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December 2015
XLVII:x
The Icelandic Canadian Club of British Columbia
N E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E R Gleðileg jól, gott og farsælt komandi ár
Viking Yule
OSLO, Norway (AP) -- If
the Vikings had seen
pictures of Santa Claus
cruising the skies in a sleigh
pulled by reindeer, they
probably would have
assumed he was catching a ride with Thor, the Norse god of thunder. According to Viking traditions, which carry
over into modem Scandinavian Jul — or Yule -- celebrations, Thor's personal transport was a flying wagon pulled by a
team of homed goats.
"The idea of St. Nicholas got very much mixed in with Thor's transport when it comes to the sled with flying
reindeer," said Helge Soerheim of the Archaeological Museum in Stavanger. Some say the idea of Father Christmas
or Santa bringing gifts stems from Norse mythology, too, since the most powerful of the Viking gods, Odin, was
credited with doing the exact same thing, according to the Norwegian research magazine Forskning.
Even though Christianity came to Scandinavia a millennium ago, modern celebrations of Christmas hark back to the
pagan winter feast of Jul, which comes from the Norse word "Jol" meaning fun and party. Today, Jul marks the
birth of Jesus and is part of the Christian tradition, but it's still referred to by its ancient name. “Everything about
it is ancient Jul. The name, the concept, the lights in the darkness, the good food, everything but the Christianity
part,” said Wenche Brun, who works with the Viking Museum on northern Norway's Lofoten Islands. Ancient Jul was
celebrated on December 21, then believed to be the longest night of the year. It was easy to shift to the Christian
celebration that take place December 24.
The Icelandic Yule ( Jól ):
The Icelandic Christmas period is an intriguing mixture of religious practice and traditional folklore, beginning on 23
(Continued on page 3)
The Snorri Program For whom? Young people of Icelandic descent 18-28 years of age When? June 12 – July 22, 2016 Why? Because it will change your life! Application deadline: January 13, 2016
Snorri Plus For whom? People of Icelandic descent 30+, their spouses and friends When? August 17-31 / Sept 1, 2016 Why? Because this trip is more than you will ever dream of! New! East side of Iceland included in tour! Application deadline: January 20, 2016
Rates and application forms on: www.snorri.is; Information: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/snorriprogram/ ; Tel./Sími: +354-551-0165
Ásta Sól Kristjánsdóttir, Project Manager
2 December 2015
PASSINGS EYOLFSON CADHAM, Joan Inga - was born on September 9, 1940 in Wadena, SK to parents A. Helgi and Olive A. J. Eyolfson. She was raised on a farm near Leslie, SK. and attended Rosevale, a one-roomed rural school, until the family moved to Foam Lake, SK. Following high school, she moved on to Toronto and journalism. A combination of frequent moves required by her first husband's job and the arrival of children: Joe, Ruth and Inga created a hiatus from writing; the creative spark reignited when she moved to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, and met Jack Cadham and his 24-foot sailboat, Hirondelle. Jack, Joan, three cats and two sailboats moved to Foam Lake, SK in 1992 where they bought a house. She was predeceased by her husband Jack (John Harold) Cadham; parents; and siblings: Magnus, Kris, Sigi, Olive, Freda, Maria, Runa, Beth, and baby Frederick. Joan is remembered by her children: Joe Chisholm (Lisa Evans), Ruth Anne Chisholm - Davin (Jim Davin) and Inga Chisholm (Michael Georg); step-children: Janet Cadham Matte (Richard Matte) and John Cadham; her grandchildren: Nathaniel, Joseph, Eli, Jesse, Thea and Joey; her sister Helga Campbell; her special niece Elaine (Neil) Louch and daughter Kachine; her French-Canadian "adopted" son Marc Jacob (Lucie) Simard and children Raphael and Jeremie; as well as numerous relatives and friends. Upon hearing of the death of former Lögberg-
Heimskringla editor Joan Eyolfson Cadham, L-H board chair Peter Johnson praised Joan for her devoted service to the paper during her tenure as editor. “She was a gifted writer whose love of all things Icelandic shone through her work.” Current editor Stefan Jonasson added, “our staff a n d v o l u n t e e r s a r e heartbroken by the news of Joan’s unexpected passing. Her lively spirit, joyous whimsy, and shining creativity enlivened the pages of our paper and she set a high
standard of excellence.” Excerpted from a ‘post’ written by Bill Valgardson..... She loved Logberg-Heimskringla and the Icelandic community. She had a large, inclusive vision of that community. She felt it didn't just include Winnipeg, or Manitoba but all of us, in all the places to which we had been scattered: England, Denmark, Norway, Australia, Iceland, Sweden, the United States. And more. … When she left LH, she told me that she was going to write a book of Christmas stories. I immediately ordered one even though she had not yet begun to write it. She wrote the book. It is at the printers now, I understand. … She died alone at her desk. Maybe that was the best place. At her desk. That place where she poured out her ideas and words, where she edited grammar and spelling and punctuation, where she brought sprawling sentences under control. RIP Joan. You'll be missed by many.
