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By Phyllis Smith Icelandic Roots newsletter theme for 2026 is the emigration and settling of American settlements, including those that went to Brazil in the early years. Most people with ancestors who left Iceland have connections with various communities in the USA and Canada. However, a tiny group of Icelanders headed to Brazil in 1863, followed by another small group in 1873. A Reddit thread poster asked for information in the Brazil subreddit regarding the Icelanders in

Book review of The Icelandic Emigration Journey

By Shaune Jonasson Some ancestral stories of the crossings were captured in family diaries, a real treasure to possess today. Despite any trepidation to leave their homes and families, most believed in a better life ahead. They were resolute. We are here as a testament to their hope.   When our Icelandic ancestors left their homeland bound for North America, many unknowns lay ahead of them. The reasons for emigrating are many and we’ve heard or read the accounts of life in Ic

By Phyllis Smith   Many of us are immigrants—not personally—but through our ancestors. It is because they left Iceland that we’re here today. By telling their stories, we uncover themes of resilience, determination, strength, and even suffering. Unless we knew our immigrant ancestors personally, we must trace their journeys through records and research. Our family lore can add colour and context, but it may not be enough to answer every question.   I never knew my Icelandic i

The Snorra Edda is more than a collection of myths—it is a map of the night sky, where stories serve as constellations and the heavens become a mnemonic for the world of the gods. In this webinar, Professor Gísli Sigurdsson explains how Gylfi’s Illusion ( Gylfaginning ) in the Prose Edda transforms what can literally be seen above us—the movements of stars, sun, and moon—into a mythological cosmos. By taking Snorri’s metaphor at face value, we can read the sky as a kind of ce

by Sunna Olafson Furstenau As Icelanders, we honor and love to share our Sagas and Stories. One of our ancient heroes is Sæmundur the Wise. He outsmarted the devil not once, but twice! This story has been told for nearly a thousand years and is preserved in several ancient texts. It blends history, faith, and just the right amount of mischief. Sæmundur fróði Sigfússon (I136284) lived from 1056 to 1133 in south Iceland. Even though none of his personal writings have survived,

By Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir Professor of Archaeology, University of Iceland See Part I One of the most famous murder cases in Iceland´s history is that of Bjarni Bjarnason and Steinunn Sveinsdóttir (I87649), who were sentenced to death in 1802 for killing their spouses while living as tenants on the farm Sjöundá in Rauðisandur, Western Iceland. Given its connection to this farm, it is commonly known as the “Sjöundá Case.” Guðmundur Scheving´s misconduct Right after the trial

By Bryndís Víglundsdóttir Photo Credit: Magnus Fröderberg/norden.org, CC BY 2.5 DK, via Wikimedia Commons ; The United Nations General...

by Becky Byerly-Adams This article is a tribute to the women in Iceland who fought for gender equality 50 years ago. They showed us it...

By Steinunn Kristjánsdóttir Professor of Archaeology, University of Iceland One of the most famous murder cases in Iceland´s history is that of Bjarni Bjarnason and Steinunn Sveinsdóttir (I87649), who were sentenced to death in 1802 for killing their spouses while living as tenants on the farm Sjöundá in Rauðisandur, Western Iceland. Given its connection to this farm, it is commonly known as the “Sjöundá Case.” This is part I of II.   Bjarni was born in the parish of Saurbær

By Gunnar Birgisson As part of honoring the 50th Anniversary of the women's strike in Iceland, guest writer Gunnar Birgisson describes...

by Shaune Jonasson This month’s Interesting Icelander profiles Bólu-Hjálmar, one of Iceland’s notable folk poets, whose sharp wit and satirical views were often received with mixed reviews. He was most noted for his mastery of rimur , a short poetic narrative. He was also an accomplished woodcarver. Life for Bólu-Hjálmar was far from easy and not without strife. Despite these challenges, he lived a colorful life for 80 years. It is my privilege and honour to write this post.

Minneota: Celebrating 150 years since the 1875 Icelandic Immigration By Elaine Olafson Henry Photos provided by the author The Minneota...

By Claudia Pétursson Claudia has enjoyed Hulda’s stories about her remarkable life and career for the past forty-two years, as she is...

by Jason Doctor, August 2025 Jason Doctor, a volunteer with Icelandic Roots, attended both the Deuce of August festivities in Mountain,...

Reviewed by Gay Strandemo Photo Credit: IMDB 1 The nearly three-hour Icelandic feature film Godland ( Icelandic: Volaða land ,) has...

by Greg McNeill and Shaune Jonasson   It’s summer! That means sun and fun with fairs, parades and festivals. This year, the Viking spirit...

Jakobína Sigurbjörnsdóttir Johnson an accomplished writer in N America and Iceland

A new feature documentary set in Iceland about 12 hours that sparked a revolution

Historian Ryan Eyford (I564866) is a keynote speaker at the 2025 Icelandic National League of North America Convention held in Gimli,...