Lögberg-Heimskringla - 24.01.2003, Page 2

page 2 » Lögberg-Heimskringla • Friday, 24 January 2003
Editorial • Ritstjórnargrein
Lillian Vilborg
Managing Editor
WlNNIPEG, MB
Recently I heard on CBC
radio that in Cambridge
Bay, NWT they saw the sun for
the first time in a month. From
the second floor of a building.
Apparently you can see the sun
a week earlier from the second
floor!
I never heard about sight-
ing the sun from the second
floor in Iceland, but I did hear
about celebrating its appear-
ance after a period of absence.
In the West Fjords Sólarkaffi is
held to celebrate the reappear-
ance of the sun over the moun-
tains. Last year in ísaijörður
the Sólarkaffi, which took the
form of coffee and pön-
nukökur at the Menntaskóli,
was on January 25th, so it will
be coming up again soon. In
Arnljörður they waited an
additional week to see the sun,
and celebrated their Sólarkaffi
on February 3rd. This year
they plan their celebration on
the 9th.
For many this “darkness”
is hard to imagine. They can
hardly bear the short winter
days on the southem prairie in
Canada.
I was terribly curious to
experience the dimmt in
Iceland, the skammdegi. I had
heard so much about the short
winter days, and I couldn’t
quite imagine what it would be
like. I found that some people
there were kind of apologetic
about the coming darkness.
Others told me it was their
favourite time of year, as it was
then that they felt closest to the
huldufólk and other beings
unseen.
What I found was that it
was wonderfully strange to
watch the sun set in mid after-
noon. The sky would paint
itself in the most fantastic
colours. At least when it was-
n’t sodden with rain or snow.
The light was especially amaz-
ing on these short winter days,
creeping in at odd angles, cast-
ing a special glow, throwing
shadows in unexpected places.
Almost fifteen degrees lati-
tude to the south, in Winnipeg,
the winter light is also very
special. In mid aftemoon it bur-
nishes the tops of the elm trees
that lace the city streets, creat-
ing a golden crown over the
neighbourhoods. In mid mom-
ing it turns the back of the old
house across the lane from me
the most interesting shade of
iridescent bronze, with the
shadows of the telephone poles
and wires creating a post mod-
ern work of public art.
And there is nothing like
the blue of the sky at mid day
when the sun is at its highest
but isn’t very high at all. It’s a
heart lifting kind of blue that
chases away the wind and the
cold.
Then there’s the dark part
of the day, which isn’t really so
dark. If you’re lucky enough to
live where there’s snow, it
immediately brings a lightness.
Add'to that the moon when it is
out, and it’s kind of like day, as
it gleams off the whiteness of
the snow. Then add to that the
northern lights which bring
dazzling colour, dance and joy
to the sky.
I met a woman from north-
em Norway once, and when I
asked the best time to visit, she
said “Winter.” And when I
asked why she said “Because
of the northem lights.” She
went on to say that she has had
guests who wrapped them-
selves up in sleeping bags and
stayed out all night for the
experience of the northern
lights. I guess they stayed
awake too!!
So, I don’t know. There’s a
lot of light during those dark
days. And it just keeps com-
ing. Until there’s more light
than dark. And by June in
Iceland and Cambridge Bay
there is no dark. Makes up for
the skammdegi.
Letters to the Editor • Bréf til ritstjóra
JÍP
Dear Editor,
I really enjoy the paper and
have subscribed now for a few
years after initially receiving it
as a gift. I enjoy the “My
Career” section. I really would
like to see more articles on
Icelandic cookery. I would
appreciate some “memories”
from Langammas and Afis
about homesteading days and
more focus on youth. The New
Icelandic Youth Choir and their
Director, Rosalind Vigfusson,
definitely need more press!!
Other youth groups would be
interesting too - from near and
MESSUBOÐ
Fyrsta Lúterska
Kirkja
Pastor Michael Kurtz
10:30 a.m. The Service
First Lutheran Church
589 Victor St., Winnipeg
R3G1R2 Ph. 772-7444
far. Perhaps more in depth
looks at some of the INL/NA
calendar youngsters from a few
years back.
I would like to see the
Calendar of Events reformatted.
Perhaps a separate list of “one
time” events and another sec-
tion for “ongo” such as batik
classes, etc. would allow for
more easy reading.
Keep up the good work.
Jo Ann Welham
Gimli, MB
Dear Editor,
Hi there and Happy New
Year!!!
My comments are attached
on the accompanying sheet.
They may be sung to the tune of
“My Favourite Things” from
“The Sound of Music.” My
humble apologies to Rodgers
and Hammerstein.
I do hope you will be able
to sing these comments and
have some fun. Keep up the
good work. Many thanks for a
great paper.
Bless.
Margaret Holmes
Stittsville, ON
Mj iJjgberg-Hei/fjsk ringla arrives on a Tuesdaj.
Gives rne sucb pleasure to reaci that I must saj,
I hope that the staff in the office can sing,
For here is a list of mj favorite things.
Editorials and stories of trnvel in Iceland,
Book revieivs, short stories, poems allgrand.
The ads mth the great information thej bring.
These are all some of mj favourite things.
There’s a spot for the children to practice the language,
But even some Ammas find this an advantage.
Events of our culture are listed right there.
These are all things that L-H loves to share.
Now I’m thinking,
What is missing,
What I’d like to see,
Perhaps we could share in some fatnilj events
And write up rnore memories.
Hoiv about some articles of food with a storj,
Kecipe included in all of its glory.
A/so some menus frorn Þorrab/ót iving-dings,
These could be some of mj favorite things.
To help jou go on with this cultural treasure
l’ll sign up for twojears with a gift forgood measure,
In memory of familj 'and a/l thej did bring
To keep the tradition with favourite-things.
Maj I just saj that H-H is the greatest
For doing a great job, keeping up to the latest.
The Ice/andic paper is trulj a gem.
Here’s thunderous applause and a mightj Amen.
Farscelt nýtt ár
Happj New Year,
Now the be/ls will ring
To wishjou the best in 2003 asjou send me mj favourite thing!
Lögberg-
Heimskringla
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