this day in icelandic history — The Reykjavik Grapevine %

Miss Vanjie Of The North: A Borgarnes Monument To An Insignificant Saga Character

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You would be forgiven for assuming, upon visiting Borgarnes, that the elegant modern monument atop a hill in the town’s…

Premiere: Gyða Valtýsdóttir Becomes GYDA; Releases Beautiful “Moonchild” Video

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The Icelandic solo musician and master collaborator Gyða Valtýsdóttir, whose album of reworked classical compositions ‘Epicycle’ met with great acclaim…

Hard Labour: 10 Years After His First Show, Þrándur Is One Of Iceland’s Best-Known Painters

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Þrándur Þórarinsson opens the door of his studio and quietly says hello. Dressed in a blue grandad-collar shirt and maroon…

The Wonderful Icelandic Festival Frenzy: Think Fyre Was Disastrous?

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Summer in Iceland is like a fixed roulette game that you always somehow lose. Icelanders, though, never get tired of…

The First Ladies Of Beer: Lady Brewery’s Craft Beers Turn Heads In The Male-Dominated Scene

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In September of last year, Ragnheiður “Raxel” Axel and Þórey Björk Hall­dórs­dótt­ir—a food industry worker and a designer, respectively—started a…

Lamentations And Fish Oil: Skálholt’s Bible Exhibition Unveils Iceland’s Struggle With Translating God’s Word

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While Iceland might not be famous for being hardcore religious, Icelanders, or at least the family of the late reverend…

What’s The Matter, Don’t You Speak Greek?: Anne Carson Returns To Reykjavík

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Literary fame is a finicky kind of fame. A writer can have raving reviews in the New York Times, The…

The Beautiful Game: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson’s ‘Last Call’ Explores The Icelandic Psyche Through Football

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“Good evening and welcome to the big stage,” an announcer declares boisterously over the growing roar of a crowd. “We…

#SmiteTheWorld: A Recap Of Iceland’s World Cup Adventure

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And that, as they say, is that. Iceland’s World Cup run was short, but glorious. Their incident-packed week in the…

President Of Iceland Turns 50

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Beloved Icelandic President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is celebrating his 50th birthday on this very day, which coincides with the Icelandic national…

#SmiteTheWorld Daily: Heimir’s Future, Opta Slam Our Chances, God On Our Side, & More

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While Aron was banging the drum outside Croatia’s team hotel so they couldn’t nod off last night, the whole Icelandic…

Why I Choose Iceland, By African Supporter Arnold Kanyangonda

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As Iceland prepare for their face-off with Nigeria, we asked a Kenyan Iceland supporter—sports consultant and commentator Arnold Kanyangonda—to tell…

Well, You Asked… A World Cup Advice Special

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With the world’s attention focussed on Iceland like a more friendly version of the Eye of Sauron, we’ve been fielding…

#SmiteTheWorld Daily News: “Year Of The Underdog,” An Army Of ‘Ssons, Messi & Birkir, & More

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The games are coming thick and fast, and with them the usual circus of World Cup rumours, theories and upsets….

#SmiteTheWorld Daily: Hero Hannes, Viral Rúrik, Iceland’s Prez & PM Watch At Home, & More

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After Iceland’s notable entry the World Cup with a famous 1-1 draw with Argentina, interest on the team only intensified….

Town Guide: The Tranquil Coastal Sanctuary Of Hellnar

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The little village of Hellnar used to be a major port of call and the busiest centre of fishing in…

Fifteen Minutes Of Horror: An Icelander’s Perspective On The World Cup

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Icelanders are afraid of two things at some stage of their lives. First, it’s Grýla—the baby-eating mother of the Yule…

#SmiteTheWorld: Iceland’s Road To Russia—A Smite News Recap

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Iceland’s World Cup qualification campaign came to a dramatic head in October of 2017, when they beat Kosovo to become…

One Day In The Þórsmörk Dimension: A Wild Valley Behind Eyjafjallajökull

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Living in Reykjavík, it’s quite easy to get caught up in the routine of city life, and forget that this…

Odysseus Reborn: Daníel Bjarnason Brings His Wartime Opera Home

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Daníel Bjarnason has presence. He exudes the sort of poise you notice from across a room. When he talks, he’s…

The Art Of Being Yourself: Daniel Lismore’s Inspired Nonconformity

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The doors of the elevator slide smoothly open, and Daniel Lismore emerges into the fractured sunlight of Harpa’s fifth floor….