Icelanders (Íslendingar)
Jón Þór Birgisson • Björk • Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Thorsteinn M. Jonsson • Halldór Laxness • Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson Magnús Scheving • Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir
Total population
450,000 (est. Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson ( (b April 23, 1975) plays Guitar and sings lead vocals for the Icelandic Post-rock Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born 21 November 1965 is an Icelandic Singer-songwriter, Composer, actress and music producer. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir ( (born 15 April 1930) was the fourth president of Iceland, serving from 1980 to 1996 Thorsteinn M Jonsson (born February 18 1963 in Reykjavík, Iceland) was the Chairman of Glitnir Bank and is the current Chairman Halldór Kiljan Laxness ( (born Halldór Guðjónsson) ( April 23, 1902 — February 8, 1998) was a 20th century Icelandic Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson ( also known as HÖH (date and place of birth April 23, 1958 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an accomplished Magnús Örn Scheving (pronounced /skivɪŋ/) (born 10 November 1964) is a Writer, producer, Entrepreneur, Comedian Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir (born May 25, 1984 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is a former winner of the Miss Iceland pageant )
Regions with significant populations
Iceland ,300,000  Canada 88,875  United States 50,000  Denmark 15,000
Languages
Icelandic
Religions
Lutheran Protestant majority, Catholic and non-religious minorities
Related ethnic groups
Norwegians, Irish, Danes, Faroese, Swedes, Scots, Shetlanders, Orcadians, and other Germanic peoples. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Icelandic ( is a North Germanic language, the language of Iceland. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion Norwegians See also History of Norway and Demography of Norway. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants The Faroese or Faroe Islanders ( Føroyingar) are the people of the Faroe Islands in Northern Europe of Norse and Celtic Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic

Icelanders are the nation or ethnic group of Iceland descended primarily from Norsemen of Scandinavia. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and the religion is overwhelmingly Lutheran. Icelandic ( is a North Germanic language, the language of Iceland. The North Germanic languages or Scandinavian languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther

About Iceland

Icelanders, especially those living on the main island, have had a tumultuous history. This article is about the history of Iceland and the areas comprising modern day Iceland. Development of the island was slow due to a lack of interest from the countries controlling it for most of its history; Norway, Denmark–Norway and ultimately Denmark. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Denmark–Norway ( Danish: Danmark-Norge Norwegian: Danmark-Norge or Danmark-Noreg is the historiographical name for a former political entity union The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Through this time, Iceland had relatively few contacts with the outside world. The island became independent in union with Denmark in 1918. Since 1944, Iceland has been a republic, and Icelandic society has undergone a rapid modernisation process in the post-independence era. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its

Due to the isolated location of Iceland, the immigration and genetic inflow was limited in its indigenous population for hundreds of years; thus the population is considered to be highly homogeneous in terms of its genes. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term The term Indigenous Peoples or autochthonous peoples can be used to describe any Ethnic group who inhabit a geographic region with which they have the earliest historical This genetic similarity and unusually well-documented genealogy of the Icelanders are being utilized today for genetic studies. Genealogy (from Greek: el γενεά el-Latn genea, "descent" and el λόγος el-Latn logos, "knowledge" is the study of Genetics (from Ancient Greek grc-Latn genetikos, “genitive” and that from grc-Latn genesis, “origin” a discipline of Biology, is

History

Main article: History of Iceland

Iceland is a geologically young land mass, having formed an estimated 20 million years ago due to volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. This article is about the history of Iceland and the areas comprising modern day Iceland. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR is a Mid-ocean ridge, a Divergent tectonic plate boundary located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the last larger islands to remain uninhabited, the first human settlement date is generally accepted to be 874, although there is some evidence to suggest human activity prior to the Norse arrival. Events By Place Europe Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling ^[1]

