Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.04.2015, Page 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 15 2015
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Let me tell you a “secret” about traditional Icelandic folk dancing: it
probably doesn’t exist – at least
not in the way most people
imagine. There are Icelandic
folk dances – if you’ve ever
been to one of our cultural
events or attended a Þorrablót,
there’s a good chance you
will have seen them, or even
danced along – but in Iceland,
these dances likely go back no
further than the beginning of
the 19th century. For more than
a century before then, when
pietism ran amuck in the church
and Danish authorities sought
to control what they perceived
to be the wayward proclivities
of the Icelanders, dancing was
legally forbidden. The penalties
for disregarding the law – even
minor infractions – were quite
severe. And so it was that the
church and state succeeded in
all but eliminating folk dancing
in Iceland. When the Icelanders
were allowed to dance again,
at least publicly, they imported
folk dances from Scandinavia.
However, during those
years when pietism reigned
supreme and the Danish trade
monopoly oppressed and
exploited the country’s farmers
and crofters, our ancestors
never lost sight of two distinct
and invaluable aspects of their
culture – the ancient saga
literature and the old ballads.
When faced with a ban, it may
be difficult to dance in the street
– if real streets had existed
– but it is always possible
to sing in your heart. Social
oppression and legal
restriction may
prevent us from
dancing for a time,
but the human
spirit cannot be
restrained forever.
When freedom
is driven under-
ground, it still
dwells in the
souls of those who long for it.
We will sing in our hearts when
we cannot dance in the streets;
we will preserve our tales and
legends by whatever means
possible, from generation to
generation.
This is what happened
in Iceland. Through years
of dogmatic morality and
authoritarian monarchy, the
Icelandic people preserved
for themselves and for history
a literature of their own,
expressed in sagas and eddas,
in song and verse. Rögnvaldur
Pétursson, the founding
president of the Icelandic
National League and one-
time editor of Heimskringla,
sought to explain this liberated
spirit of the Icelandic people:
“The unbroken succession of
language [preserved] in living
forms of speech, as well as
on parchment and scrolls:
the Laws, the embodiment of
the very genius of Northern
Civilization; the accounts of
the old racial faith, its wise
precepts and analysis of truth,
honor, justice and humanity.
... The older faith, though
superseded by a later one, still
lived on in lay and legend,
saga and song. It afforded the
valuable privilege of contrast
and comparison, so essential
for right thinking and unbiased
judgment.”
Lay and legend, saga and
song – these are the foundations
of Iceland’s rich culture. This
memory of a parallel literature,
which rivaled both scripture
and the letters of colonizers,
coupled with songs of heroism
and daring, found a home
in the hearts of Icelanders,
even during the most difficult
years. The history of literature
and music that inspired the
quest for independence,
and which the pioneers
brought with them to
North America, is central
to the cultural legacy we
hold dear. Without them,
Icelanders would simply
not be Icelanders – on
either side of the ocean.
Lay and legend, saga and song
Lögberg-
Heimskringla
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Heimskringla stofnað 9. september 1886
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Canada
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Icelandic Camp 2015
Íslenskar Sumarbúðir 2015
For over 30 years the Icelandic Camp has given young people a chance to study Icelandic language, learn about the Icelandic Culture, sing
Icelandic songs and create friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Just 2 miles north of Gimli, Manitoba, Canada – Camp Veselka overlooks
lovely Lake Winnipeg. With a huge recreation room, dining area, 6 cabins,
indoor showers and huge open fields, Camp Veselka offers a wonderful place
for Icelandic campers to gather.
WHEN Friday, July 24th - Friday, July 31st
WHERE Camp Veselka, Gimli MB
DAY CAMPERS Ages 5-8
FULL CAMPERS Ages 8-15
JR. COUNSELLORS Ages 15-17
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
www.icelandiccamp.com
or icelandiccamp@gmail.com
Icelandic Language Classes I Saga Stories I Icelandic Culture & History I Arts & Crafts I Icelandic Music I Much More
COURTESY VEHICLES AVAILABLE
MPI ACCREDITED
In House Financing Available OAC
486 River Road Arborg, MB
Tel: 204-376-5053
204-376-2374
Body Repair & Paint
Mechanical Service
Glass Replacement
or
Arborg Autobody
Quality Car & Truck Sales
Dr. Van Deusen teaches
a variety of courses on
Scandinavian language, lit-
erature, and culture. Her
research interests include Old
Norse-Icelandic paleography
and philology, manuscript
culture, hagiography and
religious literature (poetry
and prose), and women’s
and gender studies. Alberta’s
fjallkona, Meredith (Hillman)
Hoar, also joined us for the
evening. The $500 door prize,
provided by Icelandair, was
won by Aline Robertson.
Dr. Van Deusen highlights Edmondton Þorrablót ... from page 1 Far left: Eager diners line up at the Þorrablót
table in Edmonton.
Opposite:Alberta fjallkona
Meredith Hillman Hoar with
daughter Alice.
PHOTOS: BEVERLY ARASON-GAUDET