Christmas Services
Oakridge Lutheran Church (Evangelical), 585 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver—Cambie Street & 41st Avenue
Phone: 604-261-2442; email: [email protected].
The Icelanders of Greater Vancouver built this church.
Sunday, 9:30 am English Holy Communion service with simultaneous translation into Mandarin.
There will be special Christmas services. Please check their December calendar for information.
www.oakridgelutheranchurch.ca
The Danish Lutheran Church, in spite of the name, is a church for all Scandinavians/Nordic people and their
families, 6010 Kincaid St, Burnaby, BC, between Sprott Street & Canada Way, Phone:(604) 298-6112
Services and events are: Sunday, December 13th at 2:00 pm Tivoli Singers’ Christmas Concert
Tuesday, December 22nd at 7:00 pm, Norsk Jul at the church including Juletræsfest
Thursday, December 24th at 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm - Juleaften – sermon in English
Friday, December 25th at 11.00 Danish Christmas Service
“We started out as an immigrant church almost 70 years ago, and now we are a church with Scandinavian roots
in a Canadian setting. Most functions are in English.”
3 December 2015
December and ending on Epiphany, 6 January. As many
countries do, Iceland celebrates Christmas mostly with
good food and gifts to loved ones, but unlike most
countries that have a single Father Christmas / Santa
Claus character, Icelandic children are fortunate
enough to be visited by 13 Yule Lads.
The Icelandic Yule Lads bear little similarity to the
world-famous Santa Claus, who is descended from St.
Nicholas, patron saint of children and sailors. In
contrast, the Icelandic Yule Lads are descended from
trolls and their original role was to strike fear in the
hearts of children. As it happens, they are the sons of
two of the most hideous ogres ever known in Iceland,
Grýla and Leppalúði.
No doubt most children would have wanted to avoid the
Icelandic Yule Lads in the old days, since they were
used by parents to frighten their children into
behaving – just as Grýla and Leppalúði are today.
Evidently this was of some concern to Icelandic
authorities, since in 1746 a public decree was issued to
prohibit parents from frightening their children with
monsters and fiends like the Yule Lads.
Whether it was due to this decree or something else,
the Yule Lads became increasingly benign. Over time
they ceased to be a threat to children's lives, though
they continued to be thieving scoundrels. In the 20th
century, the Icelandic Yule Lads became strongly
influenced by their foreign colleagues, both in terms of
conduct and appearance. They began wearing red
garments on special occasions, similar to Santa Claus
and the Danish Christmas gnomes. They also developed
(Continued from page 1) an unprecedented kindness towards children, to the
point where they started depositing gifts in their
shoes. Yet despite these foreign influences, the
Icelandic Yule Lads kept their traditional Icelandic
characteristics, including their names, their residence
in the mountains, and their number – thirteen.
In 1988, the Icelandic Yule Lads were formally invited
to the National Museum for a pre-Christmas visit, and
they have been regular visitors each December ever
since. They start arriving 13 days before Christmas,
one each day. They wear their traditional garb, as
opposed to the red suits they fancy for special
occasions, and always try to nick one or two of their
favourite things, which just goes to show that they
are still a bit naughty, even though they are basically
good lads.