Initial migration and settlement

Main article: Settlement of Iceland

Map showing Iceland in northern Europe

The first Viking to sight Iceland was Gardar Svavarsson, who went off course due to harsh conditions when sailing from Norway to the Faroe Islands. The settlement of Iceland began in the second half of the 9th century AD when Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic. Garðarr Svavarsson ( modern Icelandic Garðar Svavarsson, sometimes anglicized as Gardar Svavarsson) was a Swedish man who is considered by many The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s or Faeroes (Føroyar meaning " Sheep Islands" Færøerne Old Norse His reports led to the first efforts to settle the island. The first permanent settler in Iceland is usually considered to be a Norwegian chieftain named Ingólfur Arnarson. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional In pre-Christian times chieftains were both political and religious leaders tasked to use their luck to secure the people fred (translated "good times" - nowadays actually He settled with his family at around 874, in a place he named Bay of Smokes, or Reykjavík in Icelandic. Events By Place Europe Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling For the Greater Reykjavík Area see the Greater Reykjavík Area. ^[2]

Following Ingólfur also in 874, another group of Norwegians set sail across the North Atlantic Ocean with their families, livestock, slaves and possessions, escaping the domination of the first King of Norway, Haraldur Harfagri. History of Monarchy of Norway redirects here The Kingdom of Norway as a unified realm was initiated by King Harald Fairhair Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair ( Old Norse: Haraldr hárfagri, Norwegian: Harald Hårfagre) (c They traveled 1000 km (600 mi) in their Viking longships to the island of Iceland. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas Longships, or longboats were ships primarily used by the Scandinavian Vikings and the Saxon people to raid coastal and inland settlements during the European Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( These people were primarily of Norwegian, Irish and Scottish origin, the Irish and Scots being mainly slaves and servants of the Norse chiefs, according to the Icelandic sagas. The Sagas of Icelanders ( Icelandic: Íslendingasögur)&mdashmany of which are also known as family sagas &mdashare prose histories describing ^[3]

The Icelandic Age of Settlement (Icelandic: Landnámsöld) is considered to have lasted from 874 to 930, at which point most of the island had been claimed and Alþing (English: Althing), the assembly of the Icelandic Commonwealth, was founded in Þingvellir. Events By Place Europe Ingólfur Arnarson arrives as the first permanent Viking settler in Iceland, settling Events By Place Europe With the establishment of the Althing, now the world's oldest Parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth The Alþingi, Anglicized variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national Parliament —literally “(the all- thing ”—of The Icelandic Commonwealth or the Icelandic Free State (Þjóðveldið was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in is '''''Þingvellir''''' ( Þing: 'parliament' is ''vellir'' 'meadows'(sometimes transliterated Thingvellir) is a place in Bláskógarbyggð in southwestern ^[4]

Hardship and conflict

Rock of law in Þingvellir, used to make speeches. is '''''Þingvellir''''' ( Þing: 'parliament' is ''vellir'' 'meadows'(sometimes transliterated Thingvellir) is a place in Bláskógarbyggð in southwestern

In 930, on the Þingvellir (English: Thingvellir) plain near Reykjavík, the chieftains and their families met and established the Alþing, Iceland's first national assembly. Events By Place Europe With the establishment of the Althing, now the world's oldest Parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is '''''Þingvellir''''' ( Þing: 'parliament' is ''vellir'' 'meadows'(sometimes transliterated Thingvellir) is a place in Bláskógarbyggð in southwestern For the Greater Reykjavík Area see the Greater Reykjavík Area. The Alþingi, Anglicized variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national Parliament —literally “(the all- thing ”—of Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a Legislature, or to one of its chambers. However, the Alþing lacked the power to enforce the laws it made. In 1262, struggles between rival chieftains left Iceland so divided that King Haakon IV of Norway was asked to step in as a final arbitrator for all disputes, as part of the Old Covenant. Haakon Haakonsson (1204 &ndash December 15, 1263) ( Norwegian Håkon Håkonsson, Old Norse Hákon Hákonarson) also called For the theological use of Old Covenant see Mosaic Covenant, Covenant (biblical and Old Testament. This is known as the Age of the Sturlungs. The Age of the Sturlungs or the Sturlung Era (Icelandic Sturlungaöld) was a 42-44 year period of internal strife in mid 13th century Iceland ^[5]

