For those eager to start closer to home, there is the Department of Icelandic at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Many chapters of the Icelandic National League also offer conversational language classes — contact the one nearest you.
Books and Literature
With a historically high literacy rate, Iceland has produced many writers and poets. This is also true of Icelandic descendants in North America . Have you read any of their books lately? Go to the library and look up David Arnason , Martha Brooks , Joan Eyolfson Cadham, Kristjana Gunnars , Gail Helgason , Bill Holm, Stephan G. Stephansson, Bill Valgardson and Betty Jane Wylie, among others.
There are also many Icelandic authors with books available in English translation, including Halldór Laxness, Böðvar Guðmundsson, Einar Már Guðmundsson and Andri Snær Magnason.
Of course, there are the sagas, and there's one for nearly every taste. For politics and philosophy, Njál's saga; for romance and tragedy, Laxdæla saga; for magic and derring-do, Gréttir's saga; for Chaucerian ribaldry, Bosi's saga; and for adventures in the New World , Grænlendinga saga and the Saga of Eirík the Red.
Publications
If you don't already, subscribe to the Icelandic Canadian and Lögberg-Heimskringla. Stay in touch with the Icelandic community and read the latest in news, the arts, music, history and more.
Road Trips
There's no shortage of big Icelandic events across North America. The first big event is the INL Convention in Gimli, MB In June, check out Icelandic Days in Spanish Fork, UT or the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in Fargo-Moorhead. In August, attend the August the Deuce Icelandic Celebration in Mountain, ND and Íslendingadagurinn in Gimli, MB, not to mention the Scandinavian Pavilion at Folklorama in Winnipeg. In October, don't forget the Norsk Høstfest in Minot, ND .
Eat, eat, eat
Within reason, of course. But there are lots of opportunities, with many þorrablót scheduled anywhere Icelandic people live. Check with your local INL Chapter or Icelandic club for details on whether there's a þorrablót near you in late winter.
Even if there's not, why not learn to make rúllupysa, hangikjöt, skyr, vínarterta, pönnukökur or another Icelandic dish ? It's not hard to learn and your palate will thank you.
Take a walk through history
Have you explored areas of Icelandic settlement and heard their stories? Take a walk through Vatnabyggð , SK tracing the history in Wynyard, Foam Lake, Elfros, and Big Quill Lake. In October, go to Gimli , MB for the Walk to the Rock, tracing the steps of the Icelandic settlers at Willow Point.
Before you set out, maybe there's a book or two you should read, like Nelson Gerrard's Icelandic River Saga, Don Gislason's The Icelanders of Kinmount , Jónas Þór's Icelanders in North America, David Arnason's The New Icelanders, Magnus Bjarnason's Errand Boy in the Mooseland Hills, Hnausa Reflections, the forthcoming history book on Wynyard, and many others. Visit your local library, as some titles are out of print.
Sing
Join a community choir, such as the New Iceland Youth Choir in Arborg, MB, the Saga Singers of Edmonton, AB or the Kaffi Tima choir in Selkirk , MB , that perform Icelandic songs. It's an easy, fun way to learn to sing and even pick up some Icelandic.
Go to Iceland
If you've been talking about it for years, maybe it's time to actually go! Flights are available through Icelandair from Minneapolis, New York City, Baltimore, Boston and Orlando, and starting in 2008, Toronto. If you want something a little more intense, apply for the Snorri Program or Snorri Plus Program and start picking up the language.
Join your local Icelandic club
There are many groups who get together for fun and to share aspects of Icelandic culture, whether that be language, music, food, genealogy or visiting lecturers. While many clubs are a part of the Icelandic National League, a number are affiliate members or are independent. Many can be found via the Internet or through reading L-H's Calendar of Events.
Tune in
There are many ways to experience Iceland with your ears alone, as long as you have access to the Internet. Rikisútvarpið (Icelandic public radio) broadcasts via the world wide web at www.ruv.is. At the same site, you can watch selected items from Icelandic TV. There's also Vancouver-based Ströndin Internet Radio, with archived programs featuring interviews and stories about Icelandic culture in North America .
