it, and my dad raised me to think of not only Old Norse and the mythology, which is old stuff because he’s kind of nerdy with the ancient Viking stuff, but also wanted me to learn the Norwegian language and go to Norway some day with me.
I don’t know why, I can’t really explain it, but I do feel Norwegian and it’s not like I’m “trans-identifying” as a certain nationality like some people do, I have a reason for it.
However, I wasn’t born in Norway. I wasn’t raised in Norway. I was raised with pride of being American with Norwegian ancestors, that was it, but whatever. I took more of an interest in the language when I was about 9. I can sort of understand Norwegian and read it sometimes, maybe it’s because it’s kinda close to English though, mainly. I don’t particularly look “purely” Norwegian or Scandinavian either, I mostly look English due to being mixed with English and German.
I consider myself a bit German-American due to being raised by a German grandfather, even if he’s not blood related to me. But my mom had recent relatives who came from Germany and recent relatives spoke the language and all that, she just didn’t grow up with it nor did my Grandpa.
Well, that’s why I get highly happy when I think about how I was raised to be proud of and respect mostly Norwegian culture, but I don’t feel Norwegian enough due to not natively speaking it [though I did grow up with Norwegian YouTube learning videos :,)] and not looking or growing up with pure Norwegian genes.
I’m such a mix that really can’t claim a single European heritage. My family has mixed old traditions together and tossed out others for others which conformed more to where my family was.
I don’t see the need to be X enough for something.
I don’t have a quick answer to your question but as someone who was born in America with a family that celebrates our Scotch-Irish heritage, I have a view/opinion on this topic that might be of some use to you.
The way I see it, people have two types of heritage, ethnic heritage and cultural heritage.
In my long winded explanation, Norwegian is your ethnic heritage, ethnic heritage has to do with your family and where they come from. The best way I can describe it is, a blend of where your family originated from plus the traditions that they still hold on to. Ethnic heritage is more rigid and unchanging.
Cultural heritage is more flexible, it’s influenced by where you grew up and where you currently live. It’s influenced by your friends and the types of media or leisure activities that you all enjoy.
Caveat: This is just an opinion that I’ve been toying around with, it’s not a fully fleshed out idea that I have any empirical evidence to back any of this up. I am open to constructive criticism that will help hone this mess of ideas into something more poignant.
I grew up in Australia. My cultural heritage (3 to 4 generations back) is mostly Irish and English. It’s safe to say I don’t particularly relate to either of them because until I did my family tree, I couldn’t have told you which sides of my family come from which part of the UK.
And that leaves Australia. But I don’t particularly feel drawn to an Australian identity either, because mainstream Australian culture mostly feels like a generic “Western” culture, with the edges rubbed off. I’m also well aware that the country as it stands today was founded on invasion and genocide, and to this day, is unable to let go of the racism that lead to those events.
So yeah, I’m Australian, but I don’t feel emotionally attached to that identity.
That makes sense :)
I am Norwegian and I have, for as long as I remember, considered Norwegian culture to be a bit hollow, boring and hypocritical. What about Norwegian culture makes you want to connect with it?
Fair enough. I don’t consider myself a true Norwegian, just an American with Norwegian culture influence. Well, truth be told, I don’t remember much but I was raised with the language on videos and culture videos. We always considered Christmas to be “jul”, well my Dad did.
So basically just bits of the language, sadly :,)
That aligns perfectly with American culture.
Have you lived abroad for some time? Because I felt similar towards my home culture, still sort of do, but learned to appreciate it more after having lived in different cultures for some years.
I have lived abroad twice in my life. There are many things I appreciate about Norway, such as the stable economy and clean air and water. The culture I still feel somewhere between neutral or negative about.
No, because it doesn’t really matter when you think about it. I am half Welsh half Australian and I have no real interest in the Welsh half as I was born and raised in Australia.
Makes sense, thank you :)
