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By Lee-Anne Fox   I was pleasantly surprised that the programme for my third Iceland Noir revealed a number of Icelandic authors on the daytime panels. I admit to having mixed feelings about the changes the festival has seen over the years, particularly moving away from the Noir and crime element and focusing more on getting the big names in as headliners, for example, George RR Martin of Game of Thrones fame and Squid Game  writer, Hwang Dong-Hyuk. I was thrilled to see some of my favourite authors in person during the festival.   Lee-Anne and Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir    Photo Credit: Lee-Anne Fox A trio of first responders on the panel “Real World Rescue—Do Crime Novels Get It Right?” were hilarious, regaling us with tales, proving how they use humour to deal with traumatic situations. Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir, the illustrator of the Njáls Saga tapestry, sat on a panel with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir. And two former prime ministers, Katrín Jakobsdóttir of Iceland and Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland, had a conversation about the latter’s book, Frankly—A Memoir.   In the evening, I attended an interview with former First Lady Eliza Reid about her book Death of a Diplomat  (US title: Death on the Islan d). Alexander Dan, author of Shadows of the Short Days , interviewed the Icelandic Guest of Honour Hildur Knútsdóttir about her award-winning book The Night Guest  , which has the intriguing premise of a woman who perpetually wakes up exhausted and discovers she has unknowingly walked 40,000 steps overnight. Her new book, Dead Weight , features a woman who considers ways of ridding herself of a dead body as a cure for insomnia, little knowing she might need to put these musings into practice.   On Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings there were panels at the IÐNÓ cultural centre or readings in the Edition Hotel, in a cozy side room. Thursday, I chose the panels at IÐNÓ, one with Syd Moore about her book, The Great Deception , which is set in Iceland during the war, when Britain politely invaded Iceland, who politely allowed it. The second panel had Quentin Bates, my translator friend, interviewing Jón Atli Jónasson, whose book Broken  is now being made into a TV series, and Donna Moore, a Glaswegian author of historical crime. I also enjoyed a panel with Joachim Schmidt, the author of the wonderful Kalmann books, set in the little northeastern village of Raufarhöfn, where the neurodivergent eponymous hero with an endearing naivete becomes entangled in a significant crime.    On Friday morning, Joachim Schmidt and Sólveig Pálsdóttir were reading at the Edition Hotel. Quentin Bates is Sólveig’s translator and publisher, and I proofread her books. Joachim has a third Kalmann book in the works but has also been working on a book about Jon Ósmann, the longest-serving ferryman at Héraðsvötn. Sólveig's latest book, Ísbirnir  (working English title Ice Bears ), is about a social media influencer who disappears after leaving her small daughter with her mother-in-law. The cover with a roaring polar bear is one of my favourites of the year.    Sólveig & Quentin talked with Ævar Örn Jósepsson, their “boss” in the Hið íslenska glæpafélag 1 ( Icelandic  Crime Syndicate) at Fríkirkjan. I'm delighted to hear the Icelandic Roots Book Club has set a date with them in 2026.   Photo Credit: Lee-Anne Fox Later, we headed to the British Ambassador's party, where we enjoyed cocktails devised by Ambassador Bryony Mathew's husband, Paul, who came up with three criminally good cocktail recipes for Eliza Reid to use as the deadly Flaming Viking cocktail in her novel. Eliza tried all three cocktails, purely in the name of research, you understand! Many English and Icelandic authors were there. Hildur Knútsdóttir, to my delight, introduced me to the wonderful poet, author and climate activist Andri Snær Magnason. I also met Alda Sigmundsdóttir, who I'm sure many of you will know from her Little Book of the Icelanders  series and other Little Books . I've been in touch with her online and helped with advanced reads of both the Little Book of the Icelanders at Christmas  and her autobiography, Daughter . It was wonderful to meet her in real life.    I chatted with Yrsa Sigurðardóttir about how reading a real book can often make the story “stick” in the mind more than an ebook. I told her how much I had enjoyed her book The Prey , with its shades of the Dyatlov Pass incident. A photographer appeared where we were standing with former festival administrator Hattie Williams, now a L-R: Lee-Anne, Eliza Reid, Hattie Williams, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.  Photo Credit: Lee-Anne Fox published author herself, and Eliza Reid. I stepped aside so he could take their photo, but Yrsa and the others insisted I be in the photo! Later, an Icelandic friend sent me a link to a Vísir article  about the party, and there I was in the photo. Fun fact: the article headline, which roughly translates to “Killer book party at the British Embassy” had been mistranslated by Google as “Fatal Stabbing at British Embassy Book Party.” Quentin said it was a pity we missed out on the bloodbath; it would have made good research!    Ragnar Jónasson, bestselling author and festival organiser, hosted an evening panel with George RR Martin and GoT actor Will Tudor. Martin, speaking of his early career, quoted Robert Heinlein's rules: 1.     You must write. 2.     You must finish what you write.   I confess I may have snorted out loud at this point, and to my horror, I was the only one who did so. Fans have been waiting for him to finish his epic Game of Thrones  series for years now; The Winds of Winter , the final book, has taken 14 years…and counting.   Saturday, the final day of the festival, I attended Syd Moore’s reading from The Great Deception . Yrsa Þöll & Gunnar Theodór, whom I had seen separately on their own panels, were reading from an exciting new children's Christmas book. I reviewed the book for Roots News in December 2025 .   In the afternoon, Andri Snær spoke about his book, Bónus Poetry . He won't be changing the cover to reflect the updated and sanitised pig that is now the logo of the Icelandic discount store. He also shared his eulogy to the extinct Ok glacier, the wording for which has now been used on two other defunct glaciers in the world— a sobering fact. Andri’s TED talk On Time and Water  is well worth watching.   Actor and author Richard Armitage and actors Will Tudor and Anna Friel discussed character building on a panel moderated by Sigríður Pétursdóttir. Lena Olin and her director husband, Lasse Hallström flew in from Sweden to discuss the recent TV serialisation of Ragnar Jónasson’s book The Darkness.  Lena stars as the close-to-retirement detective Hulda. I closed the festival with George R.R. Martin in conversation with Laura Haehnel and Yrsa Sigurdardottir. It was a wonderful few days filled with very entertaining talent, new friends and old, and several new books for my TBR pile!    I recommend Iceland Noir to any book lover, especially if you like hearing about crime, mystery or thrillers set in a beautiful country, with a good chance of spotting the aurora on your way home. Many came from the US and Canada, some being repeat attendees. It's an ideal festival for the solo traveller as everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Iceland is well known as being one of the safest countries in the world. Why not give it a try!    Notes: 1 word-nerdery: it was my first time seeing “the” in use as a separate word hið , rather than a suffix on félag.