Several years ago, Grýla became completely fed up
with the Yule Lads' shabby appearance. The National
Museum staff got wind of this and asked the Yule Lads
about it. They admitted that they did, in fact, own a
single red suit that they took turns using, and that
they were in stiff competition with the “American
Santa Claus”, as they called him. Subsequently the
National Museum joined forces with Icelandic
designers and craftspeople to design new clothes for
the Yule Lads so they could look good for Christmas,
clothes made from wool cloth, sheepskin, felt and
Icelandic woollens. So the Icelandic Yule Lads are now
very well dressed for their visits to the National
Museum after their long trek down from the
mountains. They arrive from 12 December onward at
11 am.
4 December 2015
COMING EVENTS
Nov 29 (Sun) Children’s Christmas Party Seniors’ Bldg, Confederation Centre
April 29/30, 2016 (Friday and Saturday) - The 2016 Icelandic National League of North America Convention is set in Vancouver, BC at the River Rock Casino Resort
Watch for REGISTRATION in the JANUARY NEWSLETTER.
Thank you to all who made the Icelandic Bake Sale on November 15, 2015, such a success:
Jana & Odinn Helgason; Gary & Renee Penway; Asi & Jacqui Bjornsson; Ola Andresdottir & Jon Oli
Johannesson; Edda & Kent Langworth; Elsie Einarson, Dailene Wood & Naomi Hartley; Norman Eyford & Kevin;
Anna Bjarnason; Arnar Jonsson; Karl Hunt; Tammy Eyford & Krystal; Marilyne Anderson; Norma Guttormsson;
Maria McKay; Russ & Michelle Maynard, Loa & Vanya; Indridi Kristjansson; Stefanie Finnson Rainaldi; Joe
Jobin; Sigrid Erlendson; Kristina Dyer and Kaytlyn Lockyer; Hazel Braeuer and special thanks to Naomi Dyer,
Gerri McDonald and Nina Jobin for their part in the organizing committee. Also thanks goes to the helpful
staff of the Scandinavian Centre, Leena Kelly and Carol Walters, plus Peter Praegel and Dave Buchmann.
Thank you all, Margret Bjarnason Amirault
Hard Fisk Cafe
Kristina & Loa
Karl
5 December 2015
Vanya, our best ‘busboy’
Elsie
Nina & Gerri
Norm
Kitchen staff: Jon Oli, Arnar, Renee, Jacqui, Karl, Ola, Odinn. Missing in photo, Edda
6 December 2015
The Scandinavian Community Centre Society has one major fund raiser each year. The funds raised during our Midsummer Festival are a significant contribution toward the operational budget of the Centre. During the last few festivals, it has been noted by the Midsummer Committee that there are areas where too much is being asked of some volunteers.
There are two areas that we would like to draw your attention toward. One is the preparation of open faced sandwiches. Each year it is the same people doing this work at Midsummer. We need an infusion of new volunteers. The preparation of the sandwiches is straight forward and the system of making the sandwiches is well tested. Simply put, we are looking for people who would volunteer perhaps with a friend to learn one step in the making of these prized sandwiches. The work is more repetitive than creative.
Another area is someone to oversee the ordering and the supervising of food preparation. Once again there is already a successful plan in place. One person has done this job for some years. It is a job that requires a
commitment before and during the festival.
The next meeting of the Midsummer Committee is January 21, 2016. Over the Christmas Season it is hoped that you and your friends will discuss the idea of joining the sandwich making volunteers or perhaps you as an individual would offer to help out as the food organizer. As a community, we also welcome volunteers in all areas of the festival including planning, set up and take down.
On behalf of the Midsummer Committee, we send out a huge “Thank You” to all our volunteers and to those who contribute to a successful Midsummer Festival. As many of you well know, we look forward to working together each year during this well organized event. To all we say,
“A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”.
If you are interested, please send inquiries to Midsummer Committee c/o the Scandinavian Community Centre at: [email protected]
Norman Eyford - Midsummer Chair
Midsummer Festival Moving Forward
Christmas in
the Country
Folk Art
By David A.
