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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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Kristín í Watertown and the Watertown Icelanders
By Jason Doctor At family reunions and visits with relatives in Watertown, South Dakota, a rich history of Icelanders from the area was...
Feb 2811 min read


Remembering Christmas at the Sigurdson's
By Sharron Arksey For more than 30 years, Christmas Eve meant going to Amma and Afi’s house. My maternal grandparents Skapti and Runa...
Dec 20, 20243 min read


Icelandic Roots Book Club January 2025
Icelandic Roots Book Club returns on January 9, 2025. Our host, Heather, will be featuring The Writing Place with the author, Sharron...
Dec 14, 20243 min read


The Strange Tale of Páll Pálsson and a Ghostly Nuisance
A ghostly nuisance in the mid-1800s Iceland.
Oct 25, 20248 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...
Sep 28, 20247 min read


Book Club Returns October 3, 2024
The first Fall session of the IR Book Club returns on October 3rd.
Sep 21, 20243 min read


Immigrating to America
The Icelandic Roots Writers Group used an exercise to create a dialogue between two people planning to emigrate. By Doreen Borgfjord...
Aug 31, 20244 min read


A Summer Memory
The cousins, the excitement, the noise and roar of stock car racing, all are unforgettable.
Aug 3, 20242 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.
Jun 29, 20246 min read


Ísbíltúr (Ice Cream Road Trip)
by Gay Strandemo The Icelandic Roots Writers Group wrote about summer memories for their April assignment. Summer childhood reminds me of...
Jun 22, 20242 min read


Book Club: June 2024
By Heather Goodman Lytwyn The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday June 6, 2024 will feature Journey Across the Four Seas: A Chinese...
May 25, 20242 min read


Mekkin Sveinson Perkins, the Translator
Remembering Mekkin Sveinson Perkins, a talented and driven woman who defied the social norms and its pressures on woman in the workforce.
May 11, 20245 min read


Storytelling: Another of those Things I’m Pretty Sure Is Bred in the Bone
Gestur Davidson (I653929) April 28, 2022 In a little self-talk I had with myself a bit ago downstairs in my kitchen — and thinking about...
Apr 25, 20244 min read


Book Club - January 2024
The Icelandic Roots Book Club is back for another eventful season. As winter has endeared itself to many of us, it's a great time for...
Dec 9, 20234 min read


Three Western Icelandic Organizations Join Hands For an Online Event
IR Webinar hosted by INLNA and INLUS The Icelandic Roots Database is the subject of a joint Icelandic National League of North America...
Oct 15, 20233 min read


Drawing Mundi
By Gay Strandemo Bryndís Víglundsdóttir is a superb storyteller and my job is to keep up with her as an illustrator. After we...
Sep 1, 20231 min read

Sarah's Story - Crazed by the Klondike
A new to Icelandic Roots member delved into the IR database and was surprised at the breadth of knowledge contained therein. What she...
Jul 8, 20238 min read


Icelandic Writers Retreat
By Brian Borgford Who’s your daddy? Who’s your grampa? Better still, who’s your great-granddaddy? Icelandic Roots provides an...
Jul 8, 20233 min read


Remembering Afi
The IR Writers Group share memories of their Afi or Grandpa. Editor Note: This article is from an earlier IR Newsletter. These stories...
Jun 9, 20239 min read


VIGIL LIGHT
In times when we need to keep watch or pray, a vigil light can give us comfort. By Sharron Arksey The ceramic vigil light is five inches...
May 27, 20232 min read
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