by Shaune Jonasson In this article Icelandic Roots pays homage to our own Icelandic-Canadian hockey heroes. As we approach this year's XXV Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, we acknowledge The Winnipeg Falcons - the first team to win an Olympic Gold Medal for amateur hockey. Many of us in North America are blanketed in white. It’s winter and it’s cold. Regardless of how we spend the season, outdoors or inside staying warm, one thing is certain: it’s hockey season.    Winter is synonymous with hockey. Now, I must admit to not being much of a hockey fan, but I enjoy a good competitive game. This year it’s the Olympic games where the best of the best convene to vie for gold.   The Winnipeg Falcons. Photo Cr: Icelandic Roots Image Bank A group of boys, Icelandic descendants of parents that had immigrated to Canada, grew up together in Winnipeg’s West End, many of them living on Sergeant Avenue. They attended the same school and church and played sports of all kinds. Hockey became their passion. In their younger years, they played mostly on backyard rinks, sometimes on the frozen river.   The city had other leagues for hockey, but the Icelanders, often referred to in the day as “goolies”, weren’t included on team rosters. The immigrants weren’t welcome. However, the Icelandic boys ignored them and their prejudice. They created their own teams, the Vikings and the Icelandic Athletic Club. They knew the game, were skilled and played hard. From these teams grew the Winnipeg Falcons, now a part of the Manitoba Independent League for the 1910-1911 season. The Falcons continued with the league and won league titles. They proved their worth. With Britain’s call for Canada to support WWI, the Falcon’s competitive hockey opportunities ceased, or so they thought. Seven members of the team enlisted with the 223 rd  Scandinavian Battalion. Pre-deployment training was held at Camp Hughes, an area located west of Winnipeg. The intensity of training was offset by recreational sport leagues. The Falcons’ members played as part of the 223 rd  Battalion hockey team. Some also participated in boxing, winning many of the meets.    Photo Cr: The Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club Official Site On 23 April 1916, the 223 rd  Battalion left for overseas. Upon arriving in England, the soldiers were reassigned to other units: infantry, artillery, the Royal Flying corps, and general duties, each with their own area of combat. The teammates’ paths rarely crossed. When the war ended, units demobilized, and soldiers went home. Vestiges of war were carried by many, few returned unscathed. Sadly, two of the Falcon’s paid the ultimate sacrifice, each killed in different battles within two weeks of each other. In their eternal rest, Frank “Buster” Thorsteinson and George Cumbers lie only eight headstones apart in the vast Barlin Communal Cemetery in Northern France. Back home in 1919, the Falcon’s resumed adding more players as well as a coach and a manager. All but one of the player s, Allen “Huck” Woodman, wa s of Icelandic descent. Once again treated as outcasts, they were turned away from joining the Manitoba Senior Hockey League. None of the other leagues were willing to come to the aid of the Falcons. Racial tensions lingered. Perseverance persisted. The Falcon’s never gave up, nor did their fans. Soon they were allowed to play in larger venues. Their fan base grew as did their support with game tickets selling out leaving many fans standing outside of the arenas. The team could now reap some of the proceeds, a benefit put toward the cost of equipment and other kit.  Intense training paid off. They were a fast, strong, skilled and solid team. A successful season advanced them to a playoff position. They earned the right to play for the Allan Cup, the prized title and the trophy of the Canadian amateur hockey organizations. The game for the championship cup was held in Toronto on March 27th where the Falcons, representing the West, played against the Thunder Bay team from the East, the former champions defending the Cup. The Winnipeg Falcons honourably won the Allan Cup, deeming them the best amateur hockey team in Canada. This catapulted them to represent Canada in hockey at the VII Olympic games in Antwerp, Belgium in April 1920. This honour bestowed upon them came with its own challenges. The Falcon’s were not prepared for anything more than the Allan Cup meet, thus unprepared for travel and arriving at the Olympic games' opening on April 20th. Family, friends and fans rallied and in short order the Falcon’s had the kit required including their new Olympic sweaters. They sailed overseas with the team staff for the game of their life. 1920 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team Roster: Jacob Walter “Wally” Byron I529762 Goaltender Robert John (Bobby) Johannesson / Benson I529679 Defence Konrad “Konnie” Johannesson I344721 Defence Allen “Huck” Woodman Non-Icelander Defence Sigurdur Franklin Fridriksson / Fredrickson “Frank” Fedierickson I529664 Captain Forward Kristmundur Numi “Chris” Fridfrinnson I211358 Forward  Magnus “Mike” Goodman I530240 Forward  Halldor “Slim” Halldorson/Halderson I22416211 Forward Guðmundur Sigurjónsson / Gordy Hofdal I190403 Coach Herbert “Hebbie” Axford I523757 President William Hewitt Non-Icelander Secretary Fred “Steamer” Maxwell (didn’t attend in Antwerp)  Non-Icelander Manager Vilhjalmur “Bill” Fridfinnson I530239 Treasurer    Seven national teams competed in the Olympics. During the games the Falcons were praised for their outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and citizenship, as well as being credited for their prevailing Viking spirit. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons The Canadian Winnipeg Falcons played against Sweden winning by a score of 12 – 1. The Gold was theirs. Before departing for home, the victorious team took the opportunity to tour the battlefield areas of France and Belgium, areas where some had fought. The remnants of war were apparent; only a few years had passed since it ended. The team wasn’t able to visit the gravesites of their fallen friends, but no doubt Buster and George were foremost in their thoughts. Two teammates, Frank Fredrickson and Gordon Sigurjónsson relocated to Iceland rather than returning to Canada. Frank became a pilot with Iceland’s first airline. Gordon, a wrestler and hockey trainer, continued working as a trainer for track and field and Glíma, a Nordic form of wrestling. The rest embarked for home by steamship. Fans, friends, businessmen and politicians greeted the Falcons with great fanfare at each Montreal and Toronto. Arriving in Winnipeg, the celebrities were swept off the train to great pageantry. The exuberance, cheer, and well deserved congratulations was undisputed. Dignitaries, service clubs, bands and floats paraded the team through fan-lined streets passing adorned trains, streetcars, and storefronts. Festivities continued for many days. During one of the events the Winnipeg Falcons were finally presented with the Allan Cup they had won before leaving for Belgium. The Viking spirit was evident throughout the team’s endeavours for almost a decade. Their love of the game and their dedication to each other created an enviable bond, which helped them overcome adversity at every turn. Their passion was playing hockey and they did it well. Being the underdogs was not an impediment, rather it engendered an intensity that deposited them at the pinnacle of their game winning Olympic Gold in 1920. They are, and forever will be, the world’s first Olympic Hockey Champions.  Historic commemorative plaque for the Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club National located located in Jacob Penner Park on Wellington Ave, Winnipeg, MB. Photo Credit: Parks Canada    The Winnipeg Falcons continue to be celebrated. The centenary of their 1920 Olympic win was commemorated when the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame held a special ceremony in their honour on April 26 th in Winnipeg. Honouring the Falcons and the 150th of the New Iceland settlement. Photo used with permission. On February 4 th , 2026, the Winnipeg Jets hockey club will honour the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons. This announcement from Lögberg-Heimskringla provides details: Honouring the legendary Winnipeg Falcons Wednesday 04 February 2026   Winnipeg, MB: The Winnipeg Jets will honour the legendary 1920 Winnipeg Falcons when they host the Montreal Canadiens in their final home game before the Olympic break. Made up largely of Icelandic players from Winnipeg’s west end, the Falcons   won Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey. The night will also celebrate 150 years of Icelandic culture in Manitoba—truly a Hockey Night in New Iceland. Historica Canada created a Heritage Minute that also honours the dedication of the Winnipeg Falcons game at the 1920 Olympics. A short vignette captures the pride and dedication of the team, and the remembrance paid their fallen teammates. Watch coach Hebbie Axford rallying the team in the locker room before the game. HERITAGE MINUTE: WINNIPEG FALCONS   There are many books and articles written about the Winnipeg Falcons. It has been an enjoyable research project to bring you an abbreviated account in celebration of our Icelandic heritage, the achievements by the Winnipeg Falcons, and acknowledge the Olympic Games as this years' opening ceremonies will soon commence. I encourage you to continue to learn more about these amazing men, the team, and their lives. A few resources are listed, not all-inclusive, but simply as a starting point. We applaud and express appreciation for the amazing and comprehensive website created by Brian Johannesson, the son of Konrad (Konnie) Johannesson, a defenseman on the Falcon’s hockey team. The website, called The Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club, provides the reader with the history of the Club, the players, their community. Enjoy the many photographs, letters, newspaper articles, and so much more.   