Iceland was under Norwegian leadership until 1380, when the Royal House of Norway died out. History of Monarchy of Norway redirects here The Kingdom of Norway as a unified realm was initiated by King Harald Fairhair At this point, both Iceland and Norway came under the control of the Danish Crown. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional With the introduction of absolute monarchy in Denmark, the Icelanders relinquished their autonomy to the crown, including the right to initiate and consent to legislation. Absolute monarchy is a monarchical Form of government where the king and queen have absolute power over everything The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Autonomy ( Greek: Auto- Nomos - nomos meaning "law" one who gives oneself his/her own Law) is the right to Self-government This meant a loss of independence for Iceland, which led to nearly 300 years of decline. The reasons are largely attributed to the fact that Denmark and its crown did not consider Iceland to be a colony to be supported and assisted. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. In particular, the lack of help in defense led to constant raids by marauding pirates along the Icelandic coasts. Defence Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering ^[6]

Unlike Norway, Denmark did not need Iceland's fish and homespun wool. This created a dramatic deficit in Iceland's trade, and no new ships were built as a result. The tiny Greenland outpost, established by Iceland in 982, died out completely before 1500 due to a lack of resources that were normally provided by Iceland. Events By Place Americas Greenland is discovered by Erik the Red (the first known European contact with North In 1602 Iceland was forbidden to trade with other countries by order of the Danish Government, and in the 18th century climatic conditions had reached an all-time low since being settled. The Politics of Denmark takes place in a framework of a parliamentary, Representative democratic, Constitutional monarchy, in which the The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system ^[6]

Laki, which erupted in 1783–84 with catastrophic consequences for Iceland. Laki or Lakagígar ( Craters of Laki) is a volcanic fissure situated in the south of Iceland, not far from the canyon of Eldgjá and

In 1783–84 Laki, a volcanic fissure situated in the south of the island, erupted. Year 1783 ( MDCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Laki or Lakagígar ( Craters of Laki) is a volcanic fissure situated in the south of Iceland, not far from the canyon of Eldgjá and A fissure vent, also known as a volcanic fissure or simply fissure, is a linear Volcanic vent through which Lava erupts usually without any The eruption produced about 15 km³ (3. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 6 mi³) of basalt lava, and the total volume of tephra emitted was 0. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Basalt (bəˈsɔːlt ˈbeisɔːlt ˈbæsɔːlt is a common Extrusive Volcanic rock. Tephra is air-fall material produced by a volcanic eruption regardless of composition or fragment size 91 km³. ^[7] The aerosols built up caused a cooling effect in the Northern Hemisphere. Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' The consequences for Iceland were catastrophic, with approximately 25-33% of the population dying in the famine of 1783 and 1784. A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation Around 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle and 50% of horses died because of fluorosis from the 8 million tons of fluorine that were released. ^[8] This disaster is known as the Mist Hardship (Icelandic: Móðuharðindin). Móðuharðindin (literally The Mist Hardships) was a natural disaster in Iceland in the years 1783 - 1785 following the Volcanic eruption Móðuharðindin (literally The Mist Hardships) was a natural disaster in Iceland in the years 1783 - 1785 following the Volcanic eruption

In 1798–99 the Alþing was discontinued for several decades, eventually being restored in 1844. Year 1798 ( MDCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1799 ( MDCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Alþingi, Anglicized variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national Parliament —literally “(the all- thing ”—of It was moved to Reykjavík, the capital, after residing at Þingvellir for over nine centuries. For the Greater Reykjavík Area see the Greater Reykjavík Area. is '''''Þingvellir''''' ( Þing: 'parliament' is ''vellir'' 'meadows'(sometimes transliterated Thingvellir) is a place in Bláskógarbyggð in southwestern A century (from the Latin centum, meaning one hundred is One hundred consecutive Years Centuries are numbered ordinally (e

Independence and prosperity

Statue of Jón Sigurðsson in Reykjavík. For the Greater Reykjavík Area see the Greater Reykjavík Area.

