Free!

Never Miss a Blog Post: Subscribe to Icelandic Roots!

Are you eager to stay informed about all things Icelandic? Look no further than the Icelandic Roots newsletter! Our dedicated team of authors and guest writers brings you insightful and engaging content on various topics related to Icelandic culture, history, travel, famous people, language, genealogy, and upcoming events.

Subscribe Today!

May 21, 2022
3 min

Icelandic Roots Fitness Challenge 2022

The Icelandic Roots 2022 Fitness Challenge heads to the Westfjords

Apr 22, 2022
5 min

Flóamanna Saga

Flóamanna saga is the only of the 40 family sagas centered in Árnessýsla. It begins about 15 km south of the modern town "Selfoss" at a...

Apr 14, 2022
4 min

Hofsós and Icelandic Roots

This article has many links to more information. Enjoy! On Monday, April 18th, 2022, we are pleased to have Valgeir Þorvaldsson join us...

Apr 2, 2022
2 min

Icelandic Roots-Rætur Fréttir

On New Year's Eve December 31, 2021 Icelandic Roots turned to its members for assistance by asking a simple request: Help us name our...

Mar 25, 2022
4 min

Skálholt-The Religious, Cultural and Educational Center of Early Iceland

Skálholt Church photo by Jody Arman-Jones Located in the southern part of the Biskupstungur valley between the rivers Hvítá and Brúará,...

Mar 12, 2022
3 min

Destination Egilsstaðir

Life in Iceland was harsh in the mid-to-late 1800s. At the time, Iceland was part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Denmark had largely...

Mar 12, 2022
5 min

Fljótsdæla saga

Fljótsdæla saga was the last of the forty family sagas written. It was likely written in the 15th or 16th Century. Most believe it was...

Mar 12, 2022
5 min

Sænautasel Highland Farm

The following article is written by IR Volunteer, Hjördís Hilmarsdóttir. She has included personal stories, a few photos, a video, and a...

Mar 11, 2022
3 min

The Irish In Iceland

The oral history of Iceland was written down about 1125 and states that ”Christian men” (called Papar by the Norse settlers) were there...

Jan 26, 2022
4 min

Connecting landscape to literature in Dalasýsla

If you are interested in connecting events that took place in the Icelandic saga literature to the physical landscape of Iceland, then...

Dec 29, 2021
2 min

More Gems from the Icelandic Roots Treasure Chest

“Hidden Gems Part II” -by Rob Olason (IR#I149007) Looking through the Special Collections section of the Icelandic Roots database offers...

Nov 22, 2021
4 min

A Virtual Family Reunion

by Heather Goodman I15007347 There’s one in every family. Someone who is way more interested in collecting family memorabilia than anyone...

Nov 18, 2021
7 min

The Saga of Þorsteinn Staff-struck

The third installment of ancient writings about Vopnafjörður is the Saga of Þorsteinn Staff-struck. Many Western Icelanders emigrated...

Sep 25, 2021
5 min

Ancient Writings from Vopnafjörður

Do you enjoy the Icelandic Sagas? Do you know how you are related to the people and the places of these stories? I have been sharing...

Sep 24, 2021
2 min

Icelandic Saga Connections

Bryndís Viglundsdóttir told me that when she was a little girl, she thought the characters from the Icelandic sagas were going to walk...

Sep 12, 2021
2 min

Kvennahlaup in Borðeyri and Þórdís Edda

Each year, there is a fun activity that is held in most communities across Iceland called Kvennahlaup or Women's Walk/Run. This weekend,...

Sep 11, 2021
2 min

My Virtual Mission 2021

The Icelandic Roots Fitness Challenge 2021 was a big success. Our most popular mission was the Ring Road route, with 118 participants...

Sep 4, 2021
3 min

The Legend of The Elf Lady Stone at Bustarfell

Once upon a time, a rich and noble sheriff and his wife lived happily at the important farm called Bustarfell. During the darkest days of...

Sep 4, 2021
4 min

The Saga of the People of Vopnafjörður

Vopnafjörður was a main port of Icelandic emigration to America and many of us can trace our families to East Iceland. Therefore, the...

Aug 28, 2021
3 min

Discover Hofsós

The village of Hofsós is located in Skagafjörður and is one of the oldest trading centers in Iceland. The dedicated Emigration Center,...