References and Additional Reading   Icelandic Roots https://www.icelandicroots.com/        Gold on Ice - Canada's Falcon Hockey ICELANDIC-CANADIAN HOCKEY TEAM WINS THE OLYMPICS Arnason, Kathleen. The Falcons Gold. Coastline Publishing 2002 Eliason, Cathy. Falcons Forever The Saga of the 1920 Olympic Gold Medal Ice Hockey Team . Friesen Press 2022 Grebstad, David. A Confluence of Destinies- The Saga of the  Winnipeg Falcons’ 1920 Olympic God Medal Victory in Ice Hockey. 2022 Canadian Encyclopedia:   Winnipeg Falcons CBC News The National  Nov 12, 2014: The Winnipeg Falcons: Hockey gold medallists and WWI heroes all on one team Hockey Canada: 1920 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team The Icelandic Canadian Vol 57 #3 : The Romance of the Falcons The Falcons Will be Remembered "Forever" The Winnipeg Falcons Vol 66 #2 : From Prairie Goolies to Canadian Cyclones: The transformation of the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons Manitoba Historical Society: Archives Winnipeg Falcons Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame Parks Canada Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club National Historic Event Sportsnet: Band of Brothers: The Winnipeg Falcons story  November 19, 2014 The Winnipeg Falcons Hockey Club Wikipedia: Winnipeg Falcons

By Phyllis Smith Icelandic Roots newsletter theme for 2026 is the emigration and settling of American settlements, including those that went to Brazil in the early years. Most people with ancestors who left Iceland have connections with various communities in the USA and Canada. However, a tiny group of Icelanders headed to Brazil in 1863, followed by another small group in 1873. A Reddit thread poster asked for information in the Brazil subreddit regarding the Icelanders in Brazil and got a range of responses, including doubt that they even existed! 1   And yet, it is true. A search of the Icelandic Roots database suggests there could be about 250 people who died in Brazil whose family lines trace back to Iceland.   This file  is licensed under the  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic  license. For those who are interested in this community, Icelandic Roots  remains a key source of information, including a concise summary 2 of the first group that migrated to Brazil. Icelandic descendant communities in Brazil were mainly concentrated in and around Curitiba and other locations in the southern states of Paraná and Santa Catarina. In addition, Dave Jonasson 3 and Bill Valgardson 4 have also both written must-read articles on the subject.   The few other works to explore may be difficult to access. Þorsteinn Þ. Þorsteinsson 5 wrote a book (in Icelandic) in the 1930s about the migrations. It can be located in several libraries through WorldCat . And in 2023, a Portuguese descendant of one of the Icelandic immigrants to Brazil wrote a book (in Portuguese) 6 focused on his own family, but also as a broader homage to the Icelandic immigration experience in the country. Eyrún Eyþórsdóttir is an Icelandic academic known for her academic study of the history and identity of Icelandic descendants in Brazil, particularly focusing on the Iceland Brazil Association and how they embrace their "Nordic" or "white" heritage within Brazilian society. 7 8   The total number of Icelandic Brazilians is estimated to be in the hundreds at most, and they are fully integrated into broader Brazilian society rather than forming a distinct, concentrated ethnic enclave. Connections today are often maintained through heritage associations, sister-city links between Curitiba and Akureyri in Iceland, and genealogical or museum projects that document these families rather than through separate neighbourhoods. There is a Facebook group (largely in Portuguese) for those interested in the Icelanders in Brazil. 9 And if you understand Portuguese, there is a television program that tells the migration story. 10   Sources   TheEekmonster. (2025). “West Icelanders in Brazil.” r/Brazil; Reddit.  Retrieved from https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/comments/1htvegu/west_icelanders_in_brazil/ Icelandic Roots. (n.d.). “Brazilian Connection.” In Icelandic Roots . Retrieved from https://www.icelandicroots.com/brazilian-settlements : 19 Jan 2026.   Jonasson, Dave. (28 Feb 2020). “Down the Rabbit Hole ... to San Francisco and Brazil!” Icelandic Roots.  Retrieved from https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/down-the-rabbit-hole-to-san-francisco-and-brazil : 19 Jan 2026.   Valgardson, W. D.. (30 Apr 2023). “The Failed Brazilian Emigration.”   Icelandic Roots.  Retrieved from https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/the-failed-brazilian-emigration : 19 Jan 2026.     Þorsteinsson,  Þorsteinn Þ.. (1937-38). Aefintýrið frá Íslandi til Brasilíu: Fyrstu ̀fólksflutningar frá Norðurlandi (með myndum .) [machine translation: Adventure from Iceland to Brazil: The First Migrations from the North (with pictures.)] Reykjavík: S. Friðriksson. [in Icelandic] Torques, Caio Vinícius. (2023). Torques Þorkelsson: 150 anos da imigração islandesa ao Brasil (1873 – 2023.)  [machine translation: Torques Porkelsson: 150 years of Icelandic immigration to Brazil (1873 – 2023.) ] Evagraf LTDA.  [In Portuguese] (Contact the author through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cv.torques  to request to buy.) Eyþórsdóttir, E., & Loftsdóttir, K. (2016). “Vikings in Brazil: the Iceland Brazil Association shaping Icelandic heritage.” International Journal of Heritage Studies , 22(7), 543–553. Retrieve from   https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2016.1182572 . [$$] Loftsdóttir, Kristín, Eyþórsdottir, Eyrún & Willson, Margaret. (11 May 2016). “Becoming Nordic in Brazil: Whiteness and Icelandic Heritage in Brazilian Identity Making.” Nordic Journal of Migration Research , V11 (1): pp. 80–94. Retrieved from https://iris.hi.is/ws/files/28544800/.pdf : 19 Jan 2026. Islandeses no Brasil – Íslendingar í Brasilíu. In Facebook  [public group]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/groups/152135724829325/ : 19 Jan 2026. RPC TV; Editorial Staff. (18 Aug 2012). “Meu Paraná conta a História da Imigração islandesa no nosso estado.” [machine translation: My Paraná tells the story of Icelandic immigration to our state.] In RPC. Retrieved from:   https://redeglobo.globo.com/rpctv/noticia/2012/08/meu-parana-conta-historia-da-imigracao-islandesa-no-nosso-estado.html : 19 Jan 2026. [In Portuguese]

The Icelandic Emigration Journey: From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads Sunna Olafson Furstenau (author) 2023 By Becky Byerly-Adams Included in our theme for 2026 are books of personal and historical accounts of Icelandic immigration and the settling in the many North American communities. In our first book written by Sunna Olafson Furstenau, read their stories, see the images and learn about their hardships but also their achievements. Emigration from Iceland began much later than in most European countries, and the Icelandic pioneers carried with them a deep pride in their heritage. Through stories, traditions, sagas, and cultural practices, they preserved their identity and passed it down through generations. This book tells the story of those pioneers and the Icelandic settlements of North Dakota and Minnesota with links to relevant articles, videos, presentations, and websites that connect the past to the present. Included in this book is a short history of Iceland, from the Viking-Age settlement to the nineteenth century, along with photos of people, places, maps, and more. Learn about the most common emigration routes, the journey from Iceland to North America, including ships, ports of departure and arrival, pioneer life on the prairies, Icelandic churches in the settlements, and how descendants of the Icelander pioneers continue to keep their heritage alive for future generations. The Icelandic Emigration Journey: From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads accompanied the art exhibition of the same name, which was exhibited at The Rourke Art Gallery + Museum in Moorhead, Minnesota, from June 16 to July 31, 2023. The exhibition consisted of fourteen 24” x 36” panels featuring photographs, drawings, maps, and stories about Iceland the the Icelandic people who emigrated between 1870 and 1914.  The book includes smaller-format images of these exhibition panels. This book is ideal for readers seeking a concise and accessible history of Iceland and Icelandic emigration to North America, especially those with Icelandic ancestors or an interest in immigration stories. The Icelandic Emigration Journey: From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads is available through both amazon.com  in the U.S. and amazon.ca  in Canada.  It can also be found at abebooks.com The author, Sunna Olafson Furstenau, is the President and Founder of Icelandic Roots.