The 19th century brought significant improvement in the Icelanders' situation. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar This movement was led by Jón Sigurðsson, a statesman, historian and authority on Icelandic literature. Jón Sigurðsson ( June 17, 1811 &ndash December 7, 1879) was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement. A statesman or stateswoman or statesperson is usually a Politician or other notable figure of State who has had a long and respected career in See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it Icelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people Inspired by the romantic and nationlist currents from mainland Europe, Sigurðsson protested strongly, through political journals and self-publications, for 'a return to national consciousness' and for political and social changes to be made to help speed up Iceland's development. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation A journal (through French from late Latin diurnalis, daily has several related meanings a daily record of events or business a private ^[9]

In 1854, the Danish government relaxed the trade ban that was imposed in 1602, and Iceland gradually began to rejoin Western Europe economically and socially. The Politics of Denmark takes place in a framework of a parliamentary, Representative democratic, Constitutional monarchy, in which the With this return of contact with other peoples came a reawakening of Iceland's arts, especially its literature. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Twenty years later in 1874, Iceland was granted a constitution. Icelanders today recognize Sigurðsson's efforts as largely responsible for their economic and social resurgence. ^[9]

Iceland gained near-full independence in 1918 after World War I and retained only formal ties with the Danish crown. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All This move to independence was completed on June 17, 1944 what would have been Jón Sigurðssons 133'rd birthday, after a national referendum; Iceland broke all ties with Denmark, after nearly six centuries of Danish rule, and declared itself independent. Events 1462 - Vlad III the Impaler attempts to assassinate Mehmed II ( The Night Attack) forcing him to retreat Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[9]

Demographics and society

Main article: Demographics of Iceland

Genetics

Due to their considerable history of relative isolation, Icelanders have often been considered highly genetically homogeneous as compared to other European populations. Most Icelanders are descendants of Norwegian settlers and Celts from Ireland and Scotland, brought over as slaves during the age of settlement For this reason, along with the extensive genealogical records for much of the population that reach back to the settlement of Iceland, Icelanders have been the focus of considerable genomics research by both biotechnology companies and academic and medical researchers. The settlement of Iceland began in the second half of the 9th century AD when Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic. Genomics is the study of an organism's entire Genome. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale Genetic Biotechnology is Technology based on Biology, especially when used in Agriculture, Food science, and Medicine. However, one study of mitochondrial DNA, blood groups, and isozymes revealed a more variable population than expected from these genetic standpoints, comparable to the diversity of some other Europeans. Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. A blood type (also called a blood group) is a classification of Blood based on the presence or absence of inherited Antigenic substances on the Isozymes (also known as isoenzymes) are Enzymes that differ in amino acid sequence but catalyze the same chemical reaction ^[10]

Results of the mitochondrial DNA studies have been consistent with the genealogical records that trace the ancestry of most Icelanders to Scandinavia and the British Isles, though there may have been a minor contribution from other European groups. Founder effects and the effects of genetic drift are more pronounced for the Icelandic gene pool than other nearby populations, supporting the assumed genetic isolation of the population. In Population genetics, the founder effect refers to the loss of genetic variation when a new colony is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger In Population genetics, genetic drift is the accumulation of random events that change the makeup of a gene pool slightly but often compound over time ^[11]

Emigration

The last written records of the Norse Greenlanders are from a 1408 marriage in the church of Hvalsey – today the most well-preserved of the Norse ruins. Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language Hvalsey (Greenlandic Qaqortukukooq) is a location near Qaqortoq, Greenland and the site of a number of Greenland's best-preserved Norse ruins

