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Jan 16, 20222 min read

Destination: Hælið Museum, “The Great White Plague” Center

Update: Here is the video recording of the webinar: If one follows Eyjafjördur south of Akureyri about 10 km, just before reaching the...

Jan 16, 20222 min read

The Mailman is Ready For Delivery

The first book by Christopher Rodel, IR# I20590425, The Icelandic Postman, is published and ready for purchase. This book travels in the...

Jan 1, 20224 min read

Celebrating the New Year with Folklore

The New Year and upcoming days come with more feasts, holiday happenings, traditions, and folklore. Enjoy the folklore story below and...

Dec 30, 20212 min read

The Old Norse Calendar

As we begin the New Year from our modern calendar, this is a good time to look back at our Icelandic heritage and the calendar used by...

Dec 29, 20212 min read

More Gems from the Icelandic Roots Treasure Chest

“Hidden Gems Part II” -by Rob Olason (IR#I149007) Looking through the Special Collections section of the Icelandic Roots database offers...

Dec 8, 20213 min read

Taking a Peek in the Icelandic Roots Treasure Chest

Explorations among IR’s “Hidden Gems” -by Rob Olason (IR#I149007) When we first become members of Icelandic Roots, we have so much to...

Dec 5, 202121 min read

Our Second Annual Book Flood

Icelanders love books so it is not surprising that one of the most beloved traditions in Iceland today is Jólabókaflóðið, the annual...

Nov 22, 20214 min read

A Virtual Family Reunion

by Heather Goodman I15007347 There’s one in every family. Someone who is way more interested in collecting family memorabilia than anyone...

Nov 18, 20217 min read

The Saga of Þorsteinn Staff-struck

The third installment of ancient writings about Vopnafjörður is the Saga of Þorsteinn Staff-struck. Many Western Icelanders emigrated...

Nov 16, 20213 min read

California Horse Owner Goes Full "Tolt" for the Icelandic Horse

by Rob Olason Bellingham, WA Not everyone who visits Iceland and takes a one-hour ride on an Icelandic horse will dream about one day...

Oct 23, 20215 min read

Family Storytelling and Icelandic Folklore; a Perfect Partnership

Guest Blog By Karen Gummo Have you considered how your own family stories might be connected to ancient folklore? We hear very often,...

Oct 23, 20215 min read

Ferry Cabin News - The Seal Skin Trunk From Iceland

News from Washington Island and the Surrounding Islands Richard Purinton Washington Island, Wisconsin This story first appeared in The...

Oct 23, 20214 min read

Inspired by a Global Pandemic

While there is a long list of things that have gone wrong over the past two years due to a global pandemic from Covid-19, let's look at...

Sep 26, 20219 min read

The grave finally found after years of searching

Written by Kolbeinn Tumi Daðason (News Director of Stöðvar 2, Vísir, og Bylgjan) Visir.is - Link to the Article in Icelandic September...

Sep 24, 20212 min read

Icelandic Saga Connections

Bryndís Viglundsdóttir told me that when she was a little girl, she thought the characters from the Icelandic sagas were going to walk...

Sep 12, 20212 min read

Kvennahlaup in Borðeyri and Þórdís Edda

Each year, there is a fun activity that is held in most communities across Iceland called Kvennahlaup or Women's Walk/Run. This weekend,...

Sep 11, 20212 min read

My Virtual Mission 2021

The Icelandic Roots Fitness Challenge 2021 was a big success. Our most popular mission was the Ring Road route, with 118 participants...

Sep 4, 20213 min read

The Legend of The Elf Lady Stone at Bustarfell

Once upon a time, a rich and noble sheriff and his wife lived happily at the important farm called Bustarfell. During the darkest days of...

Sep 4, 20214 min read

The Saga of the People of Vopnafjörður

Vopnafjörður was a main port of Icelandic emigration to America and many of us can trace our families to East Iceland. Therefore, the...

Aug 28, 20213 min read

Discover Hofsós

The village of Hofsós is located in Skagafjörður and is one of the oldest trading centers in Iceland. The dedicated Emigration Center,...