Tell the Future About Your Day This June 17
- Rob Olason
- 31 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Editor’s Note: This project started last year with several people participating. If you would like to participate this year, send your entries to outreach@Icelandicroots.com with the subject line: June 17 Archive Project.
On June 17, 2024 several people decided to jot down a few notes about what they were doing that day. They then sent their notes to the June 17 Archive Project so the events of their day will one day be available for future generations to get a glimpse of everyday life from long ago.
The inspiration for this project was two-fold and originated in Iceland. June 17 is Iceland’s National Day, which marks the moment when Iceland declared itself an independent nation after centuries as a colony of Norway and later Denmark on June 17, 1944. The date was chosen by Iceland because it is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, the 19th-century leader of Iceland’s Independence movement.
The second source of inspiration for the June 17 Archive Project was Iceland’s “Day of the Diary” which took place on October 15, 1998. The project goal was for everyone to take a moment to document what they did that day, their thoughts, experiences, and perspective of the world from their unique point of view.
More than three percent of the Icelandic population responded to the call, sending their observations to the National Museum of Iceland. This one day in Iceland generated a wealth of information about the people’s lives that will offer future generations a time capsule view of life in Iceland near the end of the Millennium.
The June 17, 2024, Archive Project reflected quiet moments, joy, gratitude, and simple pleasures. Here are a few snippets from the entries:
Daybreak:
“Today I got up around 5:30 am, made coffee and finished reading a mystery novel, “A
Midnight Puzzle, a Secret Staircase Novel,” by Gigi Pandian. All the loose strands of the
story fell into place for a satisfying conclusion, although as usual, I guessed wrong on
whodunit.”
“Woke up 6 o’clock. I thought I would be hearing the old Icelandic music and tunes over the radio but instead here was talking and some modern music. Later on in the morning there was a beautiful program with Icelandic songs and composed music. Hver á sér fegra föðurland? Landið mitt fagra: Ég elska yður þér Íslands fjöll and more of that sort.”
“The sun is shining as I pour my morning coffee, I live in a safe area in Lundar, MB where I can come and go from my house without threat to my life; the air is fresh.”
“I started my day early with the sun around 6 a.m. here in Calgary, Alberta. Being Icelandic National Day, I reminisced about the past celebrations: last year in Markerville with the Alberta Clubs, and the year before that, in Iceland itself! In 2022 when I participated in the Snorri program I was immersed into Icelandic culture so in-depth, I've been working on a book about my experiences and the metaphors for life they've inspired ever since!”
“I got up as usual at 5:30 am, fixed myself a tea (Chinese white tea), then sat down at my
computer. I browsed various news sites before working on my current writing project – a memoir on my career.”
Getting on with the day:
“This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee with two other ladies of Icelandic descent who live in my community of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. One is a first cousin once removed and the other is her first cousin. Two of us grew up in Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, and we all have lived at nearby Fishing Lake in the summers. It was that lake which drew our grandparents and great grand-parents to that area.”
After my regular one-hour cardio, core, and weight routine, I returned home to pick up my wife and make our daily walk to the local coffee shop (Purple Perk, on 4 th street) – I drink an extra hot latte, while Rochelle has an Americano. I do my best writing at the coffee shop and continued my current project.
We walked home, a 3 km round trip and had our normal breakfast, grapefruit, cereal, toast, and then I sat down at my computer to get ready for the Icelandic Roots Samtal Hour with over twenty fellow IR members.”
“Today is Monday after a very busy few weeks, and hosting many overnight guests this
past weekend. We have a comfortable, modest bungalow with a walk-out basement that
is conducive to hosting family and friends. We live on one of the larger islands of the Thousand Islands area in the St Lawrence River of Eastern Ontario.
Yesterday was Father’s Day. The day before that was my father’s birthday, often
celebrated together. In a few days it would have been my parents' wedding anniversary,
followed by my mother’s birthday five days later. Apparently, they planned their
wedding day for midway between their birthdays. This is the first year in eleven years
they can celebrate together, spiritually, as Mom passed last August, joining the love of
her life after over eleven years of separation between worlds. I miss them and always
will. They were good parents. They did their best raising four kids. We all turned out OK.”
“The rest of my day was spent working at the Calgary Zoo, my day job when I'm not traveling. I'd spend around eight hours talking to visitors about the incredible animals here. A key part of my role is working in the Lemur habitat. This time of year was busy with school field trips coming to the zoo. For about two hours, I briefed visitors on how to behave around the Lemurs and shared facts about their homeland, Madagascar.
Despite being so different, I often find interesting connections between Madagascar and Iceland in my mind, and these are the sorts of ideas that flutter in my head throughout the day.”
Thoughts at day's end:
“It was very hot today — our first really hot day in Dane County, Wisconsin.
…we took a walk on our lovely dead-end street that drops 100
feet down to the lake, and discussed things further. There was a welcome breeze and lots of
bird sounds.”
“June 17th 1944 was a day still very well alive in my mind. I wrote a few words about that day that the News Letter shared.
“I have enjoyed getting to know so many fine people within the Icelandic Roots, people who share with me the love of this country. Thank you for being in that group..”
“June 17, 2024, was the 80th anniversary of Iceland’s National Day, celebrating the day
in 1944 when Iceland declared its independence from Denmark, which was occupied by
the invading German army during World War II. I’ve displayed the Icelandic flag on my
house for several years on June 17, an act my puzzled neighbors have been too polite
to ask about.”
“My husband Allan and I remain healthy, I still have my sister Kelly and some cousins that live in Lundar; my daughter Erica remains well in Winnipeg, my other daughter Hilary and husband Tyler remain well in Winnipeg as do my two grandsons (Dashiell who is four and Sterling who will be two at the end of this month).
A blessed day!”
“Unlike many June 17th evenings I did not go to town but stayed home as is fit for my age and condition. I did, however, pick up my knitting and did a few rows!
Altogether a good day with my dear family.
Með kærum kveðjum!”
“My Monday will end with practicing flamenco, because I always need the practice, especially now that I’m trying to learn castanets.”
“As today draws to a close, I send congratulations to all Icelanders as they celebrate their independence. To you, Sir, Jón Sigurðsson, happy birthday. To all, be well; but mostly, be kind to yourself.
Bless. Bless.”