So I don’t know my exact PERCENTAGE of Norwegian in me, but I consider myself to be Norwegian-American due to a bit of my upbringing. I feel connected to Norway and the language, I wanna learn more about it, and my dad raised me to think of not only Old Norse and the mythology, which is old stuff because he’s kind of nerdy with the ancient Viking stuff, but also wanted me to learn the Norwegian language and go to Norway some day with me.
I don’t know why, I can’t really explain it, but I do feel Norwegian and it’s not like I’m “trans-identifying” as a certain nationality like some people do, I have a reason for it.
However, I wasn’t born in Norway. I wasn’t raised in Norway. I was raised with pride of being American with Norwegian ancestors, that was it, but whatever. I took more of an interest in the language when I was about 9. I can sort of understand Norwegian and read it sometimes, maybe it’s because it’s kinda close to English though, mainly. I don’t particularly look “purely” Norwegian or Scandinavian either, I mostly look English due to being mixed with English and German.
I consider myself a bit German-American due to being raised by a German grandfather, even if he’s not blood related to me. But my mom had recent relatives who came from Germany and recent relatives spoke the language and all that, she just didn’t grow up with it nor did my Grandpa.
Well, that’s why I get highly happy when I think about how I was raised to be proud of and respect mostly Norwegian culture, but I don’t feel Norwegian enough due to not natively speaking it [though I did grow up with Norwegian YouTube learning videos :,)] and not looking or growing up with pure Norwegian genes.
I was born in the southern hemisphere and have lived in different countries in Europe for many many years. I speak 4 languages and remember a bit of what I learned of native (precolonial culture) from the country I was born in. Although I was born in a different country, my family is Italian on one side and Palestinian on the other. I feel from nowhere.
My take, people crave identity through whatever can give them a sense of legitimacy and belonging. Vikings are just 300 years of romanticised history, but there is certainly rich culture in it. If you find beauty in the themes and traditions of germanic scandinavia or the sápmi then great! I feel attached for no reason to some cultures and traditions because they “make sense” to me in my view of the world and my values. We do not need certificates for that.