Iceland

Icelanders wait impatiently for the first sign of spring. Newspapers run front-page stories about the first sightings of the golden plover bird, a popular symbol of spring. Many villages celebrate the return of the sun in March with "sunshine coffee" parties.  The changing weather may be a frequent topic of conversation and jokes among Icelanders.  In summer Icelanders stay up late and spend as much time outside as they can. Visitors often say that Icelanders remind them of Hibernating bears because they sleep a lot in the winter, then stay up late and play all summer. No matter what the weather, Icelanders always manage to make do with a smile.Iceland was formed by volcanic eruptions, because of all this underground heat, Icelanders have an unending supply of hot water.

In the 1930s they began using the geothermal water to heat their homes and swimming pools. Nearly every community has its own outdoor geothermal swimming pool and more than 50 percent of the homes are heated geothermally. Iceland is a close-knit society due to the smallness of Iceland's population. A result of this small and close-knit society is that Icelanders usually have a personal stake in the news because there is a reasonable possibility that you will know personally anyone who is in the news.  This also gives a sense of a caring society. It can also give a sense of subtle control since it is almost impossible to do anything without the deed being found out and discussed by one's peers. In Iceland literally everyone is on first name terms.  There are only two exceptions where titles are used:  the president and the bishop of Iceland.

Icelanders have a very strong work ethic. Children as young as 12 begin working during the summer.  Icelanders have a strong sense of self-sufficiency due long winters and remote location of their island. Most Icelanders love children. Many children are born out of wedlock but most young couples get married after having their first child. Childrearing duties usually fall on the mothers because the fathers generally work long hours. Icelanders are exceptionally well educated. Many Icelanders are also fluent in Danish and English. Iceland has the highest concentration or bookstores per capita in the world. Iceland has a great health care system and the infant mortality rate is one of the lowest in the world.

Certain minimum guarantees for public welfare are provided for in the Constitution of Iceland. Articles 70 and 71 read: "Whoever is unable to provide for himself or his dependents shall, subject to duties prescribed by law, be entitled to support from public funds, unless his maintenance rests upon others .... If parents cannot afford to educate their children, of if the children are orphaned or destitute, their education and maintenance must be defrayed from public funds.

A typical Icelandic greeting would be (Good Morning) or (Good day) or Hall (hello). A handshake is also typical. Icelandic is the language of the ancient Vikings and Icelanders are very proud of their language.

On the weekend and especially on Friday nights young men and women go out on the town. Typically a group of friends will congregate at someone's house at about 9 PM. for some conversation before heading downtown. Around midnight the group goes downtown to visit the bars, meet with other friends, and generally see what is happening. It is unfashionable to turn up before midnight.

pThe bars close at 3 AM at which point on a summer's night most of the young people will be wandering around downtown in groups singing, carousing, greeting one another, and generally parting. During winter, due to the cold weather most socializing is done in the home. Icelanders are usually casual in their visiting and rarely send formal invitations.

Icelanders like to wear clothes from the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Icelanders consider themselves very stylish people. Because of the cold temperatures warm clothing is required most of the year. Most teens usually wear baggy jeans and comfortable shirts and only dress up for special occasions.

Icelanders are a mix of Nordic Vikings and Celtic slaves. Most are strong and beautiful.  Beauty pageants and modeling contests are extremely popular.Iceland has heavily restricted the number of immigrants. Nybuar, (NEE-boo-ah) which means new-dwellers is the Icelandic name for those who belong to a different race.

Fish is very popular as is broiled lundi or puffin, Whale blubber, whale steaks, and seal meat are available from time to time. Because of the short growing season, most products are imported. Fruits and vegetables are raised in greenhouses including grapes, bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers and beans.

A dish special to Iceland is skyr, a yogurt-like dish which is made from skim milk and a bacteria culture similar to that used in sourdough. It can be eaten at any meal.

Icelandic pancakes called pönnukökur are thin and delicate and dusted with brown sugar or jam or folded into quarters with whipped cream in the center.

In the old days, Þorri was the fourth month of winter, Today the first Friday in January after the 19th day of the month begins the Icelandic month of Þorri in which the festival of Þorrablót (THOR-ra-bloat) is held.