By Shaune Jonasson Some ancestral stories of the crossings were captured in family diaries, a real treasure to possess today. Despite any trepidation to leave their homes and families, most believed in a better life ahead. They were resolute. We are here as a testament to their hope.   When our Icelandic ancestors left their homeland bound for North America, many unknowns lay ahead of them. The reasons for emigrating are many and we’ve heard or read the accounts of life in Iceland before they departed. This article will include some ports of arrival used by our ancestors as they made their way to a new life. Aboard the Camoens. To emigrate is an enormous decision. Government agents gushed with reasons to leave their home and life in Iceland. In the West, there was a vast amount of land to be farmed and plenty of other work opportunities. The governments needed population growth, and immigration would bring labourers and farmers. With trust in these agents, the shipping companies, and of their own desires, our ancestors stepped on the boat in Iceland. Their journey had begun. The crossing to North America took an extensive amount of time, certainly far more than we could relate to with our current international travel environment. I am curious if our ancestors knew how long it would take. Would they have left if they knew it would take weeks, sometimes months before they would step onto their new homeland? And sadly, some of them didn’t make it at all.    The arrival port was the first introduction they had to their new homeland.     ICELANDIC ROOTS EMIGRATION TEAM Icelandic Roots has an Emigration Team, a group of volunteers trying to identify and document each emigrant. Their task is a huge undertaking. Thi s plethora of information has been detailed in the IR database. Here you can research your family and learn about their crossing, the ships and their manifests, and ports of arrival. Vesturfaraskrá , a book published in 1983, indexes over 14,000 Icelanders between 1870 and 1914. It is a great genealogical resource. An earlier article published in Icelandic Roots is available: Vesturfaraskrá – An Index Chronicling Icelandic Emigration.   Unfortunately, some of the Icelandic emigrants are not listed in that book. The Emigration Team has worked behind the scenes diligently researching beyond Vesturfaraskrá, uncovering additional details that are now included in the database. To add to this huge project, the team is nearing completion of a follow-on book, if you will, adding those missed emigrants and correcting inaccuracies that have been uncovered through their research. Dave Jonasson, IR volunteer and the Emigration Team lead, offers this information about the ports: Emigrants going to the USA were often ticketed through Canada. We have passenger lists for emigrants as they arrived in Québec, and [some of those] passengers [from] the same ship ...[travelled by other means to] later arrive in Pembina, North Dakota. Similarly, passengers could be routed to Canada through New York. Sometimes emigrants changed their destination during their journey because of government agents who were "selling" their country or stories from fellow emigrants. And once they arrived, many emigrants moved back and forth between Canada and the USA, sometimes quickly and sometimes many years later. The majority of emigrants (over 85%) arrived in Québec. It's not always clear where in Québec they landed, but most appear to have arrived in Québec City. Others stayed on the ship to Montreal (more expensive). During the winter months, some ships went to Halifax as the St Lawrence River was iced in. For the USA, most emigrants came in through New York (7%), however, Boston is underrepresented as we do not have passenger lists for many of those years, but we know many emigrants arrived there from their naturalization petitions. And there are many exceptions to the above. Some early emigrants arrived in New Orleans. Many Mormon emigrants arrived in Philadelphia. In the later years, a few emigrants arrived on fishing boats in Gloucester, Massachusetts. And while many were destined for the Icelandic communities, we can see from the passenger lists that there were significant numbers who went directly to California, British Columbia or the Eastern States. Dave also wrote an article for a previous Rætur Fréttir (Roots News) in 2023 about emigration, the ships and the passengers. You can read more here: Emigration Ships and Passenger Lists . PORT ARRIVAL As happy as the seafaring travellers were to see North American land, disembarking the ship wasn’t as simple as walking down the gangplank onto the pier of their new homeland. Protocols at the ports of entry were strict and closely followed. The Port of Québec Ships carrying ill passengers or crew were mandated to fly a yellow flag and dock in another location some distance from the main port. Seasickness was common from which many recovered by arrival, however some illnesses were contagious. The reason for this pre-port inspection was the prevention of spreading disease such as cholera, smallpox, and yellow fever into the communities. The first team of inspectors to board the ship included medical, immigration and customs personnel. Once they gave the all clear, agricultural representatives, shipping agents and longshoremen boarded to give the final OK for docking at the port and disembarkation. The ill passengers or crew were held in quarantine. On rare occasions, an entire ship was quarantined. If families were separated, goodwill agencies tended to the healthy family members until reunited with their family member, or the patient succumbed to their illness. The early years of immigration involved a primitive process; simply being herded to various checkpoints was insufficient. Lessons learned offered more efficiency, which included large “immigration sheds” which housed reception halls, detention centres, cafeterias, and an infirmary. Travellers shuffled along, mothers clung to their children, fathers managed luggage and the important papers. Time spent in the port entry facilities could be a few hours to a few days. After processing, they were turned over to a local agent who was ready to accompany the travellers to their new destination. Others would overnight at or near the port area before their journey continued. Some chose not to go any further and found work locally.   SAILS, RAILS, RIVERS and TRAILS The means of travel to the immigrants’ destination could involve multiple transfers between trains, wagons, ferries, and walking. Cathy Josephson, Icelandic Roots Volunteer. Cathy Josephson, Icelandic Roots volunteer, the Director of the East Iceland Emigration Centre in Vopnafjörður, Iceland, and Icelandic Roots Genealogy Team Director in Iceland, has created a video. Take the time to watch this and discover the many aspects of our ancestors' travels with Cathy's excellent images and thorough commentary. Sails, Rails, Rivers and Trails - The Journey West is also found on the Icelandic Roots YouTube public channel. In September 2024, Cathy was a guest on the Icelandic Roots Members’ Samtal Hour where she explained the challenges faced by our ancestors leaving for points West. You can read this article for more information about that conversation: Samtal Hour Explores the Journey to the Americas From Iceland .   PRESENT DAY PORTS As Dave Jonasson mentioned in his comments above, there were numerous ports of arrival in Canada and the United States. Over the years, with the streamlining of the immigration processes, few ports have remained active while most are defunct. In New York City, the Icelandic immigrants arrived at Castle Garden, which is now known as the Castle Clinton National Monument, on the southern tip of Manhattan. Castle Garden was originally a for t separated from the land by water. After a landfill project adjoined the area to Manhattan, Castle Garden became the immigration landing center from 1855. It closed its doors in 1890 after Ellis Island opened. Map of the Dominion of Canada 1900s. Note the small black dot indicating Québec City. Sourced from IR Database Maps. The Port of Québec was the main immigration port in Canada for many years. It is situated in the eastern part of Canada with inland access for ships on the St Lawrence River. (The small black dot indicates the area of Québec City.) The international border with the USA was south of the city and the St Lawrence River. It is understandable why Port of Québec was known as the Gateway to America. The port in Halifax where our ancestors may have disembarked and registered as newcomers to Canada no longer exists. It and the entire harbour area were destroyed in December 1917 during the devastating Halifax Explosion . The harbour was rebuilt and Pier 21 became the immigration centre, operating between 1928 and 1971. It is now designated as The Canadian National Museum of Immigration and is the place to visit while in Halifax especially if one is looking for family information. The arrival in North American ports was just one step closer to home for our ancestors. Many remained in their new homeland while some returned to Iceland. Their perseverance was unwavering; it was neither a short nor an easy journey, and hardships were faced upon arrival. Nonetheless, they settled, made a life, built a home and raised their families. Our families. Their journey became ours to discover.   Please join us at Icelandic Roots and share the stories of our ancestors and the settlements in North America. We welcome your family’s stories, such as a short anecdote about who they were, where they settled and the families they raised. Please send your stories to outreach@icelandicroots.com .   References and Additional Reading: Icelandic Roots: Emigration- Where They Came From, Where They Settled   Genealogy Resources Vesturfaraskrá – An Index Chronicling Icelandic Emigration The Library of Congress: The Icelanders Library and Archives Canada: Passenger Lists Quebec: Québec – The Gateway to America New York City: Castle Garden Boston: Boston Second Wave Immigration, 1880-1921 Canadian Encyclopedia: Icelanders Halifax Explosion Dictionary of Canadian Biography: Icelandic immigration to Canada Duivenvoorden Mitic, T., & LeBlanc, J. P. (2011). Pier 21: The gateway that changed Canada . Nimbus Publishing Limited. (Original work published 1988)

by Gunnar Birgisson A view of Reykjavik, December 2015 Photo Credit: Arbol01, Creative Commons This is the time of year we experience skammdegi . The days are short and the nights are long. It’s dark when you go to work and it’s dark when you come home. In between, you sip coffee while gazing through the window at the grayish day outside. It’s a long season that few people enjoy. The first half is better, of course. Fall weather gets colder as the days shorten, yet October is often a beautiful month. By November, everybody is looking forward to the holidays, which in Iceland go on forever, as we have a 13-day countdown to Christmas and then a 13-day wind-down as well.  In December, the holiday lights look good against the darkness, and there are lots of parties and socializing. In the densely-knit Icelandic society, people may be double- or triple-booked each day, juggling invitations from relatives, old friends, and neighbors. It peaks on New Year's Eve with the chaotic fireworks display and large bonfires temporarily warming the air. Then reality hits. It's early January, all the festivities are over and it's just going to be dark and cold for weeks on end. The days do get longer a few minutes at a time, but it’s not much help during the peak of winter. The darkness still dominates, and it’s not getting any warmer. Seeing some flashy Northern Lights is no help at all. It's just another reminder that it’s dark. People retreat into themselves, working, brooding, cursing the weather, while also trying to make the most of indoor activities such as going to the theatre. Of course, any trip can make you vulnerable to the erratic Icelandic weather, including unexpected blizzards, driving wind and rain, or sheets of ice hidden under a dusting of snow. During this time, the skammdegi  is a leading suspect for sundry mood disorders.  The skammdegi  is over by late March—the spring equinox. But the miserable weather often lingers, like a bad hangover, cold, damp, and windy.  Spirits are low; actual spring is far off. But fortunately, the next dark season is even further away.

