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Gunnar - 02.11.2007, 23:41
Frida as "Svarta Björn" of Narvik (March 1992)
Hi
Frida was born in Ballangen outside of Narvik in the north of Norway. Here's a little history-lesson about another strong girl from the area...
A young girl, born in the middle of Norway in the year 1878, travelled to the adventure; The building of the world’s first railway in arctic areas, from the iron ore mines in Kiruna (Sweden) to the ice free harbour of Narvik (Norway). Her dream was to get work as a cook for one of the navvies’ groups.
Only 20 years old, Anne Rebecka Hofstad, who was her original name, cooked, washed, baked, fetched firework and water and kept the sheds clean for a group of fifteen men – many miles away from home - in the mountains of wilderness.
One of the Lappish people gave her the name Svarta Björn® (Black Bear). Dark haired and filled with love and passion she gave the navvies all after a hard day’s work. However, the other cooks became jealous and sudden death gave her a grave at Tornehamn graveyard, only twenty-two years old in the year 1900.
Mysticism, legends and myths are key words in the story of her life. As a cook she worked hard and died young. She was one of many girls who gave it all during the railway building!
A Winter festival in Narvik has maintained the memory of Anne Rebecka Hofstad, named “Svarta Björn”, as a symbol of all the girls working at the railroad. Every year we select a young girl to the honorary title of “Svarta Bjørn®” during the Winterfestival in Narvik.
But... back to Gunnar... this has happened in Narvik only in recent years. In March 1992 Frida was selected as "Svarta Björn", and the ceremony/party took place in Oslo where she also met the press and talked about her norwegian roots. And these pics are maybe not that wellknown to all of you....
Here are some paperpics from the event and journalistmeeting:
And did I meet her then? No... suddenly I felt this as a sort of private matter and not an artistic matter, so I didn't go to the Grand Hotell at the Karl Johan-street asking for her. I should have of course!!!
:-) Gunnar
Fire&Ice - 03.11.2007, 00:13
I must say I was flustered by the topic title Gunnar! :lol:
But I understand now. I must say I have never heard of any such prize for Frida in 1992, this is completely new to me.
I bet she surely deserved to be called "Svarta Bjorn". 8)
I love the pictures, they are all new to me. Thank you! :kiss:
Visitor26 - 03.11.2007, 00:15
Very interesting Gunnar! Never knew this... Thanks for sharing :lol:
Pam
Gunnar - 03.11.2007, 00:17
Ah... how cool to bring something "new" to devoted Frida-fans!
:-) Gunnar
Carribean - 03.11.2007, 00:43
Great story and pics Gunnar! Thanks!
:wink:
Maxi-saxi - 03.11.2007, 02:24
A Frida/ABBA Fan all these years and I never Knew that
Cheers Gunnar
Maxi-saxi :kiss:
Frida4ever - 03.11.2007, 11:02
Even though I live in Narvik (and are celebraiting the winter festival every year), I didn't know that Frida was selected Svarta Bjørn in 1992! I don't know how I could have missed that!
Thank you Gunnar for the information and the lovely pictures. :D
And by the way, it's Anna Rebecka, not Anne.
Simsalabim - 03.11.2007, 11:18
Thanks for telling the story, and great pics of Frida there! :D
kitty-cat - 03.11.2007, 11:23
That is very interesting Gunnar, that is all news to me too!!! We all think we know a lot about abba, but new stories crop up all the time!!! Lovely pictures too....
gill xx
Gunnar - 03.11.2007, 18:49
Frida4ever wrote: Even though I live in Narvik (and are celebraiting the winter festival every year), I didn't know that Frida was selected Svarta Bjørn in 1992! I don't know how I could have missed that!
Thank you Gunnar for the information and the lovely pictures. :D
And by the way, it's Anna Rebecka, not Anne.
Hello Norge (Norway) - how cool...
The spelling mistake... eh... I've found the info on the net :-)
Great that you all seem so pleased about this! And Frida looks indeed lovely... just look at her in the periodcostume...
:-) Gunnar
Bonnie - 03.11.2007, 21:21
Holy moly, that's quite a facinating story! How cool Frida was elected in 1992 and even cooler she accepted it and talked about her Norwegian roots. Did you know what she told the reprters?
