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Hildur, Queen of the Elves
Hildur, Queen of the Elves an Icelandic Legend
Apr 2, 20237 min read


Iceland’s Unique Folklore Explored in Webinar
All folklore is distinguished by its motifs, whether they be big bad wolves or trolls or vengeful ghosts. But there is one motif that...
Mar 19, 20232 min read


Iceland's January Holidays
According to the old Norse calendar, the year is made up of Winter and Summer. January is the halfway point of winter, and several...
Jan 8, 20234 min read


Snorri Plus Program - Lectures in Reykjavík, 2022
Editor's note: Laura Hackney wrote this report to give a sense of the valuable background information that is a part of the Snorri Plus...
Dec 25, 20228 min read


Marja’s Winter Tale
Editor's note: On Christmas Eve, a young farm worker, Marja, was asked by farmer Jon's young son, Steinie, to tell a scary Christmas...
Dec 25, 20227 min read


Turkeys and a Christmas Cat
by Sharron Arksey A husband watched his young wife prepare the turkey. “Why do you always cut it in half before putting it in the...
Dec 11, 20222 min read


Suður Þingeyjarsýsla
Suður Þingeyjarsýsla in Northern Iceland features a 250 km road trip called the “Diamond Circle,” due to the shape of the route. This...
Dec 11, 20222 min read


What the Yule Boys Have Brought Me
by Gay Strandemo Author Heidi Herman and I once again team up at Samtal Hour to discuss the Icelandic Yule Boys - Jólasveinar. To join us...
Nov 26, 20223 min read


Our Third Annual Book Flood - Jólabókaflóð
Tis’ the season for Jólabókaflóðið or Christmas Book Flood. Iceland is one of the most literate countries in the world and has a long...
Nov 26, 202225 min read


My Icelandic Immigrant Ghost
By Doreen (Borgfjorð) McFarlane IR 602083 October is the month of Hallowe’en, so it is a time that many people think about ghosts and...
Oct 30, 20226 min read


The Tale of Auðunn of the Westfjords
With our theme this month of the Westfjords, we discuss this Þáttir (short story) of "Auðunn of the Westfjords". Sometimes this story is...
Jul 17, 20224 min read


Celebrating the New Year with Folklore
The New Year and upcoming days come with more feasts, holiday happenings, traditions, and folklore. Enjoy the folklore story below and...
Jan 1, 20224 min read


Family Storytelling and Icelandic Folklore; a Perfect Partnership
Guest Blog By Karen Gummo Have you considered how your own family stories might be connected to ancient folklore? We hear very often,...
Oct 23, 20215 min read


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 -...
Jun 6, 20213 min read


24 June is a Magical and Special Day
Editor Note: As the celebration of the longest day of the year draws near in Iceland, we present this earlier blog written by Sunna...
Jun 24, 20152 min read


Irish Roots in Iceland
Genetic studies in Iceland reveal about 20% of the males and 63% of the females have Irish ancestry.
Mar 17, 20133 min read
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