by Rob Olason The Icelandic Roots 2026 focus is “Exploring and Documenting Local Icelandic Settlements in North America.” In 2025, the focus was on Icelandic art and culture in Iceland and North America. 2024 saw us focusing on the Settlement Era of Iceland around the first millennium. We inaugurated the idea of focusing on a specific topic in 2023 when we explored Icelandic emigration to North America and other continents. The idea of examining a focus topic each year doesn’t exclude any other topic of interest; it simply encourages our writers, editors, webinar, podcast, seminar, book club and conversation hour producers to find presenters who can help inform members on the selected topics. Over the course of the year, you will have the opportunity for a more in-depth look at the topic. However, we will continue bringing you stories and educational opportunities on any and all Icelandic-related subjects. For example, in January, the public webinar explores the night sky of the Viking era with the eminent Icelandic folklore scholar, Professor Gísli Sigurdsson. The book club discussed the excellent novel by contemporary Icelandic writer Jón Kalman Stefánsson, Your Absence is Darkness , and the first Samtal Hour of 2026 was a conversation about the 2025 Icelandic Roots offerings that members enjoyed and the topics they would like to see in the future. (Don’t be surprised if we learn a thing or two about Icelandic horses in 2026!) Upcoming Icelandic Roots offerings are already   weaving in opportunities that touch on the 2026 focus. The January Roots Tips topic is “Researching the history of your local Icelandic community,” presented by Willie Engelson, who has spent years exploring his family’s Icelandic community on Washington Island, Wisconsin. In February, the Book Club will meet to discuss Laura Goodman Salverson’s “ Confessions of an Immigrant’s Daughter .” The work offers a first-hand account of living in and adapting to a new land, new culture, new language. This story won Canada’s Governor General’s Award in 1939. The memoir offers an intimate, nuanced portrait of the life and struggles all immigrants face, from a very Icelandic point of view. The story explores her family's early days in Winnipeg, but then begins to shift to other locations as her father continued to search for a better future for his family. Visitors from Iceland posing at the Memorial at Willow Island near Gimli, MB . That search from community to community for a better future played out across many North American communities. A frequent feature of many family stories is a recitation of the multiple moves across the continent to find that perfect home. On the Icelandic Roots website, the page Icelandic Roots | Emigration-Immigration  gives a capsule review of why Icelanders left Iceland and where they settled. This page is at the heart of our 2026 focus, and throughout the year, our Icelandic Roots activities and presentations will be returning to the details that are on this page. We will also be searching for the missing details that should be  on this page. This is where our readers and members can join in this year-long project. As an Icelandic descendant, is your family’s settlement community listed on this page? Can you share what you know about your family’s settlement journey, all the temporary and permanent communities they called home? Do you know some of the history of those settlements? Do you know of some of the prominent members of the community? Or some of the “characters” in the community? Do Icelandic descendants still live there? Does the community still exist? For all of us, whether Icelandic descendants or Icelandic interested , how much of this story do we know? What else can we find out about this story? Icelandic Roots is on a year-long voyage of discovery, where the goal is to recover the Icelandic diaspora’s forgotten history, collect those discoveries, and share them with the Icelandic Roots community and the world-at-large through our articles, events, podcasts, and special activities. We’ve already laid out a month-by-month “wish list” of areas to explore: January- Why They Left, Arrival Ports February-Utah and Brazil settlements March-Wisconsin settlements-Washington Island, Shawano, Milwaukee April- Muskoka/Kinmount, Ontario; Markland, Nova Scotia May- Minneota/Lyon County, Minnesota June- Lake Winnipeg area, Manitoba July- North Dakota August- Lake Manitoba area, Manitoba September- Saskatchewan October- Alberta November- British Columbia December- Washington Do these locations encompass all the settlement areas? No, they do not. We need your help in locating those missing communities. And sharing what you know about those communities. To help you help us tell the story of your family’s settlement community, we’ve set up a hotline where you can share your tips to help us find the communities we’ve missed. Send tips to outreach@icelandicroots.com . With your assistance in this effort, all leads will be followed. We’ll make sure no community is forgotten.

By Phyllis Smith   Many of us are immigrants—not personally—but through our ancestors. It is because they left Iceland that we’re here today. By telling their stories, we uncover themes of resilience, determination, strength, and even suffering. Unless we knew our immigrant ancestors personally, we must trace their journeys through records and research. Our family lore can add colour and context, but it may not be enough to answer every question.   I never knew my Icelandic immigrant ancestors, and the family lore is either quiet or a bit fuzzy. Through research, I have found records that answer the questions of who, what, when, where, and how they came to Canada. Those facts help me to tell their stories. The question that has been more difficult to answer is: Why? Why Canada? Why leave Iceland at all? Vigdýs Guðmundsdóttir (I1394682) and Magnús Þorkelsson ( I201614) @1854 Photo Credit: Original from the personal collection of Phyllis Smith; damage repaired using Gemini. Vigdýs Guðmundsdóttir (I1394682) was my maternal grandfather’s maternal grandmother. She didn’t live an easy life, but it was relatively good compared to many Icelanders in the 1880s. Her husband, Magnús Þorkelsson ( I201614) , owned a fishing business, and the family lived on the Reykjanes peninsula in a relatively new timber farmhouse.   Her life came crashing down in 1885, when the house burned to ashes, taking Magnús with it. Vigdýs had 14 children during her marriage; eight survived. Two were married, leaving her with six children at home, or rather living in a turf house quickly constructed by her neighbours after the fire. Fortunately, Magnús had insured his boats and business, leaving Vigdýs with some financial resources.   She used that money to purchase ship and train tickets to Winnipeg for herself, five of her six children, and a grandson. One daughter was chosen to stay behind until money could be raised to pay her passage. Tragedy compounded tragedy when her eldest son, purportedly the father of Vigdýs’ grandson, died by his own hand. His ticket allowed his sister to accompany the family, who left Iceland in July 1887.   I have been able to trace their journey from Iceland to Edinburgh, across to Glasgow, and then by steamer to New York City. Family lore says they travelled by train to Niagara Falls and then westward to Winnipeg. It's a remarkable emigration story.   What has been missing is an answer to the question of why . The obvious explanation is that many people were leaving Iceland at that time, as they were across Europe. The reasons included a growing population competing for meagre resources—land, food, jobs, and housing. To make matters worse, Iceland also suffered climate catastrophes. Newspaper articles described the Icelandic settlement at Gimli, Manitoba, as well as across Canada and the USA. Earlier emigrants sent letters home about their new home, which likely fuelled hope back home. Yet not everyone left, so why did Vigdýs? If she had insurance money, why did she not rebuild the house? Why did she not stay close to her married daughters and their children?   Recently, I accessed Alda Sigmundsdóttir’s webinar, Life under Vistarband: Iceland’s hidden history of class, control, and generational trauma . I already understood how difficult it had been for my ancestors to acquire a farm leasehold and the challenges they faced when they wanted to marry and start families. The webinar introduced the historical, systemic serfdom ( Vistarband ) that existed in Iceland from the 1400s until about 1899. Vistarband  benefited a small segment of the population while it restricted marriage, independence, and economic opportunities for the poor.   As is often the case, women and children suffered the most under Vistarband . Single women and girls were treated almost as property. And the children of widows and single mothers could be auctioned off as cheap labour. Families were torn apart. Perhaps this offers an answer to my question. Vigdýs had enjoyed an enviable status as the wife of a man who owned his own fishing business, but was the insurance money enough to protect her? Could she lease and operate a farm as a widow? Might she have been forced into service and lost her children? I have no direct evidence to confirm my fears. As Alda notes, this is a traumatic history few wished to discuss, so I may never know for certain. Vigdýs Guðmundsdóttir (I1394682) @1900s Photo Credit: Original from the personal collection of Phyllis Smith; damage repaired using Gemini. Vigdýs appears to have been a tiny lady in photos, but I imagine her as being fierce. Family lore claims that Magnús appeared to her in a dream, urging her to use the insurance money to emigrate. Perhaps it was her own idea, but it was easier to give the credit to her dead husband to justify such a bold decision to the community. At 54 years old, she moved her children, aged 9 to 16 years and a six-year-old grandson to a new country, driven by hope for a better life.   She had to pinch pennies, and the route to Canada was long and circuitous. Life in Manitoba was far from easy, but Vigdýs persevered. She helped her teenage daughters find work and eventually husbands. Her sons were hired onto farms in rural Manitoba, where they improved their circumstances through hard work. She raised her grandson and then another grandson largely by herself. Through it all, she contributed to the Icelandic community as a midwife. Vigdýs died in Manitoba in 1908 at 73 years old.   In her discussion of Vistarband , Alda raises the question of intergenerational trauma. Do the descendants of those who endured forced labour and poverty still carry traces of that trauma? Does it shape our values and decisions today? Perhaps my cousins, who also trace their lineage back to Vigdýs, can see in their families a respect for hard work, a fierce determination to control one’s destiny, and a thread of frugality and sacrifice for the betterment of the family.   Vigdýs left behind a powerful legacy. One of her married daughters later came to Canada with her husband and children. Two of her grandsons, including my grandfather, also joined the Canadian branch of the family. Her descendants worked hard, became Canadian citizens, owned property, and built strong families. Vigdýs not only escaped the grinding poverty of Vistarband  herself, but through her courage and resolve, she also gifted future generations a far better life.      Notes: To learn more about Vistarband , sign up for Alda Sigmundsdóttir’s webinar, Life under Vistarband: Iceland’s hidden history of class, control, and generational trauma . Alda provides a straightforward and fully sourced explanation of the concept. To learn more about the challenges of emigration from Iceland, see Jason Doctor's post " Wasteland with Words ". Jason reviews Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon's book, Wasteland with Words. Also, see the video, Wasteland with Words: A Conversation with Sigurður Gylfi Magnússon .

