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
Friday, September 14, 2007
The First Frost...
Looks like we made it...and lived to see another winter approaching. Yesterday I was in the countryside and when I woke up at 5.30 ('cause that's what you do in the country!)this sight greeted me outside:
I can't tell you how much joy this brings to me. Granted, it takes a few extra minutes in the morning to throw on your third jumper over the obligatory two from the summer, but the rest is just gravy.
I love how the frost casts special shadows and how sunlight gets reflected in a sharper contrast. How the crisp air goes straight to your lungs and feels like it cleans up all the sandy dust collected there during the summer. Your cheeks start to burn and a cup of hot chocolate never tastes as lovely.
It is time to put good horseshoes on the hooves of our four legged friends and ride out to the mountains to get the sheep down. See you guys Monday!
I can't tell you how much joy this brings to me. Granted, it takes a few extra minutes in the morning to throw on your third jumper over the obligatory two from the summer, but the rest is just gravy.
I love how the frost casts special shadows and how sunlight gets reflected in a sharper contrast. How the crisp air goes straight to your lungs and feels like it cleans up all the sandy dust collected there during the summer. Your cheeks start to burn and a cup of hot chocolate never tastes as lovely.
It is time to put good horseshoes on the hooves of our four legged friends and ride out to the mountains to get the sheep down. See you guys Monday!
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
Friday, June 08, 2007
I kid you not!
Welcome to Smaralind. "It is the biggest shopping mall in Iceland with over seventy shops, restaurants and services. It contains everything from a cinema and pharmacy to an alcohol shop, candy stores and restaurants. Smáralind was opened in October 10, 2001 at 10:10 GMT." It´s a nice enough mall, about 10 minutes from my place and with decent ventilation. Nothing really wrong with it, except maybe when looked from above:
From a different perspective it seems someone was trying very hard *giggles* to have a sense of humor. I mean the plans were approved by a board of quite a few people...someone must have noticed!
Better start wondering what attracts me so frequently to it. I seriously hope it is not a Freudian complex of phallic dimensions.
*this one goes to Theresa, for reminding me in what an...er... open-minded place I live ;)
p.s...feel free to click the images to -for want of a better word- enlarge them.
this just in:
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
Friday, May 11, 2007
What´s with all the violence?
You might wanna put the kids to bed for this one!
There I am, strolling through downtown Reykjavik, minding my own business, taking a few pictures:
beautiful church, isn´t it? Wait a sec...what´s that orangy thingy infront of the church? Let´s have a closer look, shall we?
That road block smashed that car, it wasn´t me! I just happen to be there...wrong time, wrong place ...oh will ye quit it, I am not drunk, I am merely resting my eyes. It´s a Friday night for crying out loud!
And on we go... What the heck?
I am nowhere near that huge flowerpot... slammed into the front wind-shield.
Let´s move away quickly, before we start to doubt everything good and true in Iceland.
Now that´s just plain insane. With the few trees we have and then someone rams one through a car. *shakes head* What´s this ice cube come to?
And just when you thought, it couldn´t get any worse:
That´s it, I´ll forbid myself to go downtown hence-forth. I could have died taking these pictures, I hope you know! I felt it was my duty to bring these images- terrifying as they might be...
What?
Oh, it is Reykjavik´s annual ART-FESTIVAL this weekend. *sigh of relief*
Wait a minute, this is our concept of art for the year 2007? "Can I offer you a slice of bus?" I really start to wonder if accepting Christianity, way back in ´78 I think, was really the right choice for us. There is just so much Viking strength left within, fighting to get out.
What?
Royal De Luxe? That sounds French. It is? They are here? *runs around screaming from the top of her lungs: The FRENCH are coming! Prepare the Volcanoes!"* and look what they brought:
*frantically rummages through her book shelves, looking for "Gulliver´s Travels"*
I remember The huge Gulliver being tied up somewhere in it, and it´s not like this giant puppet hasn´t enough strings to do it with!
So, it was the French. Told you it wasn´t me!
I knew we couldn´t pull off art on our own...
We can drink you under the table any day of the week though!
*passes out*
There I am, strolling through downtown Reykjavik, minding my own business, taking a few pictures:
beautiful church, isn´t it? Wait a sec...what´s that orangy thingy infront of the church? Let´s have a closer look, shall we?
