Lögberg-Heimskringla - 09.02.1990, Blaðsíða 6

6 • Lögbeig - Heimskringia • Föstudagur 9. Febrúar 1990
Three days in lceland!
By Shirley McCreedy
Traditions abound in Iceland, and pre-
Lenten customs there continue over a
three-day period rather than one. This
includes Shrove Monday (Bolludagur)
or Bun Day; Shrove Tuesday (Spren-
gidagur) or Bursting Day; and Ash
Wednesday (öskudagur).
The custom of Bun Day (Shrove
Monday) has a century-old history in
Iceland. The main feature is two-fold; to
rap someone on the buttó'cks with a stick
before he or she gets out of bed and to be
rewarded with some kind of delicacy, in
thiscasebunswithwhipped-cream. The
first part may probably be traced to the
acts of chastisement to which people
subjected themselves and others as a
token of repentance during Lent in com-
memoration of Christ’s passion. But
after the Reformation it gradually tumed
into a light-hearted affair.
The eating of buns seems to be a
remnant of the custom of fasting on
white food, except that the food is a good
deal more generous than before. In
other countries the eating of buns, pan-
cakes, et cetera seems to have been
morecommononShroveTuesday. But
in Iceland it was probably transferred to
Monday in order not to upset the tradi-
tional eating habits of the following day.
Bursting Day is the Icelandic desig-
nation of Shrove Tuesday, the last day
before the beginning of Lent. This be-
came a camival day. And, despite the
Norwegian Laws of King Christian V
(late 17th century) to some extent valid
in Iceland which were to suppress all
kinds of convivialities, Shrovetide rev-
elry in the middle of the Icelandic winter
took place in the residences of ministers
and magistrates. So it was precisely
those who were supposed to enforce the
orders of King and Church who had
places large enough to accommodate the
frolicking crowds.
On Bursting Evening people bolted
down as much meat, dripping, and other
“gourmetfare” as they could, since these
were prohibited during Lent. Many
stuffed themselves to the verge of burst-
ing. The leftovers were put in a pouch
and suspended in the living quarters
above each individual’s bed or gathered
into one bag which was hung up in the
middle of the living quarters. They had
to keep hands off the food until the eve of
Easter.
At the time of the Reformation, resis-
tance to Catholic customs brought about
a change in the customary Ash Wed-
nesday. To begin with, people would
Open l
House!
On the occasion of her 85th birth-
day, Lara Tergesen received family
and friends at an “Open House” Tea
hosted by her family at the Tergeson
store. A steady stream of people with
best birthday wishes came to the cor-
ner store where we have all grown
accustomed to finding Lara behind the
counter, not only, to serve you as a
customer but also, to converse with
you on the many and varied topics of
the day.
Her keen interest in people is al-
ways evident and now able to recipro-
cate, m, ny showed their respect and
pleasur in wishing Lara well on this
joyous ( zcasion.
Submitted by Dilla Narfason
Come with us to the
Land of the Midnite Sun!
Iceland
and the Vestman Islands!
August 4th to August25th, 1990
Eleanor & Vi
In conju iction with Viking Travel & lceiandair
invite you to enjoy a Unique Travel Adventure
in Breathtaking lcelandl
21 Days for $3495.
Includes: Return Airfare ** Winnipeg- lceland
Accomodation, most meals and all tours.
For further information: Phone 832-3037
30 Seats - First Come First Served

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Öskudagur (Ash Wednesday)
prolong the carnival as far as they could
into Ash Wednesday, and so it became a
special day of joy and pranks instead of
repentance in Iceland.
In connection with Bursting Day, any
revelry at Shrovetide was soon success-
fully eradicated, along with other
amusements, in the 18th century. But
an innocent-looking game with the
symbol of repentance, the ashes, sur-
vived. This is the amusing custom of fur-
tively hanging a small bag of ashes on a
person’s back and making him carry it a
certain distance, such as three steps, or
across three thresholds.
This trick was especially tried by girls
on boys. In retum, the boys would at-
tempt to make the girls carry small
pebbles for a similar distance. (Stones
were probably selected because of the
old punishment of drowning adulterous
women with stones tied around their
necks.) However, it became a great
sport among children to hang ash bags
on the backs of respectable citizens,
some ofwhom would react quite angrily.
Nowadays, brightly coloured bags may
be purchased in the stores in Iceland,
and it is most amusing when people go
about for several hours with these bags
on their backs without knowing they are
there.
A stíll younger variation is to leave the
bag empty, but to sew some symbol of
love on it. Then the recipient wonders
who the sender may be.
(From Icelandic Feasts and Holidays by
Ámi Bjömsson. Courtesy of the Viking Times.)
Minnist
BETEL
i erfðaskrám yðar
Manitoba <Q:fr
Cultural Resources Officer
Reporting to the director, the incumbent will be the branch’s primary link with
the rural and northern cultural community in Manitoba. The incumbent will
manage all aspects of service delivery of an assigned caseload which will
include non-profit community and provincial arts organizations, other arts
development organizations and/or programs, analysis of grant applications,
input in program review, program planning, policy development and esti-
mates process. Incumbent is responsible forseveraí othercomplex functions
requiring a knowledge of government process, independent decision-
making, interpretation, negotiation and initiating collaborative relationships
with co-workers, other departments, government offices and agencies.
Successful applicant must have appropriate combination of education.
Several years’ experience in the cultural community and a good working
knowledge of volunteer board development. Experience and knowledge in
program evaluation and implementation and fiscal management preferred.
Analytical and superior oral and written communication skills are essential.
Bilingualism would be an asset. Qualified Affirmative Action Target Group
members will be given preference.
Salary: $35,878 - $43,216 per annum
Competition No.: 3159
Closing Date: February 26, 1990
Apply in Writing to: Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation
Personnel Services
206 - 177 Lombard Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0W5
An Affirmative Action Employer