Iceland review - 2014, Page 57

ICELAND REVIEW 55
LANGUAGE
On November 16, Iceland celebrates the day of the
Icelandic Language. The day was first celebrated in
1996. This particular date was chosen as it is the birthday
of our beloved 19th century poet Jónas Hallgrímsson.
The 2013 schedule was packed with activities. Among
the highlights was an exhibition of the Sagas, Iceland’s
ancient scripts. Most of them had been rescued in the
18th century by a scholar named Árni Magnússon. In
fact, the week of November 11, 2013 was dedicated to
his 350th birthday. If it hadn’t been for him, these price-
less scripts probably would have perished, ending up as
covers for other books, house insulation, shoe material
or clothing patterns, as so many of them regrettably did.
I truly hope that the Center of Icelandic Studies,
which is intended to display the scripts and uphold
the Icelandic language, will get built sooner than later.
Currently it is a mere gaping hole in the ground speak-
ing volumes about the priorities of the current govern-
ment, which has put the project on hold indefinitely.
I wonder what kind of nation we would be if we
hadn’t had the Sagas to pride ourselves in; to inspire us
and encourage us to write as much as we do, and to be
so passionate about our language and our literary tradi-
tion. After all, language, literature, art, theater, music—all
kinds of expression really—is what makes a nation. It’s
as simple as that. 
the construction of the center of icelandic studies has been put on hold leaving a gaping hole in the ground.