Lögberg-Heimskringla - 08.03.1985, Side 7

WINNIPEG, FOSTUDAGUR 8. MARZ 1985-7
Heimskringla
The masthead of our paper in-
dicates, that the first issue of Heim-
skringla was published Sept. 9, 1886.
There had been other weekly
publications such as Framfari printed
at Riverton and Leifur in Winnipeg.
Both papers had served our Ice-
landers_ well but financial difficulties
brought about their demise. This left
a vacuum the Icelanders could not
withstand.
Heimskringla was established by
three energetic men. Once more our
people were able to organize them-
selves and keep abreast of activities
within their community and enjoy
news of a wider Canadian scope ap-
pearing in their native Icelandic
language. English was beyond most
of them yet Canadian and American
news allowed them a better
understanding of the countries of
their adoption.
The originators of the paper were,
Friman B. Anderson, a graduate of
íthe University of Manitoba, Eggert
Jóhansson, previously the main
editor of Leifur and Einar
Hjörleifsson, a recent arrival from
Iceland.
The terms of reference appeared on
the back page of the first issue, which
states the objective of the founders.
The paper will be specially -for
Icelanders in the Western Hemis-
phere.
All matters affecting Icelanders
and of concern to them will be
treated seriously, whether they be of
a political nature, matters of emplóy-
ment or education. Furthermore the
paper will deal with matters con-
cerning their people in Iceland regar-
ding political matters and writings of
prose and poetry.
The paper will not be tied to any
political party and the editor has full
freedom to deal correctly and fairly
Brennivín — Iceland's National Drink
Cont'd. from page 2
out the alcohol content, we find that
the consumption per individual in
the country that year was 3.2 litres.
In all of Europe probably only the
Turks consumed less. So much for
the myth of the swilling Icelanders!
As may be seen from the above
numbers, Icelanders consume more
of hard liquor than table wines. In
the past few years, some attempts
have been made to change this, for
instanceby raising the price of strong
drinks relatively more than those of
wines. In this connection, however,
it is interesting to note that the first
bottles of the Icelandic brennivín
were sold for seven Icelandic krónur,
which at the time was about tlje price
of a fall lamb. Since then, the price
has been bloated by rampant infla-
tion and confused by a currency
reform in 1980. Now, a bottle of
Icelandic brennivín sells for 470
krónur. The price of a lamb, how-
ever, is about 1,500 krónur, so in
relative terms the price of brennivín
has gone down.
Indispensable with Cured Shark
But how does one drink the Icelan-
dic brennivín? In the first place, it is
a very popular schnapps in Iceland.
As such, it is sipped, for example,
with various types of herring and
considered excellent. There is one
Icelandic custom, however, that
many foreign guests find less than at-
tractive, and that is the drinking of
brennivín with fermented shark.
Many Icelanders find shark thus
prepared to be a royal delicacy, and
when the brennivín is added, no one
need lament for lack of flavour! In
places of amusement, howéver, the
brennivín is rtiost often mixed with
water or carbonated sodas, and that
is probably how most people drink it.
Icelandic bartenders have also mix-
ed it in various cocktails, some of
which are of excellent quality.
The plague of the Black Death was,
in its time, the kind of import that
few Icelanders welcomed, so it is
perhaps no wonder that they have
been circumspect in exporting their
own Black Death! Most foreign
visitors who taste the brennivín res-
pond favourably to it, provided they
like strong drinks at all. But
Icelanders have made few real at-
Only two of the sixty members of
Althing (parliament) have not
graduated from lower secondary
school with gagnfraedapróf, taken at
the age of about sixteen. Gudmundur
J. Gudmundsson, labour leader and
member for the People's Alliance,
and Karvel Pálmason of the Social
Democratic Party, are the two ''un-
educated" members according to an
article on the educational
background of parliamentarians by
Sigurdur Steinthórsson.
Thirty-seven members of Althing
have graduated from higher secon-
dary school, and fully sixteen are law
graduates. Prime Minister Ste-
ingrímur Hermannsson and former
SDP leader Kjartan Jóhannsson are
engineers, one member is an ar-
chitect, and Gudrún Agnarsdóttir of
the Women's Platform, is a doctor.
Clergymen, formerly well-
tempts to export it, and it can be
bought in very few places outside
Iceland — mostly clubs and bars that
take pride in offering drinks from all
corners of the world. Unless there is
a sudden change in the ATVR policy,
therefore, it may be assumed that the
Icelandic brennivín will be in the
future, as at present, first and
foremost the national drink of the
Icelanders themselves. And that is a
state of affairs to which they are quite
reconciled.
Ulugi Jökulsson is a freelance jour-
nalist living in Reykjavík. Transl. by
Hallberg Hallmundsson.
represented in Althing, no longer
feature.
Several members of Althing are
graduates of the Cooperatives' Com-
mercial College, including, surpris-
ingly, Albert Gudmundsson, Minister
of Finance, who is a member of the
Independence Party. Other former
pupils of the CCC include two more
ministers (both members of the Pro-
gressive Party), Halldór Ásgrimsson,
Minister of Fisheries and Alexander
Stefánsson, Minister of Social Affairs.
Working To Keep Our Heritage Alive
CANADA ICELAND
FOUNDATION
SECRETARY: 1 - 204 - 475-8064
40 Garnet Bay
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 0L6
Highly-Educated Parliament
with matters he feels of concern to
the paper.
They stated that Heimskringla
would not be a motivating force in
emigration from Iceland but will deal
with the matter in the same manner
it treats any other news.
As to Icelanders in America, the
paper proposed to be alert on all mat-
ters of discussion concerning them.
They promised an entertáining
sectiori such as, the publication of
good poetry already published,
original or translated.
After 14 weeks of publication the
paper ceased for about four months
but reappeared April 7, 1887. The
costs had been $850 but income on-
ly $350. After a loss of $500, the
paper changed ownership and has
continued uninterrupted publication
since that time.
Policy continued pretty well in the
same vein except in matters concern-
ing new areas suitable for settlement
which would be dealt with as a mat-
ter of major concern.
Financial difficulties came early
during the history of Heimskringla.
Lögberg-Heimskringla has experienc-
ed the same pröblem on numerous
occasions. It is the generosity of sup-
porters that allows it to survive.
Next we will outline the
background of Lögberg and its stated
policy.
Einar Arnason
Reference: Tímarit of the Icelandic
National League, second year, page
102, an article by Rev. R. Pétursson.
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
JOHN V. ARVIDSON
PASTOR
10:30 a.m. The Service followed
by Sunday School & coffee hour.
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Lögberg-Heimskringla
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In Memory of Carl Sigurdson
With Love, Anonymous...................................... $ 25.00
In Memoriams
For Easter, Lögberg-Heimskringla will publish a special page of "In
Memoriams."
Each page will be in good taste with an appropriate heading.
This year our publication will be March 29 — all notices must be in
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If you wish to place a memoriam, please phone our office 284-7688
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525 Kylemore Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 1B5.