A book to read after the Christmas rush: The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
From the Winnipeg Free Press: “Dark and chilly as January in Winnipeg, the eighth crime thriller
from Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir combines an old-fashioned detective story with a tinge
of the supernatural. Sigurðardóttir is well-known in Europe as an award-winning children's author,
and as the author of seven previous bestselling crime novels.”
7
R u s s i a n s W i n C h e s s Championship Russia emerged as the winner of the E u r o p e a n T e a m C h e s s Championship (ETCC), which concluded in Reykjavík, November 22, RÚV reports. Armenia won the silver and Hungary the bronze. The Russian women’s team beat Germany during the final round. The Men’s Icelandic A-Team beat Sweden and landed in 19th place, finishing strongest of the Nordic countries. The Icelandic women’s team ended up in 29th place, but the ‘Iceland Legends’ finished 32nd in the open competition. The Iceland Legends is a team comprising of older Icelandic chess grand masters. The ETCC is the strongest chess championships in the world this year. Almost 150 grand masters took part, along with teams from 35 countries.
Police Request More Weapons The Paris attacks have rekindled discussion about whether police in Iceland need weapons. Chief Superintendent Jón F. Bjartmarz, at the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, maintains that law enforcement officials find the situation serious. He says the operation training of the police force has been substantially increased in the past two years, but admits the trouble lies in a lack of weapons, equipment and manpower. The report states there is need for 150 machine guns, which does not include the needs of special police forces. It further specifies that various equipment of the special police forces is outdated, even decades old, and needs renewal.
Norwegian Laments Reykjavík’s Limelight Jonas Gahr Støre, leader of the Norwegian Labor Party and former foreign minister, complains President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is stealing the scene, RÚV reports. He claims Norwegians are losing the initiative in the discussion of the Arctic. The party leader has recently complained that those most interested in the Arctic have attended the Arctic Circle
Conference in Reykjavík, while the Norwegian government did nothing to keep the initiative. Now, he said, the Icelandic president had taken leadership in the discussion by inviting all the major heavy-weights on the subject to a conference in Reykjavík, three years in a row. Even François Hol lande attended. Simultaneously, he continued, nothing occurs in Norway and the Barents Euro Arctic Council, which was intended as a platform for discussion, courtesy of Norway, is partly paralyzed. The world has begun to see Reykjavík as the capital of the Arctic, despite resolutions declaring Tromsø as such. No one comes to Tromsø.
Bárðarbunga Volcano Might Erupt Again Geologists are now investigating data, indicating that magma might be a c c u m u l a t i n g a g a i n u n d e r Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier. The Holuhraun eruption, which took place between August 31, 2014, and February 27, 2015, was part of a series of events which started in the volcano in 1974 and might provide evidence about the behavior of the volcano in the future. The Holuhraun eruption is now seen as a chapter in a story that began in 1974. That year, a series of large earthquakes began, which hit at regular intervals in Bárðarbunga. The first chapter ended 22 years later with the eruption and glacial flood in Gjálp in 1996. After the Gjálp eruption, the volcano was silent for many years, but a few years ago, a new series of earthquakes began, culminating in the Holuhraun eruption in the northeastern highlands in August 2014. The magma came from Bárðarbunga and the caldera sank by 60 meters (197 feet) in the course of the eruption. Páll believes it’s possible that the next eruption might occur in Bárðarbunga itself. “Bárðarbunga is probably the most powerful volcano in Iceland … Bárðarbunga is the center of a volcanic system which often erupts at the periphery, but still
more frequently in the volcano itself.” It is difficult to predict when the next eruption might start and whether previous eruptions can be used as evidence as to what might happen next. Páll concludes: “We have 30 volcanic systems in Iceland and each one of them has its own personality. To predict what is likely to happen in the near future we have to get to know them a bit personally.” More Sulfur from Holuhraun Than All of Europe Emissions of sulfur dioxide from the volcanic eruption at Holuhraun amounted to nearly 12 million tons. That is more than the total emission of the dangerous gas over the whole of Europe in 2011, according to University of Iceland scientist, Sigurður Reynir Gíslason. “The Holuhraun erupt ion spewed poisonous sulfur dioxide (SO2) over a large area of Europe and the eruption was the biggest in Iceland since the ‘Skaftá Fires’ from 1783 to 1784.”
