Lögberg-Heimskringla - 27.11.1987, Qupperneq 1

Lögberg
Heimskringla
LÖGBERG Stofnað 14. janúar 1888
HEIMSKRINGLA Stofnað 9. september 1886
100. ÁRGANGGR CENTENNIAL YEAR/ALDARAFMÆLISÁR, FÖSTUDAGUR 27, NÓVEMBER 1987 NÚMER 41
Upphlutur, traditional Icelandic dress
The upphlutur of today is a com-
plete and independent dress style in
its own right, which became popular
during the first decade of this centu-
ry. It was not until in the third decade
that it gained widespread popularity.
Although the origin of the dress dates
much further back in time, the style
of the present day version can be
traced to the King's visit in 1907,
when the maids of honour were out-
fitted in a black skirt and bodice with
a white cloth shirt and apron. Older
women considered the upphlutur a
rather common dress dnd preferred
the Peysufot, which still lingers, al-
beit rarely seen.
Older pictures indicate that the
style of the upphlutur has retained its
general appearance. The skirt and
A girl in an Icelandic costume.
bodice seem to have been usually
made from cloth, although it was
known that the bodice was some-
times made from flannel or silk,
while the skirt remained cloth. The
shirt was made from white cloth,
originally with a slightly flaired col-
lar, and a small black or coloured silk
scarf around the neck. Black flannel
was used in the belt with decorative
silver clasps and plates, including
embroidered designs. The aprons
were of various colours and materi-
als. The girls who attended the king's
The secretary of the league, Evelyn
Thorvaldson, advises that she paid a
visit to Markerville and met with
representatives of the Stephan G.
Stephansson chapter of the league.
The purpose of her trip was a liaison
visit, in order to bring to resolve the
administrative aspects of the upcom-
ing annual convention during March
25-27, to be held at the Innisfail
Country Lodge Motor Hotel a
twenty-minute drive from
Markerville.
Present were Freda Stephanson
secretary of the local chapter, Herb
and Phyllis Vigfusson representing
the Nordurljos Chapter in Edmonton,
local members Allan Thorlakson,
Evelyn Johannson, Harold Johnston,
Edwin Stephansson, and Evelyn
Thorvaldson from Winnipeg.
Evelyn goes on to mention her in-
teresting tour of Markerville which
included the Stephan G. Stephansson
home refurbished in its 1920 setting
and now an official historic site.
Other interesting sites in the area are;
the Hola School, the Medicine River,
Christansson's Private Cemetery, the
Creamery Museum, the Fensala Hall,
the Icelandic Lutheran Church, and
the Tindastoll Cemetery. These she
describes as interesting sites to visit
during the convention, and in all like-
lihood a tour will be part of the
agenda.
She advises that Kris Johnson,
President of local chapter was una-
ble to attend due to health reasons.
We regret to learn that he is not well,
visit wore white cloth aprons.
In later years the skirt and apron
have been sewn from silk material,
or similar cloth, often satin. Wire-
work decorations are often sewn in
place of embroidery, with hollow
round piéces with decorative faces at-
tached to the belt, in between the
wirework decorations. The decora-
tive roundels were fairly large during
the early part of the century but ap-
pear to have fallen into disuse.
Presently the trend is to have eight
roundels on an upphlutur. At the
back of the upphlutur there are two
side pieces in addition to the shoul-
der straps decorated with metal
filigree. The upphlutur and skirt are
usually black. The young girl in the
picture is in a newly styled upphlut
made from light cloth, with a modest
white shirt and hand woven apron of
summer wool colours, with knitted
cap and a short tassle. The Upphlutur
is with embroidered design and the
belt linked metal plates.
Happy sewing as you create your
heritage costume.
Evelyn Thorvaldson visits Alberta
Front row: L-R — Herb & Phyllis Vigfusson, Evelyn Johannson, Freda
Stephanson. Back row: L-R — Allan Thorlakson, Harold Johnston, Ed-
win Stephansson.
but are heartened to know that he is
optimistic and expects to be fully
recovered in the near future. We at
Eyolfson's 80th birthday
As Ida Eyolfson reached this very
senior milestone in life, her family
alrd friends gave her hearty best
wishes.
On Saturday evening, Oct. 17, her
family gathered at the Wildewood
Club and honoured her at a dinner.
In attendance were her husband Ron
Eyolfson, George and Hazel Isford
from Toronto, Arnold from Los An-
geles, Oli and Maria Isford from Van-
couver, Fred and Rosemarie Isford
and Olly Gyles of Winnipeg. Eight of
13 grandchildren, and 7 of 12 great-
grandchildren were present.
On Sunday, Nov. 15 an after serv-
ice coffee party was held in Ida's
honour at the First Lutheran Church
on Victor St., with many of her
friends and relatives in attendance.
Lögberg-Heimskringla wish him well
and express hope that his compleete
recovery will be soon.
As you pass through life the 80th
birthday comes only once. When fa-
mily and friends gather to honour
such a milestone, the honoured per-
son must have earned the love and
respect of family and friends on the
pathway through life.
Ida Eyolfson