In the magazine you will find a trove of information about the great Arctic culinary tradition, the proud history of the Hegelund clan, as well as discover our unique nature and way of life.
Category: The Hegelund Family
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Cloudberry: The golden secret of the Arctic
The cloudberry is one of the rarest berries in the northern hemisphere, only to be found
in high altitudes of the vast nordic countryside. Because it can only be found in these
rare places up in the mountains it got its name – cloudberry – as it grows up in the
clouds.Its golden color, powerful nutrients as well as its seclusive harvesting spots make it one of the best kept secrets of the arctic. Growing in areas close to the arctic circle, the cloudberry can only be harvested in a few countries of the world, like Norway. The harvesting season of the cloudberry is very short in Norway and only lasts from July until
September. Since every plant has just one stem, it will bring out one flower with one sole berry in the end. [show_product]Throughout the past centuries, cloudberries were used traditionally by sailors and fishermen to ward off scurvy – a severe disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. Because the northern hemisphere is scarce in fruit and vegetables of high vitamin C contents, the cloudberries’ harvesting spots were a well-kept secret among local settlements.
Families, like the Hegelund family, kept secret spots to gather cloudberries to themselves for traditions to get through the dark winter times. Cloudberries were gathered in summer to make long-lasting jams for special fruity winter dishes – especially during Christmas time. Two of the most beloved cloudberry recipes among Norwegians are whipped cream, called Multekrem and a flavorful cloudberry soup. Here’s how to make your own tasty Multekrem, rich in Vitamin C:
Multekrem
For a tasty Multekrem you need the following ingredients:
- 350 ml Whipping cream
- 4 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 100 grams Cloudberry Jam
Mix all ingredients gently together after whipping the cream and serve the cloudberry cream ice cold after refrigerating for a while. Vanilla cookies complete the nordic taste experience.
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The Arctic Salmon War
Nowadays the Arctic regions of Scandinavia are generally thought to be among the most peaceful territories in the world, but few realize that it hasn’t always been so.
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Hegelund Profiles: the 16 hundreds
The Hegelund family originally hailed from the towns of Ribe, Viborg and Ebeltoft in the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. These Hegelunds that came to settle on the Northern edge of Arctic Norway were Morten C. and Mikkel C. Hegelund, the sons of the mayor of Viborg, Christen Sørensen Hegelund.
Together with the Figenshou family, the Hegelunds soon became one of the leading families in Karlsøy. These two families of civil servants were amongst the most notable and influential in their local community, and it did not take long before they began to inter-marry and forge powerful and enduring alliances with each other.
Soon, the gathering of Hegelunds and Figenshous essentially turned into a sort of integrated social system that formed the center of the local society.
Morten C. Hegelund (1600-1660)
Morten C. Hegelund got his start in life in Bodø as an aide to Frank Kass, the governor of the Nordland county. While living there, he met a local lady named Synøve Hansdatter with whom he fell in love and later married. As a reward for his excellent work in the county administration, Morten was rewarded by being made bailiff for the district of Troms.
He and his wife established themselves in the Elvevold farm in Ringvassøy island. He also leased land in Hessfjord, by the Langsund strait. The parish records show him as bailiff at Elvevold until about 1658.
The House of Hegelund family are all proud descendants from Morten C.Hegelund, the first in his family to establish himself in the Arctic coast of Northern Norway.
His brother, Mikkel C. Hegelund, became a priest in the city of Trondheim. Among his descendants we find one individual who would end up moving event further north and become the famed “Karlsøy priest.”
Mikkel J. Heggelund (1662-1729)
Mikkel J., descendant of Mikkel C. Hegelund of Trondheim, ended up establishing himself in Karlsøy, just as his relative Morten had done a few decades earlier. Thanks in part to his marriage to Rebekka Elisabeth von Mühlenport, heiress to a powerful German-Hungarian family, Mikkel J. was entrusted with the vicariate of Karlsøy, a position he held for close to 30 years, between 1694 to his death in 1729.
Mikkel J. was known in his time for being quite the character and having the tendency to get easily worked up. His moral integrity and social engagement, together with his somewhat rigid mindset, often led him to various conflictual situations during his time as a priest.
Together with his wife, Rebekka, Mikkel J. had no less than 6 children; 4 daughters and two sons. Another noteworthy figure in the Hegelund clan was his older brother:
Christen M. Heggelund (c. 1625–1694)
Christen M. Hegelund was known in his lifetime as the king of Skjervøy. In 1661, Christen obtained trading privileges making him a merchant citizen of the city of Bergen, the largest trading center in the country at the time. He later established himself in Skjervøy, a little trading post in the vicinity of Karlsøy, where he became one of the richest and most influential man in his community.
