Afi. He was a Fisherman on Lake Winnipeg. When I think of Afi, I think of catfish, cribbage, children, and Christmas. Afi was all about focusing on priorities. When he faced a pandemic, I suspect that he did what he had always done. He would listen, make decisions, and take action to care for his […]
Category Archives: Culture
12
Mar
Mar
Icelandic Saying: “Now there won’t do any mitten-takes” = “Nú duga engin vettlingatök.” (Meaning: Now we are going to do it properly.) No mitten-grabbing! If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well! (I hear Amma!) With this level of translation required, no wonder it’s hard to learn Icelandic. And yet, when you think about it, […]
08
Mar
Mar
Be inspired on this International Women’s Day by the heroic explorer of the ancient Icelandic Sagas, Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir and the prophecy about Gudridur. She was among the first settlers from Iceland to explore and settle in Greenland with Erik the Red and with Thorfinnur Karlsefni to North America at Vinland. She was the mother […]
02
Mar
Mar
They are the cake!” (a quote from Peter Guber) Stories are the cake of life. So wonderfully true! So, I decided to create a fully iced round storied ‘Hring Circle’ Vínarterta! (In honour of Wagner’s 15 Hour Opera ‘The Ring Cycle’, a really long story summarized here in a two minute video): http://www.theguardian.com/culture/australia-culture-blog/video/2013/sep/18/wagners-ring-cycle-2-mins-video Best wishes […]
22
Feb
Feb
Gaman Saman ‘Fun Together’ Thorrablot 2016: A Visual, Cultural and Culinary Feast! FRIDAY, APRIL 8th REVIVAL – 783 College St, Toronto. 6:30pm Appetizers and Cash Bar 7:30 Feast! Spirited tributes to Icelandic art, poetry, storytelling, singing, and musical performances in our dazzling new venue. Traditional Icelandic food creations from Chef Arden Jackson! Iceland’s Ambassador Sturla […]
20
Feb
Feb
What is Thorrablot? It was a sacrificial midwinter festival offered to the gods in pagan Iceland of the past. It was abolished during the Christianization of Iceland, but resurrected in the 19th century as a midwinter celebration that continues to be celebrated to this day. The timing for the festival coincides with the month of Thorri, according […]
03
Nov
Nov
1875 marks the year that thousands left Iceland when faced with devastating conditions. They brought with them to North America a reputation for safeguarding their distinct ethnic identity that can be symbolized to by beloved Vínarterta, and by my Langa Amma (Great Grandmother) wearing a striped shirt. Virtually unknown today in Iceland in its present […]