The Snorra Edda is more than a collection of myths—it is a map of the night sky, where stories serve as constellations and the heavens become a mnemonic for the world of the gods. In this webinar, Professor Gísli Sigurdsson explains how Gylfi’s Illusion ( Gylfaginning ) in the Prose Edda transforms what can literally be seen above us—the movements of stars, sun, and moon—into a mythological cosmos. By taking Snorri’s metaphor at face value, we can read the sky as a kind of celestial memory palace: every bright point and phenomenon corresponds to a god, a tale, or a force of nature. This way of seeing reveals a worldview deeply rooted in pre-Christian northern cosmology, where storytelling served not only as entertainment or theology, but also as a guide to orientation—both physical and spiritual. Gísli Sigurdsson Gísli Sigurdsson has written an academic paper on this subject entitled, “How Gylfi’s Illusion Breathes Life into the Sky.” The paper is available to read at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eHyb1mzGOamKAl4tnYERo-cmnihNY3Hm/view?usp=sharing 1 Join this webinar to rediscover the Snorra Edda as our ancestors may have: not as a written book, but as a living sky full of names, stories, and meaning. View the online presentation “Celestial Bodies & Norse Myths: A discussion with Professor Gísli Sigurdsson” on Monday, January 26 at: 10:00 AM Pacific, 11:00 AM Mountain, 12:00 PM Central, 1:00 PM Eastern, and 6:00 PM in Iceland Join the presentation a few minutes before the start time for your timezone.   The webinar link is:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87828482161   Footnote: 1 Shared under fair use for nonprofit educational and cultural‑heritage purposes through the Danish journal, Journal of Religious Studies Creative Commons license; all rights to Gísli Sigurðsson’s article in the journal remain with the original copyright holders.

By Bryndís Víglundsóttir Photo Credit: Börkur Sigurbjörnsson from Barcelona, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Jól have been celebrated in Iceland as long as people have lived here. Our ancestors, the early immigrants to Iceland celebrated the returning of the sun at winter solstice, around December 20th (jólmánuður/ mörsugur). It is simply not possible for people of the present generation to imagine or understand what the dark season of this region was like. People had to continue doing their daily chores, coping with the darkness and all the creatures the eye could not see but you knew were certainly there. The older people of each family were usually the ones who would look after the young children, often humming rhymes and telling stories as the young children sat on their knees. Many of these rhymes are about the blessed sun that will be returning and the sweet, long summer days! Bráðum kemur betri tíð Soon the weather will be better Með blóm í haga and flowers blooming in the field Sæta, langa sumardaga. Sweet, long summer days. (HKL) It was a custom to leave a lit candle somewhere in the house on New Year's Eve. It was considered a friendly gesture to the elves and hidden people if they should come by. In the beginning of habitation in Iceland there was the jóla blót (Christmas festivities) that would last for a few days. As it is now the jól celebration begins on December 24 th, we continue with celebrations on Christmas day, the 25th and the second Christmas day, December 26th. The days until the Old Year's Evening ( December 31st ) are “normal” days, some people even go to work! But on that day the country is really on fire in the best of ways! On New Year's Eve families and friends will gather and enjoy a festive meal together and then people begin to shoot fireworks into the sky and firecrackers are thrown around. Our children simply love this ! And then there are the bonfires. The different communities are responsible for the bonfires, pile up the wood to be burned and control the fire. New Year’s Eve is the evening when huldufólk (the hidden people) move homes if they decide to move. It is good to have a lot ot fires, light to help them see where they are going. We know they will come to the bonfires to enjoy the light with us but we will only see them if they allow us to do so. In some communities people will put on extra colorful clothes as we all know huldufólk wear and then arrive to the bonfire riding their horses, preferably white. They will participate in the singing and making merry. People representing the elves will also show up. When the fires have burned people return home to celebrate the arrival of the New Year and all the promises it brings. Since the huldufólk may be changing living places addressing them is an old custom that goes like this: One person of the family will light a torch and walk three times around the family house, saying while walking: “Come those who want to come, move those who want to move, stay those who want to stay doing no harm to me and my kin”. One of the miracles of New Year's Eve happened in the cow shed because at midnight that evening. The cows could and would speak. Humans must not sneak into the shed to listen. Across from our house on Laugavegur (which now is a main street in Reykjavík) there was a cow shed sheltering eight cows. I had been pestering my parents for permission to stand outside the shed at midnight to listen to the cows. My parents allowed me to stay up until the cows would begin talking, I would have to be at the window facing the shed, the window would simply be open and thus I would be able to hear the cows. I was only 6 years old and guess the day had been quite exhausting so I fell asleep before midnight. My parents said I should try again next year as the cows would be speaking again. In this year of 2025 customs and beliefs are certainly changing in Iceland. The “world” with all its customs and lights has permanently visited our country. So it is fair to ask if all these beliefs and customs are still alive or if they have disappeared. Selfoss is a village in southern Iceland, built on the banks of the river Ölfusá. The bridge over the river is not considered safe anymore and a new bridge must be built. Highly educated engineers were hired to plan and oversee the project. They decided where the new bridge should be placed. The banks on both sides were good and although the river is wide at that location there is a good-sized island, Efri-Laugardælaeyja in the middle of it, ideal for the center pillars for the bridge to rest on. When everything was in order to begin the work a farmer from the region asked to talk to the engineers. He told them there were ghosts on the island and the people, both elves and huldufólk were not happy with the idea of tearing up their environment, bringing heavy machinery to their island and blasting holes in the cliffs to put in some pillars for the bridge to rest on. Their whole community where generations had lived in peace would simply be destroyed. A wise woman living in Ölfus offered to try to meet with the huldufólk and talk to them. She was ferried out to the island and left there. At a given time when she was picked up again she told the engineers and the officials that she had met with the leaders of the huldufólk, First of all there were no ghosts on the island but the leaders there were quite concerned and unhappy about the idea of building the bridge in their community. The woman explained to them how very important this bridge was for the human community and why this was such a good place for it. The huldufólk decided they would allow the bridge to be bujlt on their land but put forth certain conditions on how they should and must leave the surroundings when the project was done. These two engineers were asked by a reporter from our television (RUV) how they felt about this- asking the huldufólk for permission to build the bridge as they saw fit. Well, they said, there is much in this world that we don´t understand. Who are we to oppose the opinion and wishes of the huldufólk and elves? We are pleased that their wishes and conditions will be met. ( RUV , October 12th, 2025) Efri-Laugardælaeyja This evening (December 8th, 2025) there was an item on the RUV news announcing the publication of a map, showing places where elves and huldufólk reside within the city boundaries of Reykjavík. The map will be on sale in bookstores. I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve with your family, friends and such huldufólk as you choose to mingle with. Gleðilegt nýtt ár! Happy New Year! Bryndís Víglundsóttir

