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Are you eager to stay informed about all things Icelandic? Look no further than the Icelandic Roots newsletter! Our dedicated team of authors and guest writers brings you insightful and engaging content on various topics related to Icelandic culture, history, travel, famous people, language, genealogy, and upcoming events.

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Apr 16, 20234 min read

The Emigration Variations

INTERESTING EMIGRATION VARIATIONS By Dave Jonasson You may have already read articles about mass emigrations from Iceland during the...

Apr 16, 20232 min read

Discovering Your Past

Learning about and sharing our stories with Icelandic Roots By Shaune Jonasson Have you ever wondered what life was like back “when”?...

Mar 19, 20232 min read

Fond Memory of Our First Trip to Iceland

By Valdine (Scrymgeour) Hernes My husband, Sigfred (I640085), and I (I639986) have visited Iceland four times. On our first trip in July...

Mar 19, 20237 min read

The Icelandic Settlement of Spanish Fork, Utah Part II - The Icelandic Association of Utah

by Susan Bearnson Huff Many Icelanders lived near each other in Spanish Fork and gathered often both formally and informally. For the...

Mar 5, 20235 min read

Bréfin frá sólskinsbörnum (The letters from sunshine children)

An interview with scholar Christopher Crocker In June of 1916, the children’s newspaper Sólskin, a supplement to the weekly North...

Mar 5, 20234 min read

The Sólskin Children, a Reykjavík Hobo, and a Poem

By Ruth Cartwright Poem by Nelson S. Gerrard One hundred fifty letters from first, second, and third-generation Icelandic children living...

Feb 19, 20236 min read

Trying to Identify 13,000 Photos of Unknown People

By Rus Magnusson Over the years, Icelandic Roots has collected thousands of wonderful old photos submitted by our members. Over 13,000...

Feb 19, 20233 min read

Prophetic Dreams: A Curse or a Legacy

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, March 2, 2023, will feature Prophetic Dreams: a Curse or a Legacy with author Alfreða...

Feb 5, 20232 min read

A Cherished Object

By Sverrir Sigurdsson As a young child, I loved tales of the Vikings: how they traveled abroad to seek fame and fortune, while those who...

Feb 5, 202313 min read

The Icelanders Go West

By W. D. Valgardson Note: These remarks were originally delivered by the author at the Icelandic National League of North America...

Jan 22, 20236 min read

50th Anniversary of Eldfell Eruption at Westman Islands

By Susan Huff Turbulent seas and severe storms made it unsafe for fishing, so almost the entire fishing fleet of 60-70 fishing ships lay...

Jan 8, 20232 min read

2023: The Journey is Just Starting...

2023 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Icelandic Roots. On November 12th, we will celebrate our tenth anniversary as an official...

Dec 25, 20228 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 11, 20227 min read

My Saga with Saint Thorlák

Submitted By Aimée O’Connell, Guest Author It was one of those mornings that homeschooling families know very well: the kids were...

Dec 11, 20223 min read

How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, January 5, 2023, will feature How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small...

Dec 11, 20222 min read

A Brief Look Inside Reykdæla Saga

This month's newsletter is about Suður Þingeyjarsýsla and there is no better saga to represent this region than Reykdæla saga ok...

Nov 26, 20222 min read

Christmas at Árbær Open-Air Museum (Árbæjarsafn)

Located just south and east of Reykjavík city center, along Route 1 (the Ring Road), and east of the River Elliðaá, lies the Árbær...

Nov 10, 20221 min read

Gullbringusýsla

Historic Gullbringusýsla isn't the largest county by land mass in Iceland, but it certainly holds great significance in the present day....

Nov 10, 20226 min read

My War Years

By Sverrir Sigurdsson Friday, May 10, 1940, was a momentous day in the world’s history. Nazi Germany unleashed blitzkrieg attacks against...

Nov 10, 20225 min read

The Bachelor Invasion

By W.D. Valgardson The Royal Navy and Royal Marines, who occupied Iceland on May 10, 1940, weren’t invited. They just appeared like...