Reykjavík Grapevine - 09.12.2016, Page 62

LÓABORATORIUM
SMJÖRFLUGA
The Yule
Lads
By NANNA DÍS ÁRNADÓTTIR
Hi Nanna,
Which Yule Lad do Icelanders like the
most?
Bah Hum Pug
Dear Bah Hum Pug,
We don’t like any of them per se, but
we can’t really have the holidays with-
out them. Kind of like family, they’re
pretty weird, they eat all the food when
they think no one is looking and they
are brazen in their shameful and per-
verted habits. But what can you do but
drink, silently throw shade and wait
for it all to be over?
Nanna
Dear Nanna,
Really chuffed to be spending Christmas
and New Years in Iceland, any tips?
But Wait, There’s Myrrh
Dear But Wait, There’s Myrrh,
Keep in mind most shops – if not all –
will be closed from the 24th to the 26th,
so make sure you have food to eat. Or
starve, whatever it’s not my problem.
Merry Krampus!
Nanna
Hi Nanna,
How do I tell my Icelandic girlfriend I’m
allergic to her cats? Do you think she’ll
break up with me when she finds out?
Santa Claws
Hey Santa Claws,
“Hello Icelandic girlfriend. I am aller-
gic to your cats. Please don’t dump me.”
I can’t tell you if she’ll dump you over this
but I can tell you that I’m not especially
blown away by your weak constitution.
Meowy Christmas!
Nanna
Do you want to ask Nanna a question? Go ahead, but continue at your
peril. Shoot her an email on nanna.arnadottir(at)gmail.com or tweet her
using @NannaArnadottir
DON'T ASK NANNA ABOUT
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 18 — 2016
62
Tales tell of a country northeast of Ice-
land and Greenland known as the Land
of Giants. Many have paid dearly for
attempting to explore the land and its
people, including Gorm the Old, King of
Denmark, whose mission was hindered
by heavy rain, raging storms and other
obstacles. Later, Harald Hardrada em-
barked on an expedition to the land but
had to deal with dangers, deceptions
and darkness on the way before sail-
ing his ship into a peculiar whirlpool,
or vortex. He barely escaped and never
reached the habitat of the giants. Many
mocked Harald for his failure and pre-
sumed disappointment, and because of
this, men from Norway and Friesland
mounted another expedition to search
for the Land of Giants. Their luck was
not much better, as they endured count-
less unspeakable punishments meted
out by heaven, earth and sea. They also
sailed into the giant vortex, losing all
sight of the sun during the ordeal.
They finally landed on the shore of
the land and were met with high moun-
tains and awesome cliffs. There were
no houses or constructs to be seen, but
many caves and holes had been dug into
the earth. The ground was covered with
gold and silver, which the crewmen be-
gan collecting and taking to their ship.
The natives saw this and descended
upon them, armed with spears and
bows. The crew succeeded in escaping,
except for one man who was left behind
by accident and promptly torn limb from
limb in the most horrific manner. It is
said that bright daylight is never seen
in this land and that a great rumbling is
constantly heard from the sky and sea.
Gísli Oddsson, Annalium in Islandia far-
rago, p. 12-13, written in 1637.
MONSTER OF THE MONTH
Tröllbotnaland
Land of Giants
"Monster of the Month" is a spin
off of 'The Museum of Hidden
Beings', by artist Arngrímur Sig-
urðsson. He delved into Iceland´s
mythological history, taking crea-
ture encounters from across the
centuries and bringing them to life
through painting in an act of cre-
ative cryptozoology. Find the book
at bookstores, or order it online at
arngrimur.com.
Don’t Fight the Power. Feel It.
The exhibition is open every day from 9am-5pm. Please direct any inquiries to exhibition@on.is Tel: (+354) 591 2880 www.onpower.is/exhibition
Let’s see what some of the guests at our Geothermal Exhibition have to say on TripAdvisor about our clean energy production:
“A must see activity”, “Bucket List”, “... interactive and inspiring”, “Now I’m impressed!”
We hope to welcome you too on your trip to Iceland at the most powerful exhibition in the world.