By the way, I've been to that graveyard in Tornehamn 20 years ago. We were facinated by the story of all those people who died when the railroad was build.
Thanks again for that story ánd the pictures of course :D
artemis - 03.11.2007, 21:56
i've seen the pic but not known about the story. thank you!
Gunnar - 03.11.2007, 22:00
Bonnie wrote: Holy moly, that's quite a facinating story! How cool Frida was elected in 1992 and even cooler she accepted it and talked about her Norwegian roots. Did you know what she told the reprters?
She gave a longer interview to a newspaper in the Narvik-district, and also to the main paper i Norway, Aftenposten. I have it all, but... awwww... do I have to start translate??? I remember she seemed very proud of the Svarta Björn-honour and that she hadn't been in the Narvik-district since she was 13 or so.... very nice and friendly and fridalicious interviews...
:-) Gunnar
Frida4ever - 05.11.2007, 19:42
Yes Gunnar. Start translating please... :D
JanneRobert - 05.11.2007, 20:37
Hi Gunnar.
Thankz a lot for this touching story and for the gr-8 pics.
I wonder (!) if there are something more about Fridas Norwegian background in Norway?
Bye / Jannerobert
Gunnar - 05.11.2007, 23:11
As you know Fridas history in Norway is in a way a part of the history of the second world war - a history that is still a quit hurting one in Norway. A child born of a norwegian girl and a german soldier was a great shame back then. The fact that Frida was taken to Sweden just after the war was probably the wisest thing her family did for her at the time.
Carl Magnus Palms ABBA-biography "Bright Lights Dark Shadows" tells what there is to tell, I think.
Gunnar
Maxi-saxi - 06.11.2007, 01:58
Frida4ever wrote: Yes Gunnar. Start translating please... :D
:rotate: :rotate: :rotate: :rotate: :rotate: :sob: :frida: :frida: :bow: :bow: :bow:
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease......
Maxi-saxi :kiss:
drimnagh - 06.11.2007, 15:12
Wow! How come in all these years I've never heard this story? Great to hear. Thanks Gunnar.
-J
platobird - 06.11.2007, 17:00
Frida4ever wrote: Yes Gunnar. Start translating please... :D
If it's faster, just translate to Norglish. Grammar is for wimps! :lol:
Lammer - 06.11.2007, 18:02
Gunnar wrote: As you know Fridas history in Norway is in a way a part of the history of the second world war - a history that is still a quit hurting one in Norway. A child born of a norwegian girl and a german soldier was a great shame back then. The fact that Frida was taken to Sweden just after the war was probably the wisest thing her family did for her at the time.
Carl Magnus Palms ABBA-biography "Bright Lights Dark Shadows" tells what there is to tell, I think.
Gunnar
There was a show on A&E about those children and the Nazi program of "Lebensborn" (you can find a lot about it at Wikipedia). The Nazi soldiers were encouraged to get as many young, Norwegian girls pregnant as they could (they considered Norwegians genetically "superior" as well). If the Norwegian mother remained in the "free and generous care" of the Nazi hospitals in Norway, she was expected to give her child up for adoption to a German family. If she wouldn't agree to that, she was on her own during her pregnancy. Many Norwegians were less-than-sympathetic towards these young women, but Sweden was willing to take in people from other countries who needed shelter (Norway, Denmark...). I do not know the circumstances around Frida's mother's early death, and I know we are not supposed to discuss their personal family matters here, but I imagine fleeing one's home in fear with an infant had something to do with it.
artemis - 06.11.2007, 18:42
lebensborn? they were stuck in mental institutions after the war
Lammer - 06.11.2007, 18:53
Do you mean the ones that remained in Norway? Yes, they were indeed treated terribly. That's War. It's no wonder Frida's mother fled Norway, and her grandmother came with them. The A&E show was very good, talking to the now-adult Lebensborn. The program did not just exist in Norway, but the most Lebensborn facilities were there compared to other European nations.