Map Tracks Icelandic Saga Heroes Did you ever wish you could trace the travels of the heroes of the Icelandic sagas, and know precisely where each of them uttered an unforgettable sentence, or died a heroic death? Well, now you can. The Icelandic Saga Map has just been awarded the Utilization Award (Hagnýt ingarverðlaun) at the University of Iceland, RÚV reports. The map is accessible to the public on the internet. On the right hand side of the screen, you can read any Icelandic Saga you like in Icelandic, and view a map of Iceland on the left hand side of the screen. Every farm or place name mentioned in the sagas has a link, which, if pressed, points to the exact location on the map. All instructions are in English. The Map is the brainchild of Emily Diana Lethbridge, a PhD graduate from the University of Iceland Centre for Medieval Studies. Along with her, Trausti Dagsson, Hjördís Erna Sigurðardóttir, Gísli Pálsson and Logi Ragnarsson worked on the project.
From Iceland Review Online – November 2015 Compiled by Iceland Review Editorial Staff
December 2015
8
The 8-page newsletter is published at the beginning of each month, ten months of the year. A newsletter is not printed in July or August. Material is gratefully received by the 20th of each month.
Editor & Publisher:
Margrét Bjarnason Amirault, Tel: 604-688-9082
ICCBC Mail: 6540 Thomas Street
Burnaby, BC V5B 4P9 E-mail: [email protected] Distribution: Naomi Dyer, Gerri McDonald, Nina Jobin
Labels et al: Norman Eyford
Courier: Naomi Dyer
Website: Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C.
www.inlofna.org/ICCBC/Welcome.html
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Icelandic-
Canadian-Club-of-British-Columbia/190426084338925
Website: Icelandic National League: www.inlofna.org
Icelandic Archives of BC: www.inlofna.org/IABC/Welcome.html
Icelandic Radio (6 stations): www.xnet.is
Morgunblaðið: http://mbl.is
Ströndin Internet Radio: www.inlofna.org/SIR
Honorary Consul General of Iceland for BC & Yukon,
Heather Alda Ireland: [email protected]
LIBRARY & GENEALOGY Books written by Icelanders in English or
translation are available in the Scandinavian library
upstairs. The sorting of books in the Sólskin
Library is progressing.
Information regarding the Genealogy Centre can be
obtained from Gerri McDonald at 604-279-0420.
Icelandic Language CDs or Tapes
Get acquainted with the language or brush up on your pronunciation with lessons 1 & 2, each one hour long. Typed lessons are included so that you can learn to read Icelandic
as well. Canadian Orders: CDs, 2 lesson sets $30 CAD/ USD;
tapes are also available. Postage & handling included.
US and Foreign Orders: International money order only.
Send your cheque or money order made out to: Icelandic Canadian Club of B.C.
3776 Arbor Street, Burnaby, BC V5J 1T4 Tel: 604-433-6329
www.inlofna.org/ICCBC/Tape_Lessons.htm
December 2015
Oakridge Lutheran Church 585 West 41
st Avenue, Vancouver
9:30 a.m., Sunday Morning Service
English Joint Services Coffee served every Sunday
Christmas services: check Events www.oakridgelutheranchurch.ca
SCANDINAVIAN CENTRE Website: www.scandinaviancentre.org (for more details)
E-mail: [email protected], Telephone: 604-294-2777
Dec 6 (Sun) 6:00 pm—Finland Independence Day Dec 9 (Wed) 6:00 pm—Norwegian Family Christmas Dec 11 (Fri) 12 noon—Scandinavian Seniors Christmas Lunch, please call Tor 604-294-0749 or the office.
Dec 11 (Fri) 6:30 pm—Danish Christmas by the Fireside
Dec 12 (Sat) 12:30 pm—Lucia Festivities in the Afternoon Dec 12 (Sat) 6:00 pm—Lucia Festivities in the Evening. Jan 16 (Sat) 1 pm—Genealogy meeting. Jan 22 (Fri) 6:00 pm—Norwegian Meatball Dinner Viking Boat Munin: call Marian Hammond 604-782-0639.
Icelandic Online Club; email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IcelandicOnlineClub
