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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 8, 2022
4 min

Celebrating Easter in Iceland

Linguists maintain that the English word for Easter derives from the name of the Anglo Saxon maiden of spring, Ostara. The month of April...

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 13, 2022
2 min

Guðríður Arrives in Vinland 2022

We are so excited to announce Guðríður's Saga is available for purchase! The children's book and complementary coloring book will be...

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 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...

Feb 26, 2022
5 min

How I Handled Research for My Memoir

By Sverrir Sigurdsson A memoirist is supposed to depend mainly on his memory. For me, though, I wanted my memoir to reflect not just my...

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...

Jan 16, 2022
2 min

Destination: Hælið Museum, “The Great White Plague” Center

Update: Here is the video recording of the webinar: If one follows Eyjafjördur south of Akureyri about 10 km, just before reaching the...

Jan 16, 2022
2 min

The Mailman is Ready For Delivery

The first book by Christopher Rodel, IR# I20590425, The Icelandic Postman, is published and ready for purchase. This book travels in the...

Dec 30, 2021
2 min

The Old Norse Calendar

As we begin the New Year from our modern calendar, this is a good time to look back at our Icelandic heritage and the calendar used by...

Oct 23, 2021
5 min

Ferry Cabin News - The Seal Skin Trunk From Iceland

News from Washington Island and the Surrounding Islands Richard Purinton Washington Island, Wisconsin This story first appeared in The...

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 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...

Jul 21, 2021
20 min

Icelandic Immigrants to Washington Island – 1870

Washington Island Icelanders 1870 and beyond.

Jun 6, 2021
3 min

June Events, Holidays, and Celebrations

See all the special events, annual holidays, and special celebrations for June in the listings below. Today is Seaman's Day -...

May 23, 2021
3 min

Volcanoes, Fitness, Genealogy & Poets? Something for Everyone!

The Icelandic Roots community has a variety of features and offerings. Check out the latest news and upcoming events. Join us in...

Jan 15, 2021
1 min

The Scandinavian Press Magazine

Have you subscribed to the Scandinavian Press magazine? It is a wonderful magazine in full color with news, history, photos, and...