Community
Kaffi Timi Continues
Over the past few months, the INLUS has opened its online meeting room twice a week to chat. Offered as a respite to stay-at-home guidelines, our Kaffi Timi discussions have covered a wide range of topics, from the virus and the weather to cooking and dreams of travel. People from all parts of the U.S.…
Read MoreIceland Independence Day
Robert Frost once said, “Freedom lies in being bold.” After years of effort and struggle, the Icelandic people boldly achieved full independence from Denmark 76 years ago on June 17, 1944. What a celebration that was and what strides the free country of Iceland has made since then. June 17, 2020 also marks the 1st…
Read MoreKaffi Timi Extended
Kaffi Timi Extended Schedule Over the past few weeks, numerous INLUS members and friends have joined in on our Tuesday and Friday Kaffi Timi online (Zoom) chats. For many, COVID-19 restrictions will continue into May and possible beyond, so we have decided to extend our weekly chat schedule into June. Come join us, take a…
Read MoreStir Crazy Yet?
By Dianne O’Konski | Are you going stir crazy yet? I am not a big Facebook fan, but it has gotten more interesting lately. The posts and reposts give us a sliver of people’s state of mind. A relative posted this today from gramma funnies: “The truth is that it’s not so boring at home.…
Read MoreIcelanders in the Days of COVID-19
As I’ve heard many times in the last week, these are challenging times. New information is coming out daily and it is so easy to get swept up in it. We need to be smart and prudent about our activities. As such, the Icelandic National League of North America (INLNA) has made a decision to…
Read MoreWelcome Thorri!
by Dianne O’Konski | Thorri (Þorri), the fourth month of winter on the Icelandic calendar begins on Jan. 24th – the first Friday after January 19th! Scholars believe that the name of the month “Thorri” is either taken from the Norwegian king Thorri Snærsson or from Thor, the God of Thunder (my bet is on…
Read MoreSnorri Program Deadline is Today!
Today is the last day to apply for the 2020 Snorri cultural exchange program in Iceland. Snorri Plus applications will be accepted until January 31st. Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Please forward to interested friends and family. More information can be obtained at our friends at the Snorri Foundation in Iceland. Visit www.Snorri.is
Read MoreOctober 9th is the day we celebrate Leifur Eiríksson Day!
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 MoreThe Adventure of Finding Your Heritage
By Heidi Herman-Kerr | Where are you from? It’s a common enough question. It’s asked a thousand times a day, usually as an icebreaker between strangers. In the United States, the typical answer is a state or metropolitan region. “I’m from Minnesota” or “I live in Los Angeles.” In casual conversation, seldom are you asked,…
Read MoreMidsummer is This Weekend!
By Heidi Herman-Kerr | Midsummer marks the summer solstice, traditionally celebrated in Nordic with large festivals. These countries – Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and the associated territories of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands – endure winters marked by as much as twenty hours of darkness, it’s easy to see why they…
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