Árdís - 01.01.1954, Page 34

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ÁRDÍS
being almost hidden by volumes of red and grey smoke shooting
skyward. We, my husband, my sister and I, made the trip along
with some friends. Mother was left at Hotel Hella while we climbed
the slopes nearer and nearer to the burning mountain. Everywhere
about us, the lava fields formed by previous eruptions, were
covered with a fine grey ash. Soon we noticed a glowing stream
which flowed in streaks through the fields of moss-grown lava.
How exciting it was to walk along this glowing lava stream, and
watch the fire from the bowels of the earth in all its magic
grandeur! Red hot pieces of rock detached themselves and came
rolling to the ground with a hissing sound. We played at pushing
coins into the half solidified lava, with a cane and then took them
home for souvenirs. The roar of the volcano reminded me of
distant thunder which I heard, as a child on the Canadian prairies,
but this had an ominous sound, this primeval roar from the depths
of the earth.
During this short time the powerful lava stream had moved
so fast that we could barely squeeze between it and the old lava
to get back to our route. It was midnight when we returned to
Hella, and from there the shiny golden glow of the molten lava
with its scarlet flames could be seen in the distance. Hekla, in full
eruption seen against a background of dark blue sky streaked with
colored northern lights, was a scene of unforgettable and solemn
splendor.
I have been asked to mention a certain reception. It was a
most interesting dinner party which took place in the beautiful
home of Mr. and Mrs. Helgi Magnusson in 1943. The guests num-
bered eighty-five. All the ladies present were dressed in Icelandic
national costumes — skautbuning, upphlutur, or peysu-fot. The
hostess, Oddrun Sigurdardottir and her four charming daughters,
received the guests. When we were all congregated, a photographer
took a picture of the ladies. He declared the scene was like the
setting for a drama and only wished he had brought his moving
picture camera. This was the largest group of women clad in the
national costumes ever gathered in one home.
The Christmas season begins on December 23rd, on Thorlaks-
messa, and continues until January 6th. These are festive days
everywhere especially for the children. Children from two years
up attend parties, the girls in their frilly dresses and big hair bows,