12 Facts About Petter Dass

Petter Dass's father, Peter Dundas, was a merchant originally from Dundee, Scotland, who had established himself as a trader along the northern Norwegian coast.

In 1653, when Petter Dass was 6, his father died and thereafter he and his siblings were cared for by relatives and friends.

At age 13, Petter Dass began attending school in Bergen, and later studied theology at the University of Copenhagen.

Petter Dass was lonely during his years in Copenhagen, but intellectually stimulated.

Petter Dass fathered a child out of wedlock, and had to travel to Copenhagen to seek pardon from King Christian V of Denmark and Norway.

Petter Dass was a writer of texts and hymns, although most of his writings were not published until after his death.

The only existing portrait of Petter Dass is traditionally believed to be one found in the Melhus Church in Norway.

However, the claim is hotly disputed, with some historians who studied the painting concluding that Petter Dass is most likely not the subject.

Petter Dass was deeply mourned after his death, and many fishing vessels of Northern Norway carried a black cloth in their sail for 100 years after his death, as a sign of mourning.

Petter Dass is still the subject of folklore of Nordland.

Petter Dass Prize is an annual award extended by the Norwegian newspaper Vart Land.

Since 1983, Petter Dass has been honored with the traditional Petter Dass days at Alstahaug.