Once upon a time at Sætra
Once upon a time at Sætra
Once upon a time, there were six princesses who were going to charm half the kingdom and even more. I strapped on my backpack, laced my boots and made the journey to Åsgård’s wonderland to meet the princesses and visit their castle. The road there takes you through a foggy forest, over a winding path, behind Tårnbygget and east of the Veterinary Building, Soria Moria’s castle is hiding.
Journalist: Anna Gjems French
Translator: Eva Weston Szemes
Photographer: Nicolai Terland
In Soria Moria’s castle
At the door, I meet Ingrid Skavnes, Ingrid Skrindo, Ellen Marie Rustand Rognerud, Maria Vaaje, Tone Todok and Dagny Lein Værnes, also known as the princesses at Sætra. They guard the castle of Sætra with their life and with a uniting intention. When Sætra was established, this was also the beginning of Tradenigheten. Now, the three-headed-troll Flatlusa, Frøy and Budeieforeninga has an association house at Fougnerbakken 19. They gladly invite people for music and dancing in the rooms and garden, and this stormy Saturday was no exception. The three-headed troll, together with the six princesses had invited half the kingdom for a festival at Sætra. But before the commoners flood the slippery garden, the six princesses enchant me with thirst-quenching tea from spectacular crockery and words of times long ago.
They bring me above and below the ground and into the garden as well. In the basement, they show me the bar where the witch-brew is sold, and the room with the magical organ. Nobody can stop this organ’s sounds, the princesses can tell us about experiences alone in the basement where the organ has let out some mystical notes and sounds similar to “Who’s there?” There was only one way for the princesses to solve this mystery, using the traditional ouija-board, who replied to their terrified wondering with ORGN (which is close enough to organ for the girls to consider the mystery to be solved). This means it’s not often the princesses visit the dark, mystical basement alone. The mystical incidents at Sætra don’t end there, the princesses report of lights turning on and off on their own as well. Either there is magic happening at Sætra, or maybe the princesses at Sætra are not quite honest towards each other?
When I ask them about their favourite room in the house, the budeie of the house is clear that Kjærlighetsredet (The room of love) is at least top three. What is this, you ask? Well, only a late night at Sætra can answer that question, but the budeie explains that there is an unrealistically soft bed there where you can sleep like the princess on the pea (minus the pea).
The princesses also proudly show off the other curious things at Sætra. They have everything from framed pictures from the church magazine to a troll in the basement, and naturally, they also have a hoe and a cow in the shed. There is no doubt, these princesses have everything.
The princesses living in the castle
When I ask the trad-enthusiasts how it is to live at Sætra, they agree that the life at Sætra is quite cozy, and it also gives you an everyday life filled with lots of culture and fiddle music, but they also describe an important mission. The one who has lived there the longest, Dagny, can tell us, to the surprise of the others, that they are part of what’s called Heimevernet. They have the important responsibility of keeping the harmony and making sure all three associations are represented. I ask them whether they have any house rules to keep the peace between all the heads of the troll. They say that this interview is the first time they are all gathered for some kind of meeting, but it’s fine because they are all sensible people. So having all kinds of trad-people running in and out and playing music late at night is no problem. The only thing that annoys them are a few yelling kittens in the garden from time to time, and a gnome that keeps stealing from the garden.
When I ask who the Sætra princesses want to come stomping across their bridge for dinner at their place, the budeie immediately answers LÆRKEN! After some discussion and some encouragement to think big, they end up answering that the uncle of all of Norway, Odd Nordstoga, would probably fit the vibe well as the ultimate dinner guest. A dinner with Odd Nordstoga would probably make some great memories, but even without Odd, the Sætra princesses have plenty of great memories from this place. Ingrid emphasizes the Trad-revue with an afterparty ending at 5 AM followed by the leikfest lasting until 7 AM the day after. Trad-parties for seven days straight is no match for these girls! Some of the girls have also been enchanted by song and dance at Sætra, and with hearts in their eyes they view Sætra as a love paradise. A lot of good memories have been made, and there will be more, because this Saturday is the day of the Sætra festival!
Half the kingdom together at one party
The princesses’ recipe for success for a party contains a very special ingredient: a playing Flatlusa! Their joyful music starts a chain-reaction of events. Flatlusa start playing, people start dancing and the mood brightens. The Sætra Festival is no exception. Even though there was a torrential downpour this September day, half the kingdom attended the party in the garden at Sætra, and when Flatlusa put the bow to the strings, they were like Veslefrikk to the people. As the evening progressed, there were more concerts, svele and polonaise for everyone. The sun is always shining brighter than the rain is falling at Sætra, and you barely noticed the rain (until you decided to make your way home and slipped down the muddy road that was supposed to lead home).
With mud on the tights and good stories in my pocket, I decided to thank the princesses, Tradenigheten and the kingdom’s rainy magic, and make my way home. And hopefully, Sætra will live happily ever after.