Greenland

Main article: History of Greenland

Greenland was first settled by some 500 Icelanders under the leadership of Erik the Red in the late 10th century, CE. The history of Greenland, the world's largest island is the history of life under extreme Arctic conditions an Ice cap covers about 95 percent of the island Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Erik the Red (950–c 1003 ( Old Norse: Eiríkr rauði; Icelandic: Eiríkur rauði; Norwegian: Eirik Raude; Danish The total population reached a high point of perhaps 3,000 and developed independent institutions before disappearing by 1500. ^[12] While the community on Greenland eventually died out, a papal legation was sent there as late as 1492, the year Columbus sailed for the Americas. A Papal Legate – from the Latin authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the Pope to Foreign nations or to some part of the Catholic Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer

North America

See also: Immigration to the United States and History of immigration to Canada

Gimli, Manitoba, pop. American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States. See related articles History of Canada and Immigration to Canada The history of immigration to Canada extends back thousands of Gimli is a Rural municipality and the town of the same name located within it in south-central Manitoba, Canada. 1,657(Statistics Canada, 2001) is home to the largest concentration of Icelanders outside of Iceland.

According to the Saga of Eric the Red, Icelandic immigration to North America dates back to 1006, when Icelandic Snorri was born in Vinland. Vinland was the name given to an area of North America by the Norseman Leifr Eiríksson, about the year A This colony was short-lived though and by the 1020s the Icelanders abandoned it. Icelandic immigration to North America would not resume for some 800 years. ^[13]

One of the first new instances of Icelandic immigration to North America occurred in 1855, when a small group settled in Spanish Fork, Utah. Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Spanish Fork is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo &ndash Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. ^[14] Immigration to the United States and Canada began in earnest in the 1870s, with most migrants initially settling into the Great Lakes area. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Events and Trends Technology The invention of the prototype telephone by Alexander G The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. Most settlers were fleeing famine and overcrowding on Iceland. A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation Overpopulation refers to a condition where an Organism 's numbers exceed the Carrying capacity of its Habitat. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( ^[15] Today, there are sizable communities of Icelandic descent in both the United States and Canada. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Gimli, in Manitoba, Canada, is home to the largest population of Icelanders outside of the main island of Iceland. Gimli is a Rural municipality and the town of the same name located within it in south-central Manitoba, Canada. Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page ^[16]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Iceland

Language and literature

Main article: Icelandic language

A poem from the Poetic Edda. The culture of Iceland is rich and varied as well as being known for its literary heritage which stems from Authors from the 12th to 14th centuries Icelandic ( is a North Germanic language, the language of Iceland.

Icelandic, a North Germanic language, is the official language of Iceland. The North Germanic languages or Scandinavian languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Icelandic has inflectional grammar comparable to Latin, Ancient Greek, and more closely, Old Norse and Old English. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age

Icelandic literature can be divided into three categories; Eddic poetry, skaldic poetry, and saga literature. Icelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius. The skald was a member of a group of Poets whose courtly poetry (Icelandic dróttkvæði) is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic The Sagas of Icelanders ( Icelandic: Íslendingasögur)&mdashmany of which are also known as family sagas &mdashare prose histories describing Eddic poetry are heroic and mythological poems. Poetry that praises someone is considered skaldic poetry or court poetry. Finally Saga literature is prose that covers pure fiction to fairly factual history. Fiction is the telling of stories which are not real More specifically fiction is an imaginative form of Narrative, one of the four basic Rhetorical modes. ^[17]

Written Icelandic has changed little since the 13th century. Because of this, modern speakers can understand the Icelanders' sagas. The Sagas of Icelanders ( Icelandic: Íslendingasögur)&mdashmany of which are also known as family sagas &mdashare prose histories describing The sagas tell of events taking place in Iceland in the 10th and early 11th centuries. They are considered to be the best known pieces of Icelandic literature. Icelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people

