Norway and the United States have friendly relations and have worked together often for many years. Both countries benefit from yearly trades with each other, both culturally and financially. In fact, every year Norway sends a Christmas tree to Washington D.C. as a sign of friendship. Both countries are active members of the UN and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) with similar goals regarding human rights and peaceful resolution. Norway has also provided assistance in Afghanistan. This link between the countries is largely promoted and continued due to the exceedingly large amount of Norwegians and Norwegian descendants living in the US. These Norwegian-Americans typically choose to celebrate and take pride in their heritage and origin. They often choose to prepare some of the traditional dishes, like lutefisk (fish soaked in lye and then rinsed) and brown cheese, or hold Norwegian holidays like Syttende Mai, on May 17th. Most Norwegian-Americans live in the upper Midwest,with as many as 850,000 of them in one state. That many people certainly has an impact on the region and its culture, and in turn our country.
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