Every year the Icelandic Roots Newsletter team considers the articles contributed to the newsletter by IR members and others. These are not the "best" posts, but they appealed to us for various reasons. We have compiled a short list of our favourites for your consideration: The 50th anniversary of the Women’s March was the most inspirational event in 2025 for me. We featured several articles as a tribute to the women in Iceland who fought for gender equality back in 1975. They showed us it can be done.   My favorite post was Kvennaárið 1975 - The Year of Women 1975  by Bryndís Víglundsdóttir, who writes about her experiences before, during, and after the Women’s Day March on October 24, 1975. See also They Dared. They Could. They Did  and Kvennafrídagurinn by Gunnar Birgisson, which both address the Women’s March.   In addition, Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Pamela Hogan, director of the documentary The Day Iceland Stood Still,  treated Icelandic Roots members to a behind-the-scenes look at and a special viewing of the documentary.                                                         (Becky Byerly-Adams, Membership Outreach Director) In 2025, the newsletter team produced 26 editions of Roots News/ Rætur Fréttir. Each edition includes four, sometimes five articles, which place no fewer than 104 stories for you to consider each year. This wealth of material includes historic, cultural and personal stories about Iceland, plus stories informing readers about upcoming Icelandic Roots offerings throughout the year. We share news on webinars, book club reads, podcasts and videos. Picking a couple of stories from this large body of work is difficult because there is an implication that these are the only stories that matter. Not true. All the stories paint a broader picture, a bigger vista of the favorite subject we dwell upon at Icelandic Roots: the land, the people, the culture of Iceland. While I enjoyed grazing on the banquet of these 100-plus stories from 2025, I do have a soft spot for those tales of smaller events in our lives that can offer deeply profound vistas upon life itself. I call your attention to these gentle tales from two writers who can find keen meaning in their everyday lives: Samtal Gold , by Brian Borgford  (April 22)   https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/samtal-gold Icelandic Roots Writer’s Group member and published author Brian Borgford wrote about the many serendipitous experiences one can have while participating in Judy Dickson’s Samtal Hour. The event is bi-weekly for the most part and Judy keeps things lively with a variety of guests, topics and explorations in the shared interest in Icelandic subjects. Brian pointed out in his article that one can also encounter unexpected and surprising discoveries that literally occur just by tuning in. This article captures that “ah-ha” moment beautifully.   GOING, Going, Gone…. , by Sharon Arksey (June 22)   https://www.icelandicroots.com/post/going-going-gone From time to time, we need to talk about Icelanders and their libraries. While they are not the only people on the planet coveting books, Icelandic descendants can locate this need deep in the ancestral DNA. Sharon offers her own example in this story, revealing how she has found enablers along her path. She also confesses to not being above adding and adding additional copies of titles she already has waiting patiently on her library shelves.                                                                           (Rob Olason, Newsletter Managing Editor)   Choosing one favourite post for 2025 is no small feat with so many great posts to choose from. For me, there isn’t one specific article, but rather a monthly series we call the "Interesting Icelander".  From the IR database, in support of our 2025 Art and Culture theme, we shortlisted those who have made or are currently making a noteworthy contribution to the culture, heritage, language and life of Icelanders or their descendants. The articles capture the individual’s life and family, education, challenges, accomplishments and their legacy.  These are our Art and Culture Interesting Icelanders from 2025: Edgar Holger Cahill , Director of the Museum of Modern Art, New York (January 2025) Vikingur Heiðar Olafsson , musician (February 2025) Jón Leifs/Þorleifsson , musician (March 2025) Steinunn Þórarinsdóttir , sculptor (April 2025) Einar Jónsson , sculptor (May 2025) Ríkarður Jónsson , sculptor (June 2025) Þórdís Gísladóttir , author (July 2025) Hulda Emilsdóttir , singer (August 2025) Bólu-Hjálmar/Hjálmar Jónsson , poet, woodworker (September 2025) Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval , artist/painter (October 2025) Magnús R. Einarsson , musician and producer (November 2025) Jón Kalman Stefánsson , writer (December 2025) If you want to know more about these individuals, check out the IR database. While you’re there, go to the relationship calculator and see how you’re related. Perhaps you inherited or share a similar innate talent!                                                                                      (Shaune Jonasson, Newsletter Team)   Some of us were never so fortunate as to have relatives around us who spoke Icelandic. I am one of those people, and I love to learn even a little bit of my ancestors’ language. In 2025, Icelandic Roots members enjoyed Gunnar Birgisson’s regular posts sharing interesting Icelandic words, as well as their usage and sometimes history.    Any language, spoken or written, is a living, breathing thing. Meaning is rarely “baked into” the words. Meaning comes from the historical origins of the words and is also influenced by fluent users of the language. Gunnar’s posts were always informative, but more importantly, fun and cheerful. Some words did trigger some impassioned  debate, shall we say. But this is how we keep language alive and interesting.   Berjamór  (Jan 31, 2025) Bringusund  (Feb 15,2025) Laxá  (Mar 28,2025) Fríhöfnin  (Apr 26, 2025) Kríuvarp  (Jun 06,2025) Þjórfé  (Jul 04, 2025) Ógeðslega  (Aug 01, 2025) Kvittun  (Aug 30, 2025) Föðurland  (Sep 26, 2025) Kvennafrídagurinn  (Oct 11, 2025) Álfaborg  (Nov 08,2025) Hitaveita  (Dec 05,2025)                                                                                            (Phyllis Smith, Newsletter Team)

By Shaune Jonasson Welcome to Icelandic Roots Interesting Icelanders for 2026. This year, we will focus on those who emigrated to North America or their descendants, that became accomplished or well known within the area. Our first profile is honouring the memory and achievements of Sir William Stephenson from Winnipeg, Manitoba.   William Samuel Clouston Stanger/Stephenson (I523046) was born on 23 January 1897 in the Point Douglas area of Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Scottish father, William Hunter Stanger, and an Icelandic mother, Sigríður Guðfinna Jónsdóttir (I523045). The family had six children, two had died in infancy. Sigríður, later known as Sarah, having lost her husband two months after the youngest baby died, found it difficult to provide for her other four children. She left the area with two of the children, leaving the other two in the care of other families. William, four, was taken in by Vigfus Stephenson (I523039) and his wife, Kristin (I523040), who also resided in the Point Douglas area. They had four of their own children. William took the surname Stephenson, but no formal record of adoption is evident. William Stephenson attended school at Argyle Elementary. He enjoyed reading, boxing and learning Morse Code. Although a small framed lad, William was spirited. As a young teen, he worked in a lumber yard and delivered telegrams. He was an avid reader throughout his life. At the time he was working for the telegram office, he took an interest in reading about a local murder case. The fugitive was accused of murder and had gone into hiding. On one of the home deliveries, William recognised the accused and reported the sighting to the police, who then apprehended the fugitive. [1] WWI: Soldier to Pilot William’s skillfulness and keen mind saw his career advance in the military as well as in business after the Great War of 1914-1918. After the outbreak of the first WWI, William dropped out of college. In 1915 he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers, part of the 101st Battalion, Winnipeg. The unit was sent to Britain as the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) the following spring. Shortly after arriving, the CEF was divided amongst the British units. Stephenson was sent to a few different posts. In 1917 William was commissioned as an officer with the Royal Flying corps. He was an avid pilot flying the Sopwith Camel. His acute ability to successfully target the enemy, including more than 18 downed enemy aircraft, was admired and noted. He was also shot down accidentally in 1918 by the French allies, suffering a shot to the leg. A subsequent hit by the Germans led to his capture. He was in a German prison camp for a short period until he escaped. He was repatriated later in 1918. Demonstrating excellent skills and bravery in the face of danger earned Stephenson the Military Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre with Palms. Between Wars After being demobilized in Britain, Stephenson returned to Winnipeg. He had stolen a tin can opener while in prison camp and improved upon its design, which he patented and sold internationally. This was very lucrative until the economy failed; people didn't have money for non-essentials. He and his partner declared bankruptcy. Leaving Winnipeg in the early 1920s, Stephenson relocated to Britain. On a return business trip to Britain, travelling by ship, he met Mary French Simmons, an American tobacco heiress who was relocating to Britain. [2] They married in 1924.  Stephenson had sound business acumen that proved profitable. He invented and patented the machine capable of transmitting photographic images electronically. Before he was 30, his entrepreneurial aptitude made him a millionaire. He diversified from radio manufacturing to “…film, coal and oil refining, steel industry, television and aircraft production. He also helped found the British Broadcasting Corporation.” [3] These international business ventures presented Stephenson with unique opportunities, exposing him to high-level and influential contacts. Politically and internationally he maintained the right contacts and had influence with the banks, raw material production, and large-scale industry, all proved beneficial, particularly with World War II on the horizon.  