Lögberg-Heimskringla - 04.11.2005, Page 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 4. nóvember 2005 • 3
PHOTO COURTESY OFTHE ICELANDIC EMBASSY
New ambassador to Canada
OTTAWA, ON — Markús Örn Antonsson is Iceland’s
new ambassador to Canada. He began working at the em-
bassy in Ottawa in October.
Antonsson, whose career traversed both media and poli-
tics, was born in Reykjavík in 1943. He has worked in news-
paper, radio and television, and served as Mayor of Reykja-
vik from 1991 to 1994 in addition to other positions in public
office. More recently, he was president of the Icelandic Na-
tional League in Iceland from 1998 to 2003.
Antonsson takes over the position of ambassador from
Guðmundur Eiriksson.
Above, from left: Kristín S. Halldórsdóttir, attaché; Ólöf
Dögg Sigvaldadóttir, intern/advisor; Gilles Thivierge, assis-
tant/ chauffeur; and Steinunn Armannsdóttir with her hus-
band ambassador Markús Örn Antonsson.
23rd annual Nordic Christmas
Revels in Washington, DC
Icelandic Christmas at Spadina Museum
PHOTO: DOUG VAN HAMME
The writing committee for Planning Our Traditions. From
left: Margrét Björgvínsdóttir, chairperson of the exhibition;
Margaret Van Hamme; and Meredith MacFarquhar.
WASHINGTON, DC — The
Christmas Revels, a celebration
of the Winter Solstice, retums
to the Lisner Auditorium of the
George Washington University
over the weekends of December
9-11 and 16 - 18. The Washing-
ton Revels’ 23rd annual holiday
production transports visitors
northward to share the sparkling
music, epic folklore and spirited
dancing of Finland, Norway,
Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and
Karelia.
Ancient oral folk tales from
the Kalevala, the Finnish na-
tional epic, provide the theme
for this year’s Christmas Revels,
acted out with giant puppets and
masks. The second act begins
with the stirring Icelandic chant
Ólafur Liljurós, used to evoke
the hunting ritual and ancient
landscape.
Audience participation is
invited in Revels. The audience
learns carols and rounds both
ancient and familiar, and wiíl be
invited to join hands for “The
Lord of the Dance,” a recession-
al through the aisles of the the-
atre which for many is an annual
high-point in creating a spirit
of community. Other traditional
Revels elements include the Ab-
bots Bromley Hom Dance and
carols with a brass quintet.
The celebration of the lon-
gest night of the year, the winter
solstice, is at the heart of Revels.
Despite “Christmas” in the title,
this is not a religious pageant, but
rather a seasonal celebration.
Eight performances of the
Christmas Revels will be held
at the Lisner Auditorium of the
George Washington University,
21st and H Streets NW, Wash-
ington, DC.
For more information visit
www.revelsdc.orgor call 1-800-
595-4849.
Gail Einarson-McCleery
TORONTO, ON — Want
to know what Christmas was
like in Iceland 100 years ago?
Come to Spadina Museum and
find out!
Spadina Museum will
showcase an Edwardian
Christmas of 100 years ago
with festive decorations and
period details- showing how the
Austin Family celebrated the
holiday season at home. They
have also invited the Icelandic
community to demonstrate an
Icelandic Christmas of that
same period. Visitors will be
invited to participate in crafts
for the children, cultural cook-
ing demonstrations and sample
light refreshments. Different
holiday customs will be fea-
tured each Sunday including
musicians and storytelling.
The Icelandic segment
will include a baðstofa of 100
years ago decorated for Christ-
mas, as well as demonstrations
of making laufabrauð and
Christmas crafts, Christmas
carols sung by Maja Ardal,
Sigga Friðriksdóttir and Ann
Quartet to
play opening
TORONTO, ON — The
Quartetto Constanze will be
performing at the opening re-
ceplion of the “Sharing Our
Traditions” display at the Spa-
dina Museum in Toronto on No-
vember 23, which features an
Icelandic Christmas tliis year.
It has also been named
Quartet in Residence at the
Glenn Gould School, 2005-
2006.
Established in September
2004, the quartet features Ice-
landic Canadian Ingunn Bene-
diktsson, originally from Cal-
gary, who plays cello; Catherine
Cosbey, violin; Michelle Zapf-
Belanger, violin; and Katya Wo-
loshyn, viola.
Since June 2005, the Quar-
tet has performed at the Banff
Summer Chamber Music Festi-
val, the Colours of Music Festi-
val in Barrie, ON, and at numer-
ous venues throughout Toronto.
Helga Denny, and music by
Ingunn Hallgrimsdóttir. It will
also feature the story of the
Christmas lads (jólasveinar)
by the Bifröst children’s the-
atre troupe and storytellers
Carol McGirr and Hildy Stol-
lery, as well as dancing around
the Christmas tree.
These special attractions
are featured on Sundays in De-
cember, the 4th, 1 lth and 18lh
from 12 noon to 5 p.m. En-
trance fee will be $8 for adults,
$7 for seniors and youths and
$6 for children. Children under
five years are admitted free.
The Spadina Museum is
located at 285 Spadina Road at
Austin Terrace (north of Dav-
enport and south of St. Clair).
For more information, see
the Calendar ofEvents.
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