My Time as Fjallkona
By Alfreda Duffy
The Lady of the Mountain (Fjallkona) is the female incarnation, or national personification, of Iceland.1 The concept of a Fjallkona was first introduced in a poem by Ofsjónir við jarðarför Lovísu drottningar 1752 (Visions at the funeral of Queen Louise, 1752) by Eggert Ólafsson. The image described in this poem no longer exists. It wasn’t until 1866, when a poem titled Eldgamla Ísafold by Bjarni Thorarensen was published in a book of Icelandic folktales and symbols describing her dress and adornments, that this idea really caught the attention of Icelanders. The timeframe of this poem fits in with Iceland’s fight for independence from Denmark. Originally published in Berlin and translated into Icelandic, this description was adopted by many Icelandic poets and artists at that time, who introduced this female personification of the Icelandic Nation through their works. Later in 1924 the Fjallkona was adopted and presented for the first time at the celebration of the Islendingadagurinn held in both Winnipeg, Manitoba and Blaine, Washington.
Her attire symbolizes the beauty of the landscape and the richness of the Icelandic culture. The satin shift dress, or Kyrtilbuningur, is either white or ivory in colour, and is girded with a medieval-style gold metal belt. Over that she wears a richly coloured green or blue cape trimmed with white fur. Today, it is likely faux fur. On her head is a Skaut, an ancient Phrygian cap protruding through her gold crown and covered by a veil. The Skaut represents the mountains and glaciers, the veil the mists. This basic style has remained the same since 1924.
Iceland embraced the Phrygian cap during their struggle to gain independence from Denmark. Previously this cap, in the colour of red, came to symbolize the pursuit of liberty and freedom for other nations, even the USA during the American Revolution. Artist and historian Sigurður Guðmundsson (aka "Sigurður the Painter") from the mid-19th century designed the outfit and chose white to represent Iceland’s unique landscape, its mountains, its glaciers, and its purity rather than copy the French version of bonnet rouge.
Since Iceland received its independence in 1944, a young woman, usually an actress, has been selected as the Fjallkona, where she recites a short poem on the national day each year, the 17th of June. In Calgary, the Leif Eiriksson Icelandic Club (LEIC) has a committee composed of past Fjallkonur who select a candidate and when she agrees, it is then ratified by the executive and announced at the spring dinner.
This year I was selected and I agreed as it is a great honour to represent our Alberta clubs. I was crowned at the Markerville Festival on June 13, 2026 and will serve the 2026–27 term. The past Fjallkona was unable to attend, so another past Fjallkona helped me with the crown. Our president, Natalie Wirth, introduced me. Next year I will have the honour to help with the crown and introduce the next Lady of the Mountain. I began my term at the Markerville Festival this year and will attend again in 2027, as well as at least one event in Edmonton. At each event my duty entails a short speech and/or reciting a poem. For my day in Markerville I gave a short speech, then recited a poem honouring our adopted province of Alberta where we have owned a home for 41 years. I avoid saying lived as we have been absentee owners on several occasions because of Tom’s work, where we have lived internationally for short periods of time. Despite those sojourns, Calgary has been our home for 37 of those 41 years. This poem, Toast to Alberta, was written by Markerville’s esteemed farmer/poet, Stephan G. Stephansson, in 1893.2
The Fjallkona gets to choose her own princesses, so I choose my granddaughters, Charlotte and Emily. The girls get to wear the Icelandic costumes we are all very familiar with. Many of you likely even own one. Both are excited about that, and I am thrilled that they agreed to be part of my journey.
To us Vestur Islendingur, the Fjallkona symbolizes our Icelandic heritage and culture. I am so very proud and honoured to become part of this tradition.
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Sources
1 Lady of the Mountain. (16 Apr 2025) in Wikipedia. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_of_the_Mountain
2 Stephansson, Stephan G. (1982). Selected Translation from Andvökur. Jane Ross (ed.) Watson Kirkconnell (trans.). Alberta Culture-Historical Resource Division.
