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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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Sep 28, 20247 min read

Icelandic Genealogy the Hard Way

By Dennis McLane The Icelandic Roots Database is one of the greatest sources for what could be called your “instant Icelandic family...

Jul 20, 20243 min read

Interesting Icelander for July: Helgi “magri” Eyvindarson

Helgi, one of the “most excellent settlers” in the Northern part of Iceland.

Jun 29, 20246 min read

Secrets Beneath the Earth in an Icelandic Cemetery

We’ve been working on a mystery, and for now … it remains unsolved. Where is the exact burial location? The secrets are beneath the earth.

May 11, 20242 min read

Submit an article to Rætur Fréttir/Roots News

Do you have an idea for an interesting article? A story about your ancestor? A travel report about your latest visit to Iceland? We're...

Jan 20, 20248 min read

Infant Mortality in Iceland

By Susan Huff As I studied my Icelandic family history, I noticed families where many of the children died in infancy. I made some...

Nov 11, 20233 min read

Do You Care About Your Icelandic Heritage?

Yes. Of course, you care about your Icelandic heritage. That is why you are reading this! Ten years ago, on November 12, 2013, Icelandic...

Oct 1, 20236 min read

The Marvel of Icelandic Roots, Now and in the Future

Editor’s Note: I’ve been piecing together the Icelandic Roots “story” through a series of articles celebrating the organization’s tenth...

Aug 19, 20239 min read

Prestsvarðan - Marking a Miracle

By Natalie Kruse On June 26th, 2023, several members of the congregation of Útskálakirkja (Útskálar Church) and others from the...

Apr 30, 20237 min read

The Pendant - A Family Heirloom

A pendant heirloom passed through the generations shrouded in mystery as to its beginnings. A lesson from the author to make inquiries...

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”?...

Apr 16, 20232 min read

Cue up the Icelandic Roots Podcast

Three 2022 Snorri Experience participants have joined forces to produce upcoming Icelandic Roots podcasts and have already released their...

Feb 19, 20234 min read

Welcome to Vesturfarasetrið

by Mallory Swanson Welcome to Vesturfarasetrið/The Icelandic Emigration Center in Hofsós, Iceland! In this tiny town in the north of...

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...

Jan 6, 20233 min read

Honored at Bessastaðir on New Year's Day

Congratulations to Cathy Josephson! She was awarded the Knight‘s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon at Bessastaðir on New Year's...

Oct 30, 20222 min read

Happy Birthday, Icelandic Roots!

Nine years ago, Icelandic Roots was a dream shared by a group of Western Icelanders who wanted to connect with others across North...

Oct 14, 202210 min read

Snorri Plus Program Tour August 8-22, 2022

By Judy Dickson This August I was fortunate to be a participant in the Snorri Plus Program which had been forced to cancel plans in 2020...

Sep 19, 202215 min read

A Roots Road Trip

When most people visit Iceland they head to Reykjavik and take day trips to the Golden Circle and the South Coast as far as...

Sep 4, 20227 min read

An Emigrant Woman: Sigriður Bjarnadottir (1862-1946)

Sigriður Bjarnadóttir (I334690) entered this world on the 7th of March 1862. A daughter to Bjarni Jónsson (1828–1887) and Bóthildur...

Sep 4, 20222 min read

"Going Home" With The Snorri Plus Program

-By Beth Finnson How much do you know about the Snorri Plus program? This was the topic for Samtal Hour on Monday, August 29, 2022. Judy...