Not only did he command much respect and obeisance from the general population, even the local priest, Cornelius Hansen, was himself monetarily indebted to him. According to local legend, he would even take the priest’s Christmas donation from the church altar in plain sight of the whole congregation in order to repay himself. These questionable dealings quickly became so infamous that it was referenced by the priest-poet Peter Dass in his most famed epic poem The Trumpet of Nordland:
”Et røgte forleden i landet omdrog
At præsten udredning hos kræmmeren tog
Og var hannem skyldig en hooben.
Naar bonden en skilling paa Alteret gav
Sto kræmmeren bag og tog den deraf
Dat is na de dyvel to ioopen.”Despite not being particularly considerate towards the priest, Christen was nevertheless quite generous with the church. Over the years, he gifted a majestic Baroque altarpiece and a chandelier, as well as a painting of him and his whole family to the church (see picture on the left).
Christen M. Hegelund ended up establishing a large family. He fathered no less than seven children including one son, Michel C., who became, just like his father, a merchant citizen of Bergen after studying in Copenhagen, Hamburg and Bergen. A second son, Christen C., studied in Copenhagen and went on to become parish priest of Avaldsnes in southern Norway. A third son, Anders C. (1665-1710), also studied in Denmark to become a priest, and officiated there for some time before returning to Norway to overtake the office of his brother, Christen C., in Avaldsnes.
Sources:
Fjelde Larsen, Marion (2014). Næringsmangfoldet ved kysten i middelalderen. In Nils Kolle and Alf Ragnar Nielsen (Eds): Norges fiskeri- og kysthistorie, Fangstmenn, fiskerbønder og værfolk, fram til 1720. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget Vigmostad & Bjørke AS (233-260).
Bratrein, Håvard Dahl (1994). Karlsøy og Helgøy Bygdebok. Hansnes: Karlsøy kommune. -
Flake Salt:The unique taste of the Arctic Ocean
Since they established themselves on the Arctic coast of Norway in the 1600s, the Hegelunds have made good use of the rich local flake salt to spice up their family recipes and replenish their strength during the long and tough winters.
Sea salt has been harvested since the end of the Stone Age when it was, just like today, both a prized trade good and the most popular spice the world over. In Norway, traditional sea salt harvesting could be done in a number of ways, such as by drying seaweed, building salt ponds or freezing seawater, but these techniques were generally for domestic use only.
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This all changed when the Hegelunds settled down in the parish of Karlsøy, at 70 degrees north, in the 1600s, when Norwegian fish started to become a sought-after good on both sides of the Atlantic. To preserve the fish longer, much salt was needed. Some local Norwegian saltworks were established, but most of it was imported. In the Arctic world of the Hegelunds, Russian salt coming all the way from the White Sea was by far the most popular option.
Nevertheless, the traditional salt harvesting techniques remained very much in use and ended up being a core component of the Hegelund gastronomic code. Informed by centuries-old traditions and the pristine quality of the Arctic waters, a long-awaited product is finally seeing the light of the day: the House of Hegelund Flake Salt.
Manually produced and processed through environmentally friendly methods, the Hegelund Flake Salt is among the very best commercially available salt on the market. Its soft yet crispy texture beautifully compliments any dish. Gently crumble or scatter the flakes on lightly dressed green salads, raw or freshly grilled vegetables, fish and other seafood to draw the best flavours from your ingredients. With Hegelund Flake Salt, bringing the unique taste of the Arctic Ocean to your kitchen has never been easier.
Sources:
- Imsen, Steinar and Winge, Harald (Eds) (2004). Norsk historisk leksikon, Kultur og samfunn ca. 1500 – ca. 1800. Oslo: Cappelen Damm.
- Niemi, Einar (Ed.) (1992). Pomor, Nord-Norge og Nord-Russland gjennom tusen år. Oslo: Gyldendal.
- Raade, Gunnar (2017). Salt: utvinning. I Store norske leksikon. Hentet 26. januar 2018 fra https://snl.no/salt_-_utvinning.
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The Kvitnes Estate
The Kvitnes trading post on Vannøya in the Arctic was established by Jeremias Figenschau towards the end of the 1600s. Kvitnes would become one of the largest centers in the district, in part because it was located on the sailing route to Bergen, Norway’s main export harbor.
The old farm, which has been preserved to this very day, was built in 1826 by a descendant of Jeremias, Hans Figenschou, and his wife, Martha Margrethe Hegelund.
Husband and wife both descended from old families of traders and civil servants. As such, they belonged to the economic and social upper class of the region. The couple got married on the 17th of November 1825. The wedding, which had been officially sanctioned by the royal authorities, took place in the groom’s home, like customs would have it back in those days.