The elder or Poetic Edda, the younger or Prose Edda, and the sagas are the major pieces of Icelandic literature. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius. The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda ( Snorra Edda) or simply Edda, is an The Sagas of Icelanders ( Icelandic: Íslendingasögur)&mdashmany of which are also known as family sagas &mdashare prose histories describing The Poetic Edda is a collection of poems and stories from the late 10th century, where as the younger or Prose Edda is a manual of poetics that contains many stories of Norse mythology. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval Manuscript Codex Regius. The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, Snorri's Edda ( Snorra Edda) or simply Edda, is an Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and Legends of the Scandinavian peoples including those who settled on Iceland

Religion

Main article: Religion in Iceland

Church in Húsavík, Iceland. Religion in Iceland was initially the Norse paganism that was commonly believed by Vikings (from 874 to 1000 Húsavík Iceland

Iceland embraced Christianity in c. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings AD 1000, in what is called the kristnitaka, and the country, while mostly secular in observance, is still predominantly Christian, with Lutherans accounting for 84 percent of the total population. Iceland converted to the Christian religion in 1000 AD In Icelandic, this event is known as the kristnitaka (literally "the taking of ^[18] While early Icelandic Christianity was more lax in its observances than traditional Catholicism, Pietism, a religious movement imported from Denmark in the eighteen century, had a marked effect on the island. As a Christian Ecclesiastical term Catholic —from the Greek adjective, meaning "general" or "universal"—is described Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later By discouraging all but religious leisure activities, it fostered a certain dourness, which was for a long time considered an Icelandic stereotype. A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group At the same time, it also led to a boom in printing, and Iceland today is one of the most literate societies in the world.

While Catholicism was supplanted by Protestantism during the Reformation, most other world religions are now represented on the island: there are small Protestant and Catholic communities, and even a nascent Muslim community, composed of both immigrants and local converts. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time The Nordic country Iceland is estimated to have between 800 and 1000 members by the Association of Muslims in Iceland Perhaps unique to Iceland is the fast growing Ásatrúarfélagið, a legally recognized revival of the pre-Christian Nordic religion of the original settlers. The Íslenska Ásatrúarfélagið "Icelandic fellowship of Æsir faith ( Ásatrú)" is an Icelandic neopagan New religious movement Norse paganism is a term used to describe the religious traditions which were common amongst the Germanic tribes living in Nordic countries prior to and There are very few (about 30) Jews in Iceland. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ The First Lady of Iceland Dorrit Moussaieff is an Israeli-born Bukharian Jew. Dorrit Moussaieff ( Hebrew & Bukhori: דורית מוסאיוף (born 12 January 1950) is the Israeli -born British - Bukharan Jews, also Bukharian Jews or Bukhari Jews, ( בוכרים, Bukharim) are Jews from Central Asia who speak

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of Iceland

Icelandic cuisine consists mainly of fish, lamb and dairy. Important parts of Icelandic cuisine are fish being in an area where fish is plentiful lamb and Dairy. Cuisine (from French cuisine, "cooking culinary art kitchen" ultimately from Latin coquere, "to cook" is a specific set Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget A dairy is a facility for the extraction and processing of animal Milk &mdashmostly from goats or cows, but also from buffalo, Sheep Fish was once the main part of an Icelander's diet but has recently given way to meats such as lamb, pork and poultry. This article is primarily about the human diet For a discussion of animal diets see List of feeding behaviours. Fish from Iceland is considered to be some of the highest quality and best tasting in the world. Taste (or more formally gustation) is a form of direct Chemoreception and is one of the traditional five Senses ^[19]

Iceland has many traditional foods, called Þorramatur. Þorramatur (Thorramatur food of the þorri) is a selection of traditional Icelandic food, consisting mainly These foods include smoked and salted lamb, singed sheep heads, dried fish, smoked and pickled salmon and cured shark. Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Anthony Bourdain, a chef who has traveled the world on his show No Reservations, responded to the question "What's the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten?" with the response "That would have to be the fermented shark fin I had in Iceland. Anthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain (born June 25 1956 is an American Author and Chef. " Fermented shark fin is a form of Þorramatur. ^[20]

