Julebyen, Centuries Old Traditions Still Celebrated

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. — “It’s a small community. It started off as a fishing village. A lot of Scandinavian residents got it started and that trend has continued,” said Chair of Julebyen Helene Hedlund.

Knife River celebrated ten years of Julebyen, an event which translate to “Christmas Village.” Both Scandinavian and German traditions kept alive in the community through the generations.

“It really grown really well and I think it’s really grown from the first few times I’ve came,” said Musical Volunteer Toren Marma. Marma has always lived in Knife River and attended Julebyen all ten years.

This year’s lack of snow didn’t bring a lack of Christmas spirit as Santa Claus stopped by and people still enjoyed some of their favorite Julebyen traditions like the Herring Races.

“But a big focus on family,” said Hedlund. “I like to refer to it as generational. We have three generations that are volunteering this year, some are helping with the kids crafts, some have done the baking, some are doing the selling.” Hedlund credits her community’s desire to volunteer for the festival’s success, an enthusiasm which rippled through Knife River’s future.

“My original feeling was I wsa pretty nervous but it’s actually pretty fun and I’m not that nervous at all,” said Marma.

“We don’t have any really Scandinavian-focused music, I guess the closest we have is Polish. But that’s still a ways away,” said Oscar Thompson, a musical volunteer who played the violin alongside Marma.

“That focus on the generational aspect I think is really important and it’s also what makes our Julebyen unique. There are other Christmas Festivals in the areas, but this is the only one that is entirely managed by volunteers and no retail comes in,” said Hedlund.

“It’s really nice knowing that they get all of this set up and this is the least that I can do,” said Marma.