Last Friday I ignorantly wrote the following on my Facebook status…
…because somewhere in my online traipsing for maps of Solvang, CA, I read that it’s a Dutch village.
Well, it’s not. And what kind of journalist would I be if I let the mistake stand without correction? I have a dubious blogging responsibility to check my facts and report them to you, dear reader.
But here’s the problem. I get so confused when it comes to distinguishing more than one country when referring to Denmark and The Netherlands and Holland. And if they speak Dutch in Holland, then what language do they speak in Denmark? And which one is in Scandinavia? And which one has windmills? And the wooden shoes?
And how could I be so confused when I’d actually BEEN to one of these countries (whichever one has Amsterdam in it)?
So after learning that Solvang is a Danish village which refers to Danish people who are from Denmark and only Denmark, a country that has Danes in it, I find that you can still be easily confused, because I thought Holland was a country known for its windmills and wooden shoes. But no, Solvang would have you believe that they are the symbol of the Danes as well:
And spotting The Belgian Cafe only complicates matters.
I mean, aren’t Belgians from Belgia, or Bulgaria or somewhere?
And aren’t trolleys from America? Specifically, San Francisco?
And when you see a sign for “Dogtoberfest” in a Solvang store front window, do you think “Danish Pointer”? Or “German Shepherd”?
Of course, nothing screams Danish culture like memorializing Michael Jackson’s death and his virtually-foreclosed Peter Pan property, which I will grant is located within 150 miles of Solvang.
So, in summary and conclusion, I ask you: what is Danish? I’ll tell you what it is. It’s this bad boy from the Solvang Bakery…
And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some blood sugar to raise.
Some of you may recall that I wrote some content for a video game that was released in August called Coconut Queen. Gamezebo interviewed the game’s creators who also mentioned me in the article which you can read on the Gamezebo website in this Behind The Scenes Interview.
From the Aww-You-Shouldn’t-Have Department:
Some of you insist on upsetting the balance by one-upping me in the gift arena. I sent Paula (who writes a blog called How to be a Cat Lady Without all the Cats) a pen or two and she hurls THIS T-shirt back at me:
Thank you, Paula! It is so goaty and bizarre and I love it! This shirt comes from the Bully Hill Winery in Hammondsport, New York, where even their mailing labels are crazy!
Also? I would like to thank Plain ol’ Bob over at plainolebob answers for awarding me with his very own super customized Hot Dawg Blogger award. Thanks, Bob!
To the person who made the comment about machine made blue and white china, DARN! So I take that to mean I shouldn’t waste my time getting the blue and white vase I am 90% sure my grandparents bought there appraised?:0( lol
Hi, my birth name is Solvang, I am danish however the name is norweigien
You know, I never even thought about why the town is called Solvang. And now you’ve created an even bigger mystery! 🙂
Most of Europe “low” counntries have windmills. The Delft dishes, cups, plates, etc. in Solvang are from The Nederlands. Holland is a province (like a state) in the Nederlands.
Friesland is a state in the Nederlands and just across the border in Germany is Ostfriesland. The language of the Nederlands is Low German or Low Saxon (Plattdüütsch, Nedderdüütsch, Standard German Plattdeutsch, Niederdeutsch; Dutch Nedersaksisch.
In the Nederlands National Anthem, they use the word Deutsch in the lyriics.
F. Eugene Barber
Author http://www.readerskorner.com
Wow! Well, now we know who to call whenever we have a Nederlands question. Thanks for the info!
Funny post, but loli's irony free comment, funnier!
Funny post, but lolicaor's irony-free comment is even funnier. Thanks for the laughs.
