Ringerike - Drammen Districts
Bygdelag - Purpose and Goals

Modern Norway has an Ancient Past

The easternmost communities in Buskerud share a glorious history from ancient times.

• An exciting archaeological find at Veien, at the western edge of Honefoss, is a remnant of a 153 foot long-house, dated from the period of Christ's birth!
• King Olav II spent his boyhood in Hole before he died in battle in 1030 and became Norway's patron saint.

Today our lag areas have good farmland, plentiful forests and inland fjords, Blue colbalt mines, the mineral waters at Modum Bad and timber trade on several rivers. Situated on Drammensfjord, Drammen is a modern industrial port city.

Historically each bygd or rural community of Norway was somewhat isolated from neighboring communities such that their speech, dress, food customs and other folkways developed with distinct geographic variations. It is this connection to ancestral home districts in Norway that immigrants remembered and wish to perpetuate through their Bygdelag organizations.

R-DD is one of around 30 active bygdelags. It holds an annual July stevne meeting with 6 other lags and publishes a newsletter four times per year.

The Purpose and Goals of the RDD Lag :

• To maintain an appreciation for the land of our ancestors - Norway
• To preserve knowledge of Buskerud County, its people, history and arts.
• To learn about and maintain friendships between Norwegians and American  descendants from this area of Norway
• To nurture and encourage activities that will benefit and honor R-DD Lag in America and Norway
• To provide an opportunity to conduct genealogical research and educate about Norwegian cultural heritage.
• To work with other organizations to support activities in common with all Norwegian-Americans.
• To nurture the relationships of families and neighbors of emigrants from eastern Buskerud, collect and care for their family histories, and support  the immigrants in America.

Benefits of Membership

• Explore your background by studying regional Norwegian social customs, costumes, folklore, people and history.
• Many of the R-DD members are genealogists who can help you with your family roots search among the Ringerike - Drammen Districts.
• We maintain a reference library which describes the history of this area and its emigrants.
• You will receive an interesting and informative newsletter "The Brev" four times per year.  It contains a variety of stories about the people and places from eastern Buskerud.  You will receive information about our annual STEVNE (conference) held in conjunction with six other lags

  Develop a deeper connection with your roots  that enriches your life. Join RDD today !! Membership year Jan 1-Dec 31; dues are $10 for 1 Year or $25 for 3 years.
  Membership form

Updated on August 10, 2007