Thorrablot recalls Icelanders’ Viking history with naturally preserved winter foods and drink including Hákarl (petrified shark meat), Blóðmör (black pudding, a sausage made from blood), Hrútspungur (pickled ram’s testicles served in the scrotum), Lundabaggi (sheep’s fat), Svinasulta (jellied ham), Svið (jellied sheep’s head),Harðfiskur (bread spread made of fish), Hangikjot (smoked lamb). Þorrablót is a time to celebrate the fact that a family had enough food to last until spring.

Icelandic people rate family as more important than either their social life, their possessions or their work. The Icelandic people are descendants of Vikings. Vikings kept track of people by recognizing who their father was as in Gizur son of Gudmund the Great (not a real person). Since 1925 Icelanders have been obliged by law to give their children patronyms. Patronyms are surnames created by the addition of -son (son) or dttir (daughter) to their fathers first name. A small percentage of the time, the mother will create the surname by the addition of -son or dttir to the mothers name. An example surname would be Hlfdanarson (son of Hlfdan) or Ptursdttir (daughter of Ptur).

In Iceland most people call each other by their first name because there are hardly any family names. Also, women do take on their husbands surname when the get married.

Many Icelanders own and live in their own homes, either in a house or an apartment. Reykajavk contains many large houses where affluent Icelandic families enjoy the comforts of the good life. Icelanders busy lifestyle explains why they seem to always be late for appointments. In addition to their family, work, and socializing Icelanders enjoy concerts, plays and art exhibitions. They are also widely read. Iceland is a country where the people have the longest life expectancy in the world.

When death occurs the body is buried or cremated. The attitude of death is reflected in the small close-knit population. Many times funerals are announced on the radio.

Many Icelandic couples do not get married until they can afford their own house or apartment. Young couples in the twenties often live together with one set of parents. They may choose to have their first child even though they have no plans to get married yet.

When Icelandic couples get married it is usually in a church. If they have children they are usually part of the wedding ceremony acting as flower-bearers or other type of assistants. A honeymoon abroad is highly desired but is usually to expensive.

Students partake in a range of sports, with handball and soccer being the two most popular. Horseback riding, chess, and bridge are also popular among students. Girls begin entering beauty pageants as young teenagers. Boxing is banned in Iceland but there is a traditional form of Icelandic wrestling known as (GLEE-mah), which has been practiced since the early days of settlement in Iceland. Similar in many ways to Japanese sumo wrestling, wrestlers wear harnesses on their thighs and hips which their opponent grabs in an attempt to throw them to the ground.

Hiking is a favorite activity and a way of seeing the beautiful scenery.Cross-country skiing is an alternative to hiking in the winter.  Fishing for trout and salmon is popular but the fishing licenses can be expensive.

While Iceland is not know for golf it does boast of having the most northerly 18 holes of golf on the course at the Akureyri Golf Club which is situated 65 49' north of the Equator. During the third week of June when the sun shines most of the day the Akureyri Golf Club host he Arctic Open Golf Championship an international event which attracts golfers from various parts of the world. The Highest number of international players so far is 120 participants.The Arctic Open is a 36 hole tournament, played under the Stableford point system over 2 days (nights), 18 holes each day. The former day groups are chosen randomly but the second day by score. This championship tournament is open to professional and amateur golfers alike.

Education is Compulsory from the age of 7 to 16 Grades 1-9, preschool is available for children ages 5 or 6. Schooling is free and textbooks are provided by the local authority. The standardized curriculum provides a grounding in the principal subjects. Danish is taught from the fourth grade and English from the sixth grade. Swimming is an obligatory part of the curriculum. At the end of ninth grade, a standardized test along with the school's record of assessment is used to select what institution a young Iceland should go to next. Students may go on to grammar or comprehensive school for four years. Ages 17 to 20 or to vocational school. Iceland has two universities. Both are state funded and the tuition is free.

At the age of 16, it is common for students have a part-time job in addition to continuing their schooling. In addition to part-time work, students also take temporary jobs in the summer such as supervising the younger children employed by the city to tidy up sidewalks or helping to beautify parks. Young people spend considerable time on the streets, partying as they move between locations. Those with access to a car may spend the evenings cruising. The runtur ("ROON-tohr") , a circuit of roads, is a permanent but happy traffic jam on Friday or Saturday nights, with partying youngsters. Older teenagers might go off camping and hiking together with friends for a weekend.