Is this article a joke? I find it hard to believe that you'd take a corrective approach when you did next to no research just to check "how Danish Solvang is" They speak Danish in Denmark (and there are many people that speak English, German, Swedish and other languages, specially college graduates), which is a Scandinavian country along with with Sweden and Norway, and the architecture, traditional dress and language among them crossover greatly, thus it is possible to find windmills all over Northen Europe, and Wooden shoes (aka clogs) are not only a tourist image of the Neatherlands, but they are part of the traditional dress in Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, and even the UK. By the way, going to Amsterdam (The Neatherlands), does not make you a Scandinavian anthropologist and free of confusion, specially since you don't show much interest to learn about the places that you go to. Belgians are from Belgium, not Bulgaria, and the Trolley you picture is a replica of a 1915 Danish streetcar. Trolleys have been present in history not only in San Fransisco, but all over the world, including the UK, Denmark, Mexico, Argentina, Eastern Europe and even Asia.
If you had taken one of the historical tours you would know that Solvang is rich in Danish culture due to the national origin of its founders, but there are many other cultures present, such as Spanish, Mexican, Chumash, German, Norwegian, Irish and English, and Anglo American, thus do not be surprised that there are Michael Jackson tshirts being sold at souvenir shops, and there is a Dogtober fest at the park. Solvang is as diverse and makes many cultural mixes as any other part of the united states.
I am left truly confused after reading your article. If you're claiming to be a journalist, aren't you supposed to do a bit of research? Wikipedia if not direct sources? Or is this supposed to be ironic by showing how little importance you give to accuracy?
That Belgian Cafe. I remember eating there about 20-something years ago. Still looks the same. I love Solvang. It’s so pretty and the food is so good. I wish we weren’t too far away to go there now.
OMG!! Solvang Bakery is the SHIZZLE!!! I think I gained about 12 lbs the weekend I stayed there. lol!!
The international language of pastries. Yum.
Damn, now that’s a Danish! I’m headed to Solvang. Or anywhere I can find a Danish like that.
I saw your tweet about Solvang a few days ago. I meant to respond because my family had a home not far from there growing up. It’s good for Abelskeivers (sp?), danishes and that’s about it. Or machine done blue and white china.
Anywhoo – psyched to meet you in VEGAS.
I have ALWAYS been totally confused about those countries and now not am I MORE confused, I am HUNGRY, thirsty and I have to take the dog out!!
I’m making cookies now, thank you very much… If my weight goes up, it’s all your fault, not the dozen or so cookies I eat!!
What?!? I’ve driven through Solvang some bazillion times, and I’ve never once questioned its Dutch appearance. Now all of my illusions are shattered.
At least there are pastries, though. Come to think, that’s generally a valid point – “At least there are pastries . . .” Excuse me while I go rifle through my (sadly pastry-free, but next best alternative) candy drawer.
Now I’m really confused! I feel like the Abbot and Costello, Who’s on first… What?
But I do like cream cheese filled danish!
Love the blog. Thanks for stopping by mine.
This is a little late–thanks for the NGIP pens!!! I will not be sending you anything, because I have absolutely no crafty skills. But sincerely, Thanks!
Now I’m confused… And I want a pastry.
I’m a big fan of Bully Hill’s Love My Goat red wine. Hard to find here in the south.
I’d have failed miserably in this town. Geography and all that goes with it is my kryptonite. I once thought Portugal was in South America… ouch.
I have a Danish. He’s my husband 🙂 He’s from Copenhagen and I love that place. It’s my favorite Euro city in the world. Well…ok,in Europe. Cos…ok I’ll shutup…
Dutch, German, Holland, windmills, wooden shoes…who cares. All you need to learn how to say is “Where is the friggin’ bakery that sells Aebelskiver?
wow, that is SOME danish. it is making me crave one right now. yum.
I love Solvang! Especially the Aeblschiver (or something like that). It’s TASTY!
This post made my eyes cross and my brain twitch…I love a good post tht makes me feel dazed and confused…nothing like MJ…pastries…and panties on goats to make me sign up to be follower #396 on a blog! Thanks for poppin’ by my blog to say hi!
hooray! dogtoberfest!
beer and bake sales and buttsniffing galore!
did you see which way amber went with that pastry?
