Last Fall....
For some reason, which I am not gonna bore you with right now, I checked my pictures from last year's fall. This basically jumped at me. A traditional Icelandic, slightly glibbery, custom. I hope we get a chance this year as well, it just takes such a long time to preper and it can get rather um...viking. Anyone? What is it we are doing in this picture? And I am not looking for the answer: eating grapes!
I love the cozy atmosphere this picture brings back. Evening, lamp lights and many hands involved in the same task. The younger generation following intently the oddities of the older...
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
30 Comments:
While the details of the food-sewing escape my understanding, I believe the ritual is basically a preparation for handling a long cold dark winter whence you're all stuck in the same house together.
Nice sweater!
(And... FIRST!)
Sooooo...you are stitching grapes together? Peeling grapes? I HAVE TO KNOW!
That does look cozy! If you were in America, the TV would be on in the background.
What a great and homey photo. Your technique is being closely studied. Was that a popsicle extraction?
To me it looks like you were sewing fat, but I don't think that is really the answer...
PLEASE tell me this doesn't have anything to do with rotten shark meat.
you do look fetching, sweet Penguin. and more than a little engrossed in the task at hand. (which tells me it can't smell as bad as the aforementioned rancid fish) ; )
Well, if it's glibbery then you can't be making popcorn garlands, so I'll guess that for some reason you are sewing some kind of fish.
Something here smells a little fishy. Or doughy. That's the viking staples though, right? Fish and starch. I want to know! I am of viking heritage! WONDERFUL pic. Thanks so much for inviting us in.
ew, ew, ew...haggis?
Morgan, yes it has to do with old tradtion of food making and preparing for the winter. Iceland was a country with little resources and Everything that was edible was somehow mushed together and turned into a food, we now have been conditioned to absolutely love.
TLP, what did I just say about grapes???
AP3, i am pretty sure not even a radio was on and at least two of us were reciting poetry at that moment. I would know, me being one of the two :)
Doug, yes my techinques shoudl be studied closely, there were two of us that had better stitching techiques than others. I am sure little dude cast the final vote...which was not in my favor, I hasten to add! Dumb kid!
ariel, that is not too far off...it is somewhat fatty.
Neva, nothing fishy or hsark meaty I promise...only once did I get close to that and I am glad I am still alive:) This smells not bad actually, considering all the yuky stuff involved in this.
Theresa, nope..no fish...although what we are sweing together is of a whitish color.
Cindra...second try is very good. If it were haggis making, what exactly are we sewing in the picture??? Come on!!!
(oh and Cindra, for an odd reason I can't access your comment section on your blog...nothign happens...since I see comments there though...I assume it is soemthing I have to resolve between me and my computer. Given our mutual aversion, this might take a while...just letting you know...that I am there!)
Hmmmm!!!does it have anything to do with a stomach,blood and liver?
If so I will be right over for a taste...I like number 2 with raisins.
If that is what I think it is, then simply the idea of it makes my "stomach" turn. That wouldn't have once belonged to the cute fellow you posted about a few months ago, would it?
whale blubber?
Oh, it helps to read the above comments before shooting off my mouth...
lamb tummy?
Móa...there is laughter all over my apartment..."I like number two with raisins" a rather difficult game sewer workers play at lunch?
But you are right, we are doing what you think we are doing...lifrapylsur og blodmör.
Theresa, could be...you realize that pickled testicles is anotehr infamous dish around these shores?! We can use EVERYTHING!
terry, your shootign off is always fun...yes we are sowing toegther lamb tummy. Everybody knows Vikings are babaric, I engulfed myself quickly into that mentality.
Well Minka, Rúsínan í pylsuendanum!
I am not sure whether I am laughing harder at my own and your comment about number 2 or Terry's comment...hmmmmmmm!!! Rúsínan í pylsuendanum!!!!! I have tears in my eyes and I am roaring with laughter.
Terry I did not know you spoke Icelandic.....and double enterendre jokes as well.
*roar of laughter*...sometimes this comment section brings such enormous joy..you girls are wicked, I say. Wicked!
Okay, sheeps stomach is fine... I've actually eaten and enjoyed hagis before. But what is going inside the stomach? And why does it have to be sewn in? Is it still able to escape?
I'm glad I didn't try to guess. The comments are so funny.
Morgan, emptied and cleaned stomach walls are thin, wobbly and flat. SO we sew teh edges toegther and leave a hole at the top, that gets filled will all sorts of yuky stuff of which I had pictures too, but considered my audience and decided I like having comments :) The whole concuction gets boiled and turns into soemthing quite delicious. Would you have introduced yourself when living here, I would have made you try!
Nessa, I know...I had a fantastic day yesterday in my comment section, I laughed a lot...I am sure my parents on the third floor heard me and started to worry. I am supposed to be studying, you know ;)
The customs of mortals confuse and enrage me.
Well, I was going to look pretty clever using an online translator to get in on the Icelandic joke.
Everybody not in, from or married to Iceland, Terry's comment means "Raisin into pylsuendanum" Good one, T.S!
It means literally - "the raisen at the end of the wiener". The translation gains meaning when you compare it to the English phrases "the cherry on top of the sundae, or the icing on the cake". Those Icelanders... :-D
Well, this wasn't any fair. I couldn't enlarge the photo for some reason. *pout* I did say grapes didn't I? That TLP.
Ah sigh, family traditions. Knitting intestines.... we do it all the time.
see, now I thought your heartwarming Icelandic tradition was feeding rotten shark meat to unsuspecting visitors. ??
Grundir the implacable, Wow...my favorite political representative! Welcome, and if it is Human silliness or error you are looking for...well, look no further.
DOug, no you know how we feel almost any given day upon first stumbling on one of your definitions :)
terry, zoze Icelanderz, indeed! Sorry, occasionally I have to embrace my inner German!
TLP, yeah...you don't follow instructions well, do you?! Youa r egood at giving them though...I guess its half the battle! The better half!
actonbell, the plates are really neat and almost child proof;)
trundling grunt, I beg your pardon?! You and a needle in between your fingers? I just don't see it! :)
kyahgirl, well...since so many Icelanders blog these days...tourist have heard rumors. Don't worry we come up with new torture food like clockwork :)
Cleaning tripe? That's what it looks like when we Sicilians posture thus. Or cleaning squid?
I will read and see what you gave for the answer.
Oh, and it's two minutes to seven.
(I'm HOT!!!)
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