Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.05.1994, Page 1

Lögberg ]
eimskringia
The lcelandic Weekly
LoRbcrtt Stofnaö 14. jnminr 1888
HcimskriniJln Stofnnö 9. scptombcr 1886
108. Árgangur
108th Year
Publications Mail Registration No. 1667
Föstudagur 6. maí 1994
Friday, 6 May 1994
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Númer 16
Number 16
Uceland Cclebpafes
1944 Junc 17th 1994
50th Anniversary of the lcelandic Republic
Official national celebrations to mark the 50th
anniversary of the Republic will be held at Þingvellir.
A draft programme has been prepared:
08:25-08:30
09:30-
10:15-
11:00-
12:00-
13:30-
15:30-
10:15
10:50
12:00
•13:30
-15:30
-17:00
17 June 1994
Church bells ring all over lceland and flags will
be raised
Religious service
“Heritage” programme
Open-air meeting of the Alþing (Parliament)
“Heritage” programme
Official activities and ceremonies
Entertainment programme
0n June 18 and 19, celebrations will be held with special
programmes of activities all over lceland, the largest of
them in the capital, Reykjavík. In addition, a wide range
of activities are planned in many parts of lceland throughout the
summer, with exhibitions and shows, sports events, concerts,
and various cultural and folk activities to mark the anniversary.
This year, 1994, Icelanders cele-
brate a milestone in the history
of the country when the nation-
als along with representatives of other
nations will gather at Þingvellir to
commemorate the establishment of the
Republic of Iceland that took place on
the same grounds on June 17,1944.
Þingvellir has been the scene of
many of the most notable events in
Iceland’s history. The name means
“Parliament Plains,” given after it was
chosen as the site of the Alþing nation-
al assembly in the year 930. Þingvellir
is a place of dramatic natural beauty,
lying on the shores of Lake Þing-
vallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland.
The grass-covered lava plains lie in the
fault valley where the continental
plates of Eurasia and America are
moving apart at the rate of 1-2 cm
every year. Lake Þingvallavatn is fed
from freshwater springs that well up
through its lava bed, but early settlers
also diverted a river into it, creating a
waterfall that falls over the site of
Almannagjá (“People’s Chasm”). Until
1798, Parliament met beneath Lögberg
(“Law Rock”). Delegates would camp
or stay in turf booths on the plains
beneath it.
In 1928, Þingvellir was declared
Iceland’s first national park, a “nation-
al shrine”.
And once again, on June 17, the
people of Iceland will gather on these
historical grounds to witness yet
another milestone in the country’s his-
tory. They will be joined by dignitaries
from other nations, Kings, Queens,
Presidents and other representatives.
The Icelandic hospitality will shine, we
are sure, to make this day as memo-
rable as June 17, 1944 was and in
more recent memory, the l,100th
anniversary of the settlement in 1974.
Icelandic citizens living abroad are
expected to come home in great num-
bers this summer and also descendants
of the people that left Iceland during
the difficult period of the latter part of
the 19th century.
This is truly a year of celebrations in
Iceland, and they have already started,
with events taking place all over the
countiy alomost every weekend. Yes,
this is the year to visit and join
Icelanders in celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the Icelandic Republic.
There have been many milestones in
the country’s history, the following
being some of the most historical:
874-930 The settlement peiod.
930 Establishment of the Alþing -
now the world’s oldest extant
national assembly - at
ÞINGVELLIR. Iceland’s republi-
can system of government
was unique in its day.
1000 Adoption of Christianity, peace-
fully, at Þingvellir.
13 th century — “Golden Age’’ when the
Sagas were written. The Sagas
include some of the classics
of the world’s medievai litera-
ture and are written in the
ancient Viking language which
is still spoken in lceland today.
1262 lceland becomes part of
Norwegian crown.
1380 lceland, with Norway,
becomes part of the Danish
crown.
1874 Millennium of the settlement
of lceland celebrated at
ÞINGVELLIR. A constitution is
granted by the King of
Denmark.
1904 Home rule. Appointment of
the first lcelandic govemment
minister.
1918 Act of Crown Union with
Denmark, lceland assumes
full control of virtually all its
domestic affairs, with the
Danish King as head of state.
1930 Millennium of the establish-
ment of the Alþing parliament,
celebrated at ÞINGVELLIR.
1944 The Modern Republic of
lceland is established at
ÞINGVELLIR, following a refer-
endum in which 97% voted in
favour of independence.
Iceland becomes an indepen-
dent pariiamentary democracy
with a President as head of
state.
1974 llOOth anniversary of the set-
tlement of lceland celebrated
at ÞINGVELLIR.
As can be seen from the above,
ÞINGVELLIR has been the
site of some of the most histor-
ical events in Iceland’s histoiy, and so
it will be once again this coming June
17th. Hopefully many of our readers
will have an opportunity to be there at
that time.
BIRGIR
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