That road block smashed that car, it wasn´t me! I just happen to be there...wrong time, wrong place ...oh will ye quit it, I am not drunk, I am merely resting my eyes. It´s a Friday night for crying out loud!
And on we go... What the heck?
I am nowhere near that huge flowerpot... slammed into the front wind-shield.
Let´s move away quickly, before we start to doubt everything good and true in Iceland.
Now that´s just plain insane. With the few trees we have and then someone rams one through a car. *shakes head* What´s this ice cube come to?
And just when you thought, it couldn´t get any worse:
That´s it, I´ll forbid myself to go downtown hence-forth. I could have died taking these pictures, I hope you know! I felt it was my duty to bring these images- terrifying as they might be...
What?
Oh, it is Reykjavik´s annual ART-FESTIVAL this weekend. *sigh of relief*
Wait a minute, this is our concept of art for the year 2007? "Can I offer you a slice of bus?" I really start to wonder if accepting Christianity, way back in ´78 I think, was really the right choice for us. There is just so much Viking strength left within, fighting to get out.
What?
Royal De Luxe? That sounds French. It is? They are here? *runs around screaming from the top of her lungs: The FRENCH are coming! Prepare the Volcanoes!"* and look what they brought:
*frantically rummages through her book shelves, looking for "Gulliver´s Travels"*
I remember The huge Gulliver being tied up somewhere in it, and it´s not like this giant puppet hasn´t enough strings to do it with!
So, it was the French. Told you it wasn´t me!
I knew we couldn´t pull off art on our own...
We can drink you under the table any day of the week though!
*passes out*
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
The Icelandic 5000 KR bank note:
You hardly see it anymore; except in the hands of tourists or some really purist Icelandic people. A nation fond of using those little plastic cards, even if our shopping bag only holds a cucumber and some dried fish, we get excited seeing one of these:
1) It is the highest banknote you can have in your wallet here in Iceland.
2) It can almost get you tipsy if you take it down town on a Saturday night!
3) It has a woman on it! Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir (1646-1715). She was a third wife to some bishop and did embroidary. And that´s about all we know about her really, and while her presence on the highest bank note might be puzzling, here is two thumbs up for her hat!
She also looks kinda blue! Which brings us to our next point:
What´s this to do with you? Go to The Snark! and check it out!
p.s In case you were wondering what decorates Icelandic coins...yes, you guessed it...various types of fish!
1) It is the highest banknote you can have in your wallet here in Iceland.
2) It can almost get you tipsy if you take it down town on a Saturday night!
3) It has a woman on it! Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir (1646-1715). She was a third wife to some bishop and did embroidary. And that´s about all we know about her really, and while her presence on the highest bank note might be puzzling, here is two thumbs up for her hat!
She also looks kinda blue! Which brings us to our next point:
What´s this to do with you? Go to The Snark! and check it out!
p.s In case you were wondering what decorates Icelandic coins...yes, you guessed it...various types of fish!
Labels: Icelandic Traditions, Snarking
Saturday, March 10, 2007
continuing along the shower theme...
"Reykjavík Swimming Pools: The Naked Truthsource: http://blog.icelandexpress.com/iceland/2006/11/24/
reykjavik-swimming-pools-the-naked-truth/
Making the most of the city’s abundant piping hot water, Reykjavik’s swimming pools are well worth a visit. Even if it means conquering your fear of nudity first.
The Red ZoneLow levels of chlorine at all 16 of Reykjavik’s pools means there’s no nasty bleach-like smell while you bathe, but high levels of hygiene mean you have to wash yourself naked before getting in.
Yes, naked.
It’s not up for debate. And if you’re not sure where exactly you’re supposed to be scrubbing, you can always refer to the classic Icelandic Naked Androgynous Diagram, as pictured here.
This comes as a surprise to most gymnophobic tourists, who wouldn’t dare bare their bottoms in front of others, never mind soap their genitalia in a shower-room full of strangers. Icelanders, on the other hand, have no such hang-ups about the human body, and happily stroll around starkers in the changing-rooms while the visitors dart about with strategically-held bottles of shampoo.
The thing to remember is this: the only person who cares what you look like naked is you.
If anybody’s going to stare at anything then it’s somebody trying to wash their bits with their swimsuit on. And—contrary to most tourist publications—not everybody in Iceland is a leggy, 6 foot 4 blonde."