Rock out
You may be aware of Icelandic musicians like Björk, Sigur Rós, Múm, and Gus Gus, but what about the up-and-comers? Every October, Reykjavík hosts Icelandic Airwaves, debuting new work from Iceland along with the latest from around Europe and North America. As for musicians of Icelandic descent in North America, you can find them among Solli Sigurdson, The Weakerthans, Cold Front, Doc Walker, Lowry Olafson, Nathan, Lindy, Bill Bourne, Major Maker, The Musical Mates, Mad Shadow, The Papsmears, and many others. Tour dates are regularly listed in L-H, and on the musicians' websites. Find a show near you and kick up your heels.
Explore your roots
Family history and genealogy are a great way to find out more about yourself and your heritage. There are many resources, including local public archives and libraries. There are also places such as the Vesturfarasetrið (The Icelandic Emigration Center) at Hofsós, Iceland. There is also
Halfdan Helgason's website. In Canada, the Icelandic Collection at the University of Manitoba is a good place to start. There is also the ICC of BC Genealogy Centre and the Icelandic Archives of British Columbia, at Iceland House in New Westminster, BC. You can also delve into the Icelandic Genealogical Department at the Family History Center in Spanish Fork, UT. A family history resource is the online Jón Sigurdsson Chapter IODE Book of Life. In addition to these sources, many Icelandic National League chapters and affiliates host genealogy workshops and seminars. Contact your local club for more information.
Catch a movie
Icelandic movies are coming to North America on a regular basis, and while not necessarily in wide release, you can still find them. For world premieres, attend the Toronto International Film Festival in September. In August, a healthy dose of Icelandic movies can be seen at the Gimli International Film Festival. Throughout the winter, Toronto residents can enjoy monthly presentations courtesy of the Icelandic Canadian Club of Toronto, National Film Board, Icelandic Film Centre and Icelandic Consulate. For details visit. In New York City, Scandinavia House: the Nordic Center in America annually screens Nordic Oscar contenders, in addition to other screenings. If you can make to to Iceland, you may want to take in the Reykjavík International Film Festival
National Film Board - March 31 2009 -small film Clip - Iceland on the Prairies
Knit
Yes, I'm serious. Everybody loves those big Icelandic sweaters, but you can make other things, too. Icelandic descendants in hot climates may well question the need for wearing wool, but it can keep you warm when your office's air conditioning is cranked. There are many suppliers of Icelandic wool and patterns in North America; check your local retailer. Some stores also provide lessons or seminars.
Enjoy some art
At art, that is. There are many visual artists of Icelandic descent making a name for themselves in their communities and across North America, such as Karen Jóhansson, Ione Thorkelson, Patricia Peacock, Don Martin, Katrina Anderson, Rodine Isfeld, Craig Koshyk, Sharon Norman and many more. Keep your eye on local galleries and see what's out there — you may be surprised.
Exhibition, Iceland 2009, Sandgerði. - Jón Adolf Steinólfsson, sculptor. You Tube Viceo: Jón Adolf Steinólfsson
Go to a museum
There are many places to see exhibits on Icelandic culture, science and history, some permanent and some travelling. In Gimli visit the New Iceland Heritage Museum; walk through the preserved buildings in the Village of Hecla; in Selkirk, check out the Marine Museum of Manitoba; and in Ottawa the Museum of Civilization has had Icelandic and Nordic exhibits.
Taking all of these things into account, there is something for just about everyone out there. If you have any further suggestions, send them in to Lögberg-Heimskringla and help others get Icelandic.
Windows/PC: Choose your screen size and a full-size wallpaper will open, right click on it and select "set as background".
MAC: Choose your screen size and a full-size wallpaper will open, right-click (or hold 'control' and click on it) and select "Save Image to Desktop". Drag this newly added file onto your current wallpaper seen in the 'Desktop and Screensaver' section in System Preferences.
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