The wedding speech, performed by Vicar Rasmussen, who had made the voyage from Tromsø for the occasion, ended up with the following words:
Veledle brudepar! De vet det at mennesket ikke selv råder om sin lykke. Hvorledes det altså i denne henseende skal gå dem i deres fredtid, det står i altbestyrerens vilje. Men med hva sinn mennesket møter i sin skjebne, det står for en del i hans egen makt. Det er i dag deres hensikt at ville med ett og samme sinn dele livets skjebner med hinanden, og befordre hinanden gjensidig lykke.
O! Ved kjærlighet omhyggelig at være alt for hverandre, og ved mild overbærelse mot hinandens ufullkommenhet, oppnåes snarest deres gode hensikt, lettes livets byrder og forhøyes dets gleder. Og skulle De da ikke med frimodig tillit til skjebnenes styrer kunne gå deres fremtid i møte, skjønt et uigjennomtrengelig forheng skjuler for deres øye hva der skal møte dem i samme? Ja! Hvo der besjeles av dydige forsetter, kan alltid med sann ånds frimodighet tenke og si: Herren er min tillit og min styrke.
The old Kvitnes farm, which was, for generations, the home of the descendants of Hans and Martha Margrethe was later abandoned in favour of more modern housing. It later entered in the possession of another renowned family, the Gievær from Lyngen before being bought by the local Folk-museum (now called Perspektivet Museum). It was dismantled and reassembled on the south of Tromsø island, where it still is the centerpiece of the city’s folk park.
Sources:
Bratrein, Håvard Dahl (1994). Karlsøy og Helgøy Bygdebok. Hansnes: Karlsøy kommune.
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Gravlax: The Arctic Origins of a Legendary Dish
Gravlax is one of the few world-famous Scandinavian dishes out there, and while many know that it is basically prepared with salmon and herbs, few know its ancient, Arctic history.
The origin of gravlax can be traced all the way back to 14th-century North-Sweden. In the Middle-Ages, salt was expensive and most foods had to be preserved using alternative methods. In North-Sweden, peasants and fishermen developed a unique technique called gravad lax (“buried salmon” hence the name gravlax): The filleted salmon was placed in a hole in the earth, covered with birch bark and laid in a bath of water, the fish’s own blood and various spices and herbs. The result was a rather strong-smelling product that would be closer to todays infamous surströmming (fermented herring) than the gravlax that is eaten nowadays.
Over time, gravlax-making techniques evolved, and the introduction of salt and dill, among other things, lead to the development of a much gentler dish. In Arctic Norway, North-Sweden’s nearest neighbour, it soon became customary to make use of a curing blend made of salt, pepper, honey, local spirits and, of course, dill to soften and ripen the fish in a uniquely delectable way.
After about 72 hours of curing, the gravlax is generally ready to be served. However, in many North-Norwegian households, no gravlax dish would be served without a proper mustard sauce crafted from traditional mustard powder, oil, flour and extra dill. This somewhat more modern local variation on traditional gravlax was particularly popular among coastal communities such as Karlsøy, where it has been enjoyed by generations of Hegelunds for close to four centuries.
Sources:
- Kaspersen, Ardis (1990). Havgodt fra Nord-Norge. Oslo: Cappelen.
- Moe, Nils Harald (2007). Tradisjonmat fra nord. Tromsø: Vitus Forlag.
- Waldenström, Victor (2001). Laks!. Trans. Mette-Cathrine Jahr. Oslo: Cappelen
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Authentic Arctic Smoked Salmon à la Hegelund
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Authentic Arctic Smoked Salmon à la Hegelund
When Morten C. Hegelund arrived in Karlsøy in 1635, he brought much more than his own person and possessions; he took with him his familial culture of Danish refinement encompassing, among other things, traditional knowledge of smoked salmon, cooking and food preparation.
By the 17th century, smoked salmon was already a well-established fare, both in Scandinavia and further south on the continent. Traditionally laid in a salt bath, rinsed, and smoked for a period ranging from a few hours to several days, smoked salmon first became a staple food of the high society in France, before becoming popular throughout Northern Europe as well.
Now living right by the outstanding salmon-lakes of Ringvatnet and Skogsfjordvatnet, once owned of the powerful bishop of Trondheim, the Hegelunds were able, through trial and error, to fuse this aristocratic tradition with unique local knowledge.
Cold-smoking the fish over a juniper fire, adding various spirits to the filets during the smoking process, and other similar innovations ultimately resulted in some of the most-celebrated gourmet dishes on this side of the Arctic Circle.
Fueled by their customary passion for everything food-related and an uncommon pioneering spirit, the family slowly developed their own recipes and gastronomical traditions; traditions that survive to this day through the works of the House of Hegelund.
Sources:
- Fjelde Larsen, Marion (2014). Næringsmangfoldet ved kysten i middelalderen. In Nils Kolle and Alf Ragnar Nielsen (Eds): Norges fiskeri- og kysthistorie, Fangstmenn, fiskerbønder og værfolk, fram til 1720. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget Vigmostad & Bjørke AS (233-260).