WWII - the Spy that became Intrepid Pre-war, while still in Britain, Stephenson was placed in charge of the British Security Coordination for the Western Hemisphere, headquartered in New York City. The job title of British Passport Control coordinator was cover for the role of coordinating all British espionage with the Western Hemisphere. The assigned telegraphic address was "INTREPID" [4], a handle that eventually referred specifically to Stephenson, not simply the telegraphic address. Stephenson became a highly trusted and close contact of Sir Winston Churchill. Information he learned regarding Hitler’s operations was passed on to Churchill and the British. It’s important to note that Stephenson and his team broke the code of the German coding machine known as Enigma. Historians believe this feat helped save lives and may well have shortened the length of the war. Stephenson understood the complexity of war: the security required, intelligence gathering, and its use. He established a training facility near Whitby, ON known as Camp X. [5] Spies from allied countries were trained in covert activities during the remaining war years.   Stephenson was also instrumental in convincing President Roosevelt to join the war effort in Europe. Additionally, he recommended his trusted colleague and friend, J. Donovan, to establish and oversee the US Wartime Office of Strategic Services, the American Intelligence service, which became the CIA. In 1945, William Stephenson was Knighted into the Order of the Knight’s Bachelor by King George VI. He was now Sir William Stephenson. Post War Lady Mary Stephenson remained at her husband’s side during the war. Theirs was a happy and affectionate relationship. Some accounts credit her with assisting Sir William; she had a keen ability to remember facts. The couple chose to live their lives in secret during the war. They did not have any children. When they relocated to Bermuda for retirement in the early 1970s, they continued a quiet, almost anonymous existence. Sir William had suffered a stroke. Despite the use of a cane and a slightly disfigured face, he was able to speak and had a sound mind. A live-in nurse, Elizabeth Baptiste, and her young son cared for Lady Mary until her passing on 24 December 1978 at the age of 77. Elizabeth remained in the home caring for Sir William. It was during this time that he formally adopted Elizabeth as his daughter. Sir William Stephenson remained in Bermuda until his passing on 31 January 1989 at the age of 92. He was survived by his adopted daughter, Elizabeth and her son Rhys. Sir William Stephenson is buried alongside Lady Mary Stephenson in the Pembroke Parish Cemetery in Bermuda. From the obituary of the late Sir William Stephenson: “… Finally, here is a remark from the spymaster himself after, not surprisingly, he became concerned about keeping peace after World War 2. It was from the speech he made in 1979 as part of his convocation acceptance for an honorary science degree from the University of Manitoba. 'It is up to us, the people, to make the moral and philosophical choices, and since the threat to humanity is the work of human beings, it is [up] to man to save himself from himself .'” [1]   Sir William S. Stephenson's medals on display at the Manitoba Legislature. Photo credit: The Intrepid Society, Winnipeg Recognitions, Honours, and Awards Sir William Stephenson was recognized from a young age for his accomplishments. From the time he first enlisted as a soldier, his competence quickly advanced his training to that of pilot, and enrolled him as an officer. He was highly respected, a life was full of adulation for the bookworm, soldier, pilot, entrepreneur, businessman, spy, and philanthropist. A list of honours, awards and recognition includes but is not limited to the following: Military Cross during WWI   Distinguished Flying Cross during WWI, British War Medal and Victory Medal (per UK Air Ministry Medal Roll) Knighted into the order of the Knight’s Bachelor by King George VI, 1945 US Presidential Medal for Merit (the first non-American to receive this award) by President Harry Truman, 1946 Military Order of Malta insignia during WWII Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977 Companion of the Order of Canada by Governor-General Ed Schreyer, 1979 Honorary degrees from University of Winnipeg (1979) and the University of Manitoba (1980) Named the first Colonel Commandant (1982-1985) of the Canadian Forces Intelligence Branch. Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt in 1985 Donovan Award by the OSS Society in 1983 Postage Stamp carrying Stephenson’s image 2000 Postage stamp with Sir William Stephenson Province of Manitoba named a lake Sir William Stephenson Lake, 2020 City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ·   renaming Water Street to “William Stephenson Way”, 2009 ·   Winnipeg’s library on Keewatin St renames “Sir William Stephenson Library” ·   Statue of Stephenson by Leo Mol on memorial Boulevard, Winnipeg, with smaller replicas of this statue in other places, Buckingham Palace and the CIA museum to name two City or Whitby, Ontario, Canada ·   “Stephenson Street” named in his honour connects streets names “Intrepid” and “Overlord” ·   Sir William Stephenson Public School opened in 2004 City of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada ·   Royal Canadian Legion Branch #637 is named in honour of Sir William Stephenson Statue of Sir William Stephenson in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Stephenson established the Sir William Stephenson Scholarship, which is managed through the Winnipeg Foundation. It provides financial support and is awarded annually to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements and leadership abilities and pursue further education in their chosen field.    Before establishing the academic scholarships, Stephenson was instrumental in the creation and development of espionage and public relations training. History claims that when Stephenson worked with the British Secret Intelligence Service and the establishment of Camp X, he declined remuneration. He had already made his fortune beforehand.   Stephenson’s legacy continues to this day.   Books to consider For someone like Sir Stephenson, who was involved in covert operations and espionage, the story can be vague. Details are censored. Biographers and authors have been challenged as to the authenticity of their accounts. From the Icelandic Roots database: “…not much was known about [Stephenson’s] war services until the publication of H. Montgomery Hyde's The Quiet Canadian  (1962). William Stevenson (no relative to Stephenson) later published two books about him, A Man Called Intrepid  (1977) and Intrepid's Last Case  (1983). The claims made regarding Stephenson's career have been treated with reserve by professional historians and experts on intelligence. …” Bill Macdonald, a former teacher and journalist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, has also written two books about Stephenson’s spy days. They are listed below. [ 6 ] Many will be familiar with the James Bond series of books written by Ian Fleming. It was claimed that Ian Fleming was trained as a spy at Camp X. [5] It was here that Fleming, while observing training, was also watchful of Stepheson. He is often quoted as saying, “ James Bond is a highly romanticized version of a true spy. The real thing…is William Stephenson .” The Quiet Canadian by H. M. Hyde (1962) A Man Called Intrepid by William Stevenson (1976) Wild Bill and Intrepid: Donovan, Stephenson, and the origins of the CIA by Thomas Tory (1996). The True ‘Intrepid”: Sir William Stephenson and the Unknown Agents by Bill Macdonald (1998). Intrepid’s Last Secrets:  Then and Now – History, Spies and Lies by Bill Macdonald “ Chapter 10 (Sir William Stephenson) ” by Bartley Kives, The Greatest Manitobans, Winnipeg Free Press, 2008. References and Resources [1] Icelandic Roots   [2] Manitoba Historical Society Archives “ Memorable Manitobans: William Samuel “Intrepid” Stephenson (1897-1989) ” [3] Government of Canada Veterans “ Intrepid ” [4] The Canadian Encyclopedia “ Stephenson, Sir William Samuel ” [5] Camp X Official Site [6] True Intrepid   Additional Suggested Reading Icelandic Roots https://www.icelandicroots.com Wikipedia – William Stephenson  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stephenson Britannica - William Stephenson, Canadian industrialist https:// www.britannica.com/money/William-Samuel-Stephenson Canadian Politics ad Public Policy: William Stephenson: The Intrepid Canadian Behind the First ‘Maple Moment’ https://www.policymagazine.ca/stephenson-william-stephenson-the-intrepid-canadian-behind-the-first-maple-moment/ Manitoba Historical Society Archives: Memorable Manitobans https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/stephenson_w.shtml Veterans Affairs Canada https:// www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canada/intrepid The Intrepid Society, Winnipeg https://intrepid-society.org/career-highlights/