We are the Scandinavian Society of Western Pennsylvania and we have been promoting Scandinavian Heritage and Culture since 1981. We are an official Scandinavian Community in Pittsburgh, with the purpose to promote Scandinavian culture and heritage. We do this by maintaining and sharing Scandinavian customs and traditions from the five Nordic Countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

 

We want to encourage new members to join us so we can keep upping our game, and we understand people might want to get a feel for what this group actually is and what it means to be a member. We want to find each other in this corner of Pennsylvania and nurture our connection with Scandinavia and our community. We want to welcome people and their families of all backgrounds and make sure we have somewhere to celebrate Midsummer.

In practice, we put together some sort of social event almost monthly, usually on a Sunday afternoon, where we celebrate and learn about Nordic cultures and traditions. And sometimes the event is just for getting together, eating, and enjoying the community. Plus you get a newsletter and a name tag.
Membership cost is low — $25/year (or $30/year for families). That's for the entire year. People can join by filling out a form and paying the membership fee. All proceeds are used for organizing and running the monthly events. The society is run by volunteers, and you can be as much or as little involved as works for you.
You will also receive The Runes (our mostly monthly members-only newsletter), which might help people get a better feel for our society and decide if it is something they want to be a part of and/or support. They can unsubscribe anytime from the email itself, at the very bottom.
 

If you are wondering if you should become a member, here are some reasons why we think membership is of value:

 

• You get to meet other Pittsburgh area residents of Scandinavian origin and/or descent

• You and your children will be exposed to Scandinavian culture

• Your family will learn about your heritage

• You will receive the Society’s newsletter, The Runes, every month

• You will be able to attend the annual Christmas Party as a member (a number of our members belong for this one reason alone)

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If you are just looking to test things out, join our events! Non-members are welcome to some upcoming events too (unless stated otherwise). Usually the only "cost" for an event is to bring a potluck dish to share with ~20 people.

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