There were over 85 stories and articles posted to the Icelandic Roots blog in 2024. They ranged from academic discussions of Sagas to personal reflections on travel to Iceland, to researched histories of ancestors. All were written by Icelandic Roots members and volunteers, plus a few special friends. The most heavily viewed articles, in no particular order, are as follows.
Nancy Asmundson reviewed the range of choices for Icelandic Lagoons when you need to sit in a hot tub and soak away the cares of the day.
Curtis Olafson, Oliver Sartor, MD, Kara R. (Schoeffel) Rogen, MS, CGC shared Icelandic Cancer Related Gene Mutation Information to raise awareness regarding a gene mutation known to exist in the population of people of Icelandic descent.
Icelandic Roots announced the popular History Under Our Feet fundraiser that led members on a virtual walk around Saga-era Iceland.
Jason Doctor's Discovering the Land of Fire and Ice: What We Know about Iceland's Settlement provided a comprehensive review of the Settlement Era.
Icelandic Roots Writing Club member, Alfreda Erickson Duffy, pondered What Does Very Icelandic Mean to Me?
Bryndís Víglundsdóttir answered the question: What about the Vikings? in her review of the people of the Viking period.
In Iceland: An Outsider’s View, Brian Borgfold reviewed an 1845 book called Visit to Iceland and the Scandinavian North by Ida Pfeiffer
Susan Huff noticed the number of deaths of children that appeared in her family stories and shared her research in Infant Mortality in Iceland.
W.D. Valgardson described his experiences in a small Icelandic-Canadian community in Growing Up in Gimli.
The editorial team shared their favourite posts from 2024:
Becky Byerly-Adams, Membership Outreach Director, Becky loved What About the Vikings? by Bryndis Víglundsdóttir because it erases the Hollywood version of a Viking by stating, “Historians maintain that peaceful dealings were the rule rather than skirmishes and killings.” This well-researched article gave me more insight into the life of seafarers, fishermen, farmers, craftsmen, and poets, some of whom were my ancestors, including my 31x-great grandfather Ragnar "loðbrók" Sigurðsson (I180658).
Mekkin Sveinson Perkins, the Translator by Robin Engel illustrates a common emigration story from Iceland to North America and our Icelandic ancestors' emphasis on education. Becky enjoyed the story of a strong, intelligent woman who pursued her dream and reinvented herself when social mores forced her to leave her job. She was the epitome of perseverance and a role model for all.
Rob Olason, Newsletter Managing Editor, found Natalie Kruse’s Blessed Amma - The Deuce of August celebration in North Dakota a pure joy to read. In a unique and personal view of a significant annual Icelandic event, Natalie writes about looking forward to attending and feeling apprehensive as the day approaches. Rob felt her joy when she made the leap and threw herself wholeheartedly into participating.
Samkoma Member Loves Iceland comes from Lee-Anne Fox, who made her Icelandic Roots debut this year. She has visited Iceland more times since 2015 than many of us, except, perhaps, Sunna. Lee-Anne, who lives in the U.K. and is not Icelandic, shares her enthusiastic love for a land that has captured her heart. Rob is inspired to return to Iceland and visit some of the wonders she described.
Shaune Jonasson, Newsletter Team Member, loves Gluggaveður - Window Weather by Bryndís Víglundsdóttir because the unique Icelandic word does not translate into any language. Weather can make or break our day, sometimes our livelihood, and can set our mood. Gluggaveður, on the other hand, is assessed from the inside. You can't go wrong with window weather.
Blessed Amma - The Deuce of August celebration in North Dakota by Natalie Kruse spoke to Shaune as she considers her own family's story. A love for Iceland grew from a short but important story, which led Natalie to find a loving and welcoming community. Many of us can relate to experiencing a sense of belonging to the Icelandic community that brings comfort and joy plus long-lost cousins!
Phyllis Smith, Newsletter Team Member, enjoyed Doreen Borgford McFarlane’s series Bibles in the Icelandic Immigration to North America Part 1 and Part 2. Doreen included lots of social history that will be invaluable to anyone who plans to write their family history stories.
Ísbíltúr (Ice Cream Road Trip) by Gay Strandemo was a fun little story written in response to an Icelandic Roots Writing Club prompt. It amused Phyllis that Icelanders could turn ice cream into a road trip. She’s not sure about licorice ice cream, though!
What were your favourite stories from 2024?