Yule Lad Stories You’ve Never Read

yule lads door opening

By Heidi Herman-Kerr | Anyone familiar with Icelandic holiday mythology has probably heard of Jolasveinar-the Icelandic Yule Lads. One folklorist and crafter brings us new stories unique to each of these mischievous fellows. This story is shared from an original post on Tales of Yngiwulf. Thorulfr finds the first Yule Lad in the barn with…

Read More

Authors Q&A on Icelandic Yule Lads

Yule Lads book covers photo

Join us Monday, November 25th as we welcome two INLUS Founding Members, each has authored of books about Iceland’s Yule Lads. With the Christmas holidays just around the corner, Gay Strandemo and Heidi Herman will share with us insights and holiday traditions of mischief and gift-giving surrounding the Icelandic Yule Lads. The webinar will be…

Read More

2020 Snorri – Have the Adventure of a Lifetime

Snorri program participants photo

INLUS is proud to support The Snorri Programs. Please help us get the word out about the 2020 Snorri Program offerings! The first deadline is November 29, 2019 for the Snorri Alumni Internship. Become a 2020 Snorri – have the Adventure of a Lifetime! Strengthening the bonds between people of Icelandic descent in North America…

Read More

Iceland Writers Retreat

Iceland Writers Retreat logo

The INLUS is hosting an informational webinar you don’t want to miss! Join us Tuesday, November 19th at 1PM Eastern (Noon Central, 11AM Mountain and 10AM Pacific) for the INLUS inaugural webinar! Free and Open to All To kick off the series, we will be joined by the founders of the Iceland Writers Retreat, Iceland’s…

Read More

Lara of the North

Lara of the North book cover photo

By Amy Henrickson | When I think about my first visit to Iceland, I remember riding a stocky Icelandic horse along a meandering fjord framed by mountains in Akureyri. I also recall spending a sunny but chilly morning in Isafjordur at an outdoor café eating delicious cake and drinking coffee while watching a lively, happy…

Read More

What Sort of Sheep Are Those?

Icelandic sheep photo

-Dalarna Farms, Beresford, South Dakota “What sort of sheep are those?” “Are those goats?” “Why aren’t your sheep very sheep-y?” Dalarna Farms in Beresford, South Dakota is home to a variety of common and a few uncommon animals. They have Icelandic Sheep on their farm and allowed us to share their story. We have them…

Read More

Krummi Travel’s Wild Wild West!

tourists and waterfall

A magical tour based in Iceland’s wild west where you spend an entire week frustrating the locals, hiding from the crowds of hideous tourists, hiking through impossibly beautiful places, eating candy, and learning amazing stuff from outstanding Icelandic individuals! June 13 – 22, 2020 TOUR Krummi Travel presents “Krummi Travel’s WILD WEST!” an 8 night /9 day adventure…

Read More

October 9th is the day we celebrate Leifur Eiríksson Day!

Leifer Eiríksson statue photo

Almost five centuries before Christopher Columbus discovered America, Leifur Eiríksson and his group of travelers explored North America. Those with Scandinavian/Viking heritage celebrate Leifur Eiríksson Day/Leif Erikson Day each year. In Icelandic, his name is spelled Leifur Eiríksson. He is called, “The son of Iceland, grandson of Norway, and the discoverer of North America.” His…

Read More

12 Famous People You (Probably) Didn’t Know Were Icelandic

Viking swordsman

By Heidi Herman-Kerr | When you hear the word “Icelanders,” what comes to mind? The Vikings, longboats, long beards, and glaciers, right? The names, besides being tough to pronounce, typically end with -son or -dottir. Icelandic surnames are different from most other naming systems in the modern Western world by being patronymic or occasionally matronymic:…

Read More

The Icelandic Horse is Not a Pony

Icelandic horses photo

By Heidi Herman-Kerr | The Icelandic horse has always been an important part in the Icelandic life and culture. They were brought by the Vikings and were well-suited for the rough and rocky terrain. Since they were used travel, transportation as well as other tasks, Icelanders used to call them Þarfasti Þjónninn, the “most useful…

Read More