Archive for 'Icelandic history'
Skugga-Baldur, or Blue Fox; a book by Sjón. Posted by hulda on Oct 31, 2014
Did you ever read a translation of a great book that, while a good one, was lacking a key element simply because some part was entirely untranslatable? Or even better – ever read the translated version and felt a bit smug in the knowledge that you had that key element already in your back pocket…
The two great sorcerers of Iceland. Posted by hulda on Oct 24, 2014
Last week’s entry about witchcraft in Iceland mentioned one interesting man, Galdra-Loftur (= Loftur the Magician), who’s definitely worth a closer look. The legend does not paint a very flattering image of him: he’s shown as an egoistical, cruel person who uses his talent and skills for his own profit only and does not care who he…
Witchcraft in Iceland. Posted by hulda on Oct 17, 2014
As October is halfway done what better time to write a little about witches? Icelandic ones that is, so alas the pretty ladies riding brooms won’t come into picture. The grand majority of Icelandic witches were male and though female ones did exist and were even punished for witchcraft, fact is that of all of…
The reliable rhubarb. Posted by hulda on Sep 30, 2014
Last week’s Recipe for Marital Bliss reminded me again of something very Icelandic – rabarbari or tröllasúra (= trolls’ sour), rhubarb. While it does not originate in Iceland and in fact arrived here comparatively late (from Denmark and at the end of the 1800’s) Icelanders really took a liking to it. And why not –…
Icelandic sweater I love you. Posted by hulda on Sep 10, 2014
There are few items of clothing that could ever take the place of lopapeysa, the Icelandic wool sweater, in my heart. Made of Icelandic wool it quickly felts into an all-weather garment that will keep you warm and dry in almost any possible condition, and wearing two on top of each other will easily get you…
Green Iceland, icy Greenland Posted by hulda on Aug 6, 2014
By now I’m sure you’ve all seen that one meme that in all its simple beauty compares together a picture of Iceland and Greenland and their seemingly illogical names. It’s still somewhat understandable why someone would want to call Iceland icy, after all on the winter part of the year its whiteness can easily rival that…
Hiding in plain sight: the other side of Reykjavík harbour. Posted by hulda on Jul 22, 2014
The fifth and final post on things you don’t know you could see in Iceland but totally should: the other side of the Reykjavík harbour. This might sound confusing. After all, Reykjavík harbour is all around downtown and there isn’t much more there than the concert hall Harpa and some piers – well, occasionally Danish warships…