I just felt you all needed to know:)
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The last couple of days....
Tuesday: Bursting Day
The idea is to eat salted meats, traditionally cooked in a bean stew with the turnip-like root vegetable rófa. You eat as much as you can, because come Lent, meat is also off the menu. Being gluttonous is a duty that day, and if meat sweats can´t be noticed on your forehead, well you better have another helping! I usually am found hiding in one corner or other hiding from all the salt, eating the leftover Bollur from yesterday:)
Ash-Wednesday
Is kind of a trick-or-treating type day for kids, where they go to stores in costume and collect candy. But we just don´t go "Either you give us somethin' or we make you regret it" but rather we have to sing. I am proud to announce that I received a lollipop that day purely by chance. I went to a little local store, where I bought some milk, while waiting for my card to be retuned to me, I must have been humming, mumbling of some sort, ´cause the lady reached under the counter, smiled at me and handed me a lollipop. I took it! She probably thought I was shy!
We also go around town and try to clandestinely strap little pouches of ash to peoples' backs when they’re not looking. And then we snigger...you should try it some time;)
It is a lovely week for kids, and those of us who still can let go and run with a witch costume among youngsters :) I am tired now, I did a lot of running!
ups: Who could it be?
"His father was a friend of George Washington and he survived the harsh winter at Valley Forge with the future first President. When Washington was elected, he was offered and turned down the position of attorney general. Later he did accept President John Adams’ offer to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. Under his guidance, the Court gained power and he ruled that the Court could overturn any law it found unconstitutional. He has been declared one of the most important jurists in United States history."
Go, give it a try and hint/limerick and/or excuse yourself in the comment section!
The idea is to eat salted meats, traditionally cooked in a bean stew with the turnip-like root vegetable rófa. You eat as much as you can, because come Lent, meat is also off the menu. Being gluttonous is a duty that day, and if meat sweats can´t be noticed on your forehead, well you better have another helping! I usually am found hiding in one corner or other hiding from all the salt, eating the leftover Bollur from yesterday:)
Ash-WednesdayIs kind of a trick-or-treating type day for kids, where they go to stores in costume and collect candy. But we just don´t go "Either you give us somethin' or we make you regret it" but rather we have to sing. I am proud to announce that I received a lollipop that day purely by chance. I went to a little local store, where I bought some milk, while waiting for my card to be retuned to me, I must have been humming, mumbling of some sort, ´cause the lady reached under the counter, smiled at me and handed me a lollipop. I took it! She probably thought I was shy!
We also go around town and try to clandestinely strap little pouches of ash to peoples' backs when they’re not looking. And then we snigger...you should try it some time;)
It is a lovely week for kids, and those of us who still can let go and run with a witch costume among youngsters :) I am tired now, I did a lot of running!
ups: Who could it be?
"His father was a friend of George Washington and he survived the harsh winter at Valley Forge with the future first President. When Washington was elected, he was offered and turned down the position of attorney general. Later he did accept President John Adams’ offer to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. Under his guidance, the Court gained power and he ruled that the Court could overturn any law it found unconstitutional. He has been declared one of the most important jurists in United States history."
Go, give it a try and hint/limerick and/or excuse yourself in the comment section!
Labels: Icelandic Traditions
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Bollurdagur / BUN DAY
Bolludagur is the Monday in the beginning of lent and this year it came up on the 19th of February. Even though the name, bolludagur, is fairly young this day has been celebrated for over hundred years in Iceland.
It is believed that the custom of bun day came to Iceland from either Denmark or Norway in the second half of the nineteenth century, introduced by bakers from those countries. Nevertheless, bolludagur is celebrated quite differently in Iceland than in the mainland Scandinavian countries.
There are two important things related to the bun day. The first is to spank people with the so called bolludagsvöndur-and by people I mean parents-, which is a decorated stick, and today most kids make their own sticks in school, decorating it with all kinds of colored paper. The goal is to manage to spank people before they get out of bed, and for each time you manage to spank and scream "bolla" you receive a price, which in Iceland is always rjomabolla, a cream puffed bun; preferably with chocolate covering, if you were to ask me.
Now stay tuned, ´cause there are three special days in a row now, taken together, they afford you the opportunity to be a complete glutton!
next installment tomorrow: Bursting Day!
Labels: Icelandic Traditions