05/07/2026
Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz was an American cartoonist who created the comic strip Peanuts, featuring the characters Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
Schulz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and developed an interest in drawing while growing up in Saint Paul. He was conscripted in 1943 and served in the United States Army during the final years of World War II. After returning to Minnesota, Schulz began his comic strip career with Li'l Folks in 1947.
In 1950, Schulz redeveloped Li'l Folks as a four-panel comic strip and submitted it to United Features Syndicate, who renamed it Peanuts and began publishing that October. Schulz relocated to Northern California with his family in 1958. Beginning with A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965, he helped write several animated television specials and four animated films based on his characters. He continued drawing Peanuts until his death in 2000.
Did you snoop out a little Easter egg in our video yesterday? 🐾🇳🇴 🐣
There's a good reason Snoopy helped teach some Norwegian Easter terms.
As Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt explains, in her latest column for the Sons of Norway's Viking Magazine, America's favorite beagle has Norwegian roots!
Charles M. Schulz, the son of a Norwegian mother, likely derived the name "Snoopy" from "Snupi" (or "Snuppe"), a Norwegian term of endearment!
This Easter, as you enjoy the holiday classic "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown," know that it's a wonderful reminder of the strong, enduring cultural ties between Norway and the United States. A bond built, and continually strengthened, by countless Norwegian American families across the country.
God påske! (Happy Easter!)