Performance art

Further information: Music of Iceland

Sigur Rós has gained international fame performing mostly in Icelandic. The music of Iceland is related to Nordic music forms and includes vibrant folk and pop traditions including medieval music group Voces Thules Sigur Rós ( are an Icelandic Post-rock band with melodic classical and minimalist elements

The earliest indigenous Icelandic music was the rímur, epic tales from the Viking era that were often performed a cappella. In Icelandic literature, a ríma (literally "a rhyme" pl A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas A cappella (Italian or Latin "From the chapel/choir" Music is Vocal music or Singing without instrumental Accompaniment Christianity played a major role in the development of Icelandic music, with many hymns being written in the local idiom. Hallgrímur Pétursson, a poet and priest, is noted for writing many of these hymns in the seventeenth century. Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 &ndash October 27 1674) was one of Iceland 's most famous poets and a minister at Hvalneskirkja and Saurbær The island's relative isolation ensured that the music maintained its regional flavor. It was only in the nineteenth century that the first pipe organs, prevalent in European religious music, first appeared on the island. The pipe organ is a Musical instrument that produces sound when pressurized air (wind is driven through a series of pipes, controlled by a keyboard

Many singers, groups, and forms of music have come from Iceland. Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Most Icelandic music contains vibrant folk and pop traditions. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Pop music as a genre features a noticeable rhythmic element catchy melodies and hooks, a mainstream style and conventional structure Some more recent groups and singers are Voces Thules, The Sugarcubes, Björk, Sigur Rós and Silvía Night. Voces Thules was formed in the year 1992 The ensemble consists of six male singers (Sverrir Guðjónsson Sigurður Halldórsson Guðlaugur Viktorsson Einar Jóhannesson Eiríkur Hreinn The Sugarcubes ( Sykurmolarnir in Icelandic) were an Icelandic Alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992 Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born 21 November 1965 is an Icelandic Singer-songwriter, Composer, actress and music producer. Sigur Rós ( are an Icelandic Post-rock band with melodic classical and minimalist elements Silvía Night (Silvía Nótt is a fictional satirical character on is ''[[Sjáumst með Silvíu Nótt]]'' ( English: The Silvia Night Show) an Icelandic

The national anthem is "Ó Guð vors lands" (English: "Our Country's God"), written by Matthías Jochumsson, with music by Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's " Lofsöngur " ( English: " Hymn " also known as " Ó Guð vors lands " ( English: "O God of Our Land" is Matthías Jochumsson (1835&ndash1920 was an Icelandic Poet, Playwright, and Translator. Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson (1847 - 1927 was an Icelandic composer best known for composing Lofsöngur, the National Anthem of Iceland The song was written in 1874, when Iceland celebrated its one thousandth anniversary of settlement on the island. Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( It was originally published with the title A Hymn in Commemoration of Iceland's Thousand Years. ^[21]

Sports

Iceland's national football team has yet to participate in the FIFA World Cup. The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. The FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international Association football Their first Olympic participation was in the 1912 Summer Olympics, however, they did not participate again until the 1936 Summer Olympics. The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1912 in The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, an International Multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin Their first appearance at the winter games was at the 1948 Winter Olympics. The 1948 Winter Olympics, officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, were a Winter Multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1948 In 1956, Vilhjálmur Einarsson won the Olympic silver medal for the triple jump. Vilhjálmur Einarsson (born June 5, 1934) is a former Icelandic athlete, and Triple-jump silver medalist at the 1956 Summer Olympics The triple jump (sometimes referred to as the hop step and jump or the hop skip and jump) is a Track and field sport similar to Valdimar Snær is a legend of icelandic sports. ^[22]

See also

• List of Icelanders
• Icelandic nationalism

Notes

References