(by the way, my last post shows "edited" because I had to look up the word Lebensborn, and then added it into my post.)
artemis - 06.11.2007, 18:54
thats what i meant. aren't they now seeking compensation from various european govts? the french and norwegian ones in particular
Lammer - 06.11.2007, 18:59
I think you are right about that. I wish I remembered more about the show. A&E (I don't know if that is seen internationally or not) shows a LOT of WW2 shows, so I'm sure it is played from time to time.
platobird - 06.11.2007, 19:17
Wars are terrible; not everyone survives. Although I've predicted a time when the everyone will speak the same language, I can't foresee the time when wars will not happen again. :(
The good news is that Frida gives us great music to celebrate her life and talent. :frida: We are all anxiously waiting for her next album. :excited:
Better to focus on only the good things of the past (e.g. ABBA '73-'83), and look forward to better things in the future. :D
Gunnar - 07.11.2007, 00:46
Lammer wrote: Many Norwegians were less-than-sympathetic towards these young women, but Sweden was willing to take in people from other countries who needed shelter (Norway, Denmark...).
Hmmm... we're into difficult historical matters here. A bit worldwar II-history in general... Women who fell in love with german soldiers were in Norway during the war seen as traitors to Norway. Many of them were treated very badly after the war - got their heads shaved and so on for everyone to see their shame.
One can wonder why, but war is terrible - it splits families. Even today there are talks about who were on the wrong side (following Hitler) and who was a good norwegian.
In Sweden the situation was completely different because the country wasn't a part of the war - they weren't invaded by Germany like Denmark and Norway.
When it comes to the Lyngstad-family, I recomend Palms biography.
Gunnar
Lammer - 07.11.2007, 03:18
We've strayed a bit from the original topic of Svarta Bjorna into some delicate territory.
As one of the participants of the recent WW2 posts, I believe that we have been rather factual and not emotional on the subject. However, as it is a topic that can easily turn personal and subjective, as well as one that involves Frida's personal life, I would suggest we (I included!) discontinue the war talk and return to the subject of Svarta Bjorna.
Thank you.
Laura
Fire&Ice - 07.11.2007, 11:26
Laura, you forgot to put (moderating team) there. :wink:
Thanks so much, that was an excellent moderation! :kiss:
Zeebee - 08.11.2007, 06:55
So Bjorn's name means "bear". I never knew that.
Maxi-saxi - 08.11.2007, 07:00
either did I
Maxi-saxi
johnny59 - 08.11.2007, 08:40
Agnetha's second name Åse means "Goddess".
Off topic, but just in case somebody didn't know that either.
:lol:
Joe - 08.11.2007, 10:25
Thank you, Gunnar, for this interesting information.
johnny59 wrote: Agnetha's second name Åse means "Goddess".
Her parents were really wise people... :D
Joachim
Simsalabim - 08.11.2007, 17:03
johnny59 wrote: Agnetha's second name Åse means "Goddess".
Off topic, but just in case somebody didn't know that either.
:lol:
I didn't knew! I love that name, very cute :D
johnny59 - 08.11.2007, 17:58
Simsalabim wrote:
I didn't knew! I love that name, very cute :D
:shock:
LOL. You're Swedish and didn't know that?
Maxi-saxi - 08.11.2007, 23:17
Well I did not know that either Agnetha's Parents were so right there with her name.
Maxi-saxi
johnny59 - 08.11.2007, 23:19
We should go back to the topic. I've got a kind reminder from a moderator behind the curtains. :wink:
Carribean - 08.11.2007, 23:27
Fire&Ice wrote: Laura, you forgot to put (moderating team) there. :wink:
Thanks so much, that was an excellent moderation! :kiss:
Nope that was just Laura speaking her mind and she did it perfectly indeed!
Fire&Ice - 09.11.2007, 08:59
LOL it sounded like an excellent moderation, just at the right time.
To be honest, I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the talk before Laura's post.
Carribean - 09.11.2007, 11:43
Yep I agree Ivana! Good we are back on track now!
:wink:
abbascots - 12.11.2007, 03:05
Thankyou very much Gunnar for this information i had no idea Frida was chosen for this award,The pics you provided are fantastic thanks again! :D
Johnsteven
Angel585 - 12.11.2007, 03:13
Zeebee wrote: So Bjorn's name means "bear". I never knew that.
Bjorn Ulvaeus = "Bear of Wolf" (Learned that from an interview ;) )
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