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Carving Chips..... • NAVERNE is an old organization for well traveled journeymen from Scandinavia. •

www.naverne.com

Lene and Michael begin their walk home to Floutrup, Denmark.

Click to view an enlargement of this photograph.

NAVERNE is an old organization for well traveled journeymen from Scandinavia. It all began in Switzerland in 1899, where the many Scandinavian journeymen there started an organization that later started clubs in the places where Scandinavians where working. Shortly thereafter there where over 30 clubs in several countries outside Scandinavia. Now-a-days NAVERNE is mostly represented in Denmark, but there are still clubs in other countries. Naverland (craftsmen) tradition still exists, particularly in the carpentry profession in Germany and Switzerland. Naverland never stay in the same place more than six months.

Here is a story about International Hobos, excerpted from two EMails that I received from a dear friend that I have known and worked with for over 20 years. She was born in Denmark and came to the United States many years ago. As she said, “I never really talked about this to anyone, but I thought you may find it interesting. They were kind of hoboes for a time in their life.”

Lene was gone as migrant craftsmen (Naverland) on Europe's roads for two years... her return home, 7 May 2004.

Two navere in the pedestrian street in Aarhus, Denmark.

“My stepdad was member of a group in Denmark that called themselves “Naverne” (from Scandinavia.) But to be a member you had to have walked over Europe and worked your way through the countries with just your backpack with you and work wherever you could to survive. A lot were journey men and wanted to see the world. My stepdad was a machinist, had been in many countries and had many jobs from shoveling coal into a furnace on a boat to washing dishes.

These people were young and single. And when they got married and had families it ended. But they had lots of stories to tell, and my stepdad was a member of the organization his whole life. When he passed away and after the funeral they had a meeting at the club where we all honored him with songs from the Naver songbook and flowers laid down on his place at the table.

When I visited Denmark I always went with Mom and Dad to the club, and what a fun bunch of people and what stories they could tell. But you could only be a member if you had worked abroad under those conditions. So of course almost all members were the good old boys, and I loved going there. And could they sing. They loved singing and song at every meeting, both in Danish English and French. Some knew several languages.

I never really talked about this to anyone, but I thought you may find it interesting. They were kind of hoboes for a time in their life.

They have this website, most is in Danish but there is some in English... www.naverne.com

.”

When I asked my friend if she had any other recollections of the “Naverne”, and if it would be OK with her if I had this story published on the Hobo History Info Group, her response was as follows:

“Of course it is OK that you use the information I gave you. I wish now that I had paid more attention to the stories those guys told. Some of the stories were a little “Tall” And their fellow Navers could usually tell when somebody padded their stories or if it was a little unbelievable.

They did a fun thing, and I think they did the tall stories on purpose. When they heard a story that could not be the truth, they all in unison hollered “1-2-3 it's a lie!” and then they all laughed. But of course the story teller swore that it was the truth.

They were such fun people and all had nick names. I remember “The Taylor”... Boy could he sing! But everybody sang good or bad. They had their own songbook, “Navernes song book.”

One song I really liked was “Minderne”... “The memories.” It was very emotional, but beautiful. But it started. “Kan du huske paa valsen” Which translates to “Do you remember when we waltzed?” That's what they called their travels. They were “Paa Valsen”... “On the Waltz.” My stepdad's name was Leonhard, but to the Navers he was always “Boss.” He was born 1903 and lived to 1987. So his travel days were most likely the early 20's.

The Migrant Journeyman

They did another fun thing. The Danes love their “Snaps” and they always had a bottle in the club house. Sometimes they took turns buying a round for everybody. And when they did, the buyer got to wear a top hat and they would sing to him a fun little song “Blaererovs visen.” It translates to “The song about the Bragger.” Blaere-rov actually translates to something like Bragger-ass. Ha-ha! Something is hard to translate.

But I think you get the message about how much fun those people were. Of course that usually only happened once at a meeting... maybe sometimes twice ...they were not boozers.

I am sure you can find out more information on the Internet. The meetings I was able to attend was when I visited Denmark every few years and of course after my stepdad died that was the end of it. But it sure was a memorable time spending those hours with Naverne.“
Hobo Paul ~ luapydacATsbcglobal.net ~ Tue Sep 9, 2008 6:43PM