- Johnsen, Henry (2005). Røking av mat, fra hobby til lidenskap. Oslo: Landbruksforlaget.
- Kaspersen, Ardis (1990). Havgodt fra Nord-Norge. Oslo: Cappelen.
- Waldenström, Victor (2001). Laks!. Trans. Mette-Cathrine Jahr. Oslo: Cappelen
Related Article:
Gravlax: The Arctic Origins of a Legendary Dish
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The Danish Origins of the Hegelund Clan
The family of Morten Hegelund, who relocated to the Arctic in 1635, comes from Viborg, Ribe and Ebeltoft on the Jutland peninsula of Denmark.
The Hegelund family history is especially tied to that of Viborg. In the 15th and 16th century, numerous Hegelunds reached prominent status in that city by taking on the positions of priests, civil servants, doctors, and even mayors.
The most ancient genealogy of the family of Morten Hegelund reads as such
Denmark
Morten Christensen Hegelund (by family tradition): Mayor of Viborg
Christen Mortensen Hegelund (*1475): Councilman in Viborg
Morten Christensen Hegelund (*1505): Unknown
Søren Mortensen Hegelund (*1540) Councilman in Viborg
Christen Sørensen Hegelund (*1570) Mayor of Viborg
Elvevold/ Hansnes
Morten Christensen Hegelund (*1600): Bailiff of the Troms district
Hans Mortensen Heggelund (*1631)
Søren Hansen Heggelund (*1683)
Morten Sørensen Heggelund (*1731)
Related article:
Hegelund Profiles: the 16 hundreds
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The Helgøy Church
The church of Helgøy has been the church of the Hegelunds for several hundred years and many members of the clan were deeply involved in the administration, upkeeping and workings of the church. Two Hegelunds were especially tied to the musical aspects of this church, working as bell ringers and choir-singers; Morten Hegelund (from 1743 to 1748) and Morten Hegelund (for over 40 years, 1794 to 1836).
The name of the island, Helgøy, comes from Old Norse and means “holy island.” Looking at historical records from the Middle Ages, Helgøy probably became an annex of the Church of Tromsø sometime around the year 1500.
The church that can be seen in Helgøy today was originally built in the middle of the 18th century in Hemnes in Helgeland before being moved to the village of Hamn in Senja. In 1889, the church was moved its final (so far) destination in Helgøy, in order to replace the previous church building from the 17th century.
Helgøy used to be a crucial trading post and central meeting point for the local population of fishermen and other coastal people.
Commerce with the Russians had its peak throughout the 19th century and continued until the Bolshevik Revolution. Stockfish, together with fresh fish, pelts and skins were then exchanged for flour, caviar, cereals and rope from the White Sea.
The heyday of Helgøy was without a shadow of doubt, in the late 19th century under the auspices of Christian Figenschou (1846 – 1939) the famed “King of Helgøy.” Another notable monarch with ties to Helgøy, was the German Kaiser Wilhelm the second, who visited the region several times prior to the First World War. On one occasion, the Kaiser rewarded the local population’s particular sense of hospitality by gifting them a superb emerald, a gem that is now conserved at the Museum of Tromsø.
Helgøy is nowadays mostly uninhabited and mostly used as a vacation area and tourist destination. The local church is still being taken care of and is still used on special occasions. Because no bridges or tunnels were ever built to connect Helgøy with the outside world, such events require the use of a boat to ferry the visitors.
The 125-years Jubileum of the Helgøy Church
In 2014, the 125th church anniversary was occasion for much celebration.
Her majesty, Queen Sonja of Norway, sailed to the island on board the royal yacht, KS Norge, to join the festivities and acknowledge the importance of the local community in the history of Arctic Norway.
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Foundation’s Purpose
The purpose of the House of Hegelund Foundation is:
“to be engaged in children’s formative years, and especially through charity work. The foundation will primarily operate in the Troms county area.”
Troms county is home to over 160,000 people. The area is, for the most part, a great place for children to grow up.
Sometimes, however, things play out differently for some kids. Sadly, family issues such as violence, bullying, threats and assault are widespread problems in Troms as in other places.
At the House of Hegelund, we firmly believe in the power of preventive actions, first and foremost because such strategies are effective ways to stop the hardships children may experience. In addition, it tends to be a most rewarding method for society in the long term.
By collaborating with relevant institutions, the House of Hegelund Foundation will be working to establish positive preventive strategies and activities for children of all backgrounds, but especially those coming from a disadvantaged environment. For example, the Foundation will raise money through charity collections to fund initiatives such as open air activities and many other.
The House of Hegelund Foundation is a non-profit organization, where volunteers work without any payment.
Do you wish to make a donation to the Foundation?
Bank account: 1503.99.55218
We thank you in advance for your contribution.
The House of Hegelund Foundation
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