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Naming The Wooden Spoon

The Wooden Spoon Spoon Wall
NAMING THE WOODEN SPOON

Before opening The Wooden Spoon in 1988, I had considered opening a small café. I wanted it named after a kitchen utensil. As my mind went through all of them, "The Potato Masher" or "The Wire Whip" just were not appropriate.

When I thought "The Wooden Spoon", it just felt right. At that moment, I made the decision to call my business "The Wooden Spoon".

As you wander through the shop, you will notice how important the wooden spoon is in our culture. Wood is a natural product of Scandinavia. Many of the eating utensils and the preparation items are made of wood. It was inexpensive to make and the materials were available.

At the waist of the female bunad (Norwegian folk costume), hangs a “spoon bag”. Families only had enough utensils for their own, so if you were invited to another home, an event or a gathering, you carried your wooden spoon. Out of respect to each other, you provided for your own.

Ornaments and other decorations used in the Christmas season have the wooden spoon incorporated in them. It depicts preparing for Christ’s birth and all the festivities of the season. People were poor or of modest means, but all year plans were made to ensure an abundant table was set for Christmas.

Long cold winters provided time for men to use their creativity to carve spoons for many purposes. The love spoon, the twisted spoon, the anniversary or birth spoon are carved by our wood carvers, Danny, Trygve and Tore. We sell books that tell the history of the wooden spoon, and list patterns and instructions on how to carve, Rosemal paint or coffekoln a spoon.

Yes, "The Wooden Spoon" is the most appropriate name for a Scandinavian shop.

“Keep The Wooden Spoon Stirring”. Shop often!!!

Gwen Welk Workman, February 19, 2000

The Wooden Spoon