Oh Margaret, I love you! I am planning our trip to California and had read about the amazingness that is the pastries of Solvang, but had decided not to stop because really… going somewhere just for pastries? I didn’t know it was so cute and charming and now I am adding it as a must do… in the name of pastries, AMEN.
Thank you for SOLVANG that dilemma!
* cricket
Is this thing on?
When you first began talking, Danish is what i thought, not Dutch. But then when you showed the pic with the windmills i was confused.
I’ve only been to Solvang once, even tho it is only about 200 miles away. Didn’t even get to enjoy that as i was working!
I miss pastries! On of the really downsides to being gluten free is i have to make all those things myself but i’m usually too lazy. If only the lack of pastries meant i was losing weight! 🙂
Now I’m confused & I thought I knew which went with what!!
Check my blog to accept your award!:)
Yaay for Bully Hill! As a person within spittin’ distance of the Finger Lakes Wineries its a proud day when someone from California gives them props. Now all you need is a bottle of Red Cat.
Well you have me all confused too, but I think Belgians are from Belgium. Anyway, I get my danishes from a Polish bakery & they look just like that! Now I have to go get one! Hmmm…apple, pineapple, or apricot?
You had me at “47 cream-filled pastries”. YUM!
And you crack me up! I’ve been to Solvang and had no idea which country it represented. I just wanted the wooden shoes 🙂
xo
I want to put on those giant wooden shoes and run away with the lemon danish.
Nanny,
So are them belgian waffles, and danish pastries. and stuff, them wooden shoes, all thet stuff is confussion enuff. glad you figgered it out.
Hugs
Netherlands? Neverland? Same damned thing!
But did Michael ever put his finger in the dike??? That’s what I want to know. . .
At least, in the end, you found the most important part – the danish! YUMMM!
I have never been to Solvang. Or Denmark. Or Holland.
I have only been to France and Italy. Mmmm, talk about pastries….
Now I am hungry.
Off to make more goat’s milk caramel sauce..
When I read that, I knew you were wrong… but I didn’t know why, it just sounded wrong, anywho I was going to recommend those little donut hole dealies with the tart red jelly stuff and powdered sugar on them but I didn’t know what they were called either… because you see, when I dragged my husband there 8 years ago he kept saying ” Why the f*@k did you bring me here?!”, over and over again, so that clouds my memory a bit.
Pretty sure they won’t care where you say you are if you’re coming at them with money…..excuse me while I shuffle off for pastry!
I LOVE Solvang! Such a sweet little village. I hope to be going there this year.
There’s an award for you on my blog! (Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything with it, just know I enjoy your blog!)
Diabetes in a bun! Looks delicious.
That hollandish, errr, danish, looks positively naughty, and if you keep eating those, your panties won’t fit any more…
😀
Now this is too weird, I just watched a 1961 movie, “Homicidal”, that had Slovang, CA in it as the setting. Do-do-do-do. [a twilight zone moment]
I thought Solvang was Dutch too, and I have been there many times in my childhood… And I have Danish friends, one of whom is studying in Denmark right now… I am not making my case any better am I? Looking forward to the movie on Thursday!
*Snatches your pastry and runs off*
Now ya have this blond chick sittin’ down here in the Ozarks hills just totally confused and perplexed. It’s sooo not a pretty sight!
Ya’ll have a super day and I think we speak Ozarkian.
I don’t care where it comes from… I want that pastry! And enjoy the t-shirt! I figured after all the pens you mailed out, you ought to get at least a few prizes back! Thanks again for the pens and the mention!
Surprisingly enough, I have been to Solvang. It’s delightful, whatever it is.
PS Could your next post be how to tell the Adriatic countries from the Baltics?
And why the heck is Ohio so far East compared to where it sounds like it should be?
And that’s why I just call everything European.
You know what I always liked over there? Calling Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg the Benelux. You know, kind of like what we’d call a tri-state area but classier.
I’ve only been to Copenhagen, it’s so clean! Even the area where it was supposed to be all for junkies was much cleaner than most of Memphis.