The Icelandic Canadian - 01.11.2006, Qupperneq 11

Vol. 60 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
97
ICCE and other Scandinavian Clubs.
Cultural
We have always had many cultural
events, the main one being the crowning of
the Fjallkona (Maid of the Mountain). The
event now takes place at the annual picnic
in Markerville, held on the weekend near-
est June 17, Iceland’s Independence Day.
Alberta Icelandic clubs share the crowning
of a Fjallkona. Edmonton chooses a
Fjallkona every third year. On the alter-
nate years she is chosen by the Leifur
Eiriksson Club of Calgary and then fol-
lowed by a Fjallkona from Markerville.
Thorrablot is the next major event. It
is an ancient pagan feast which was held in
the month of Forri (thorri). It corresponds
to February or early March of today’s cal-
endar. It was celebrated to herald the com-
ing of longer days prior to Christianity.
Lillian Sumarlidason is the person credited
for recommending the feast and it has
become an annual event.
The Fall Supper held in September and
the Christmas party are annual events that
provide people of Icelandic Heritage with
the opportunity to gather and celebrate.
Card parties and local picnics that once
took place have not been held for some
time.
The Saga Singers got their start at a
Christmas party in 1964; Lillian
Sumarlidason gathered a group around the
piano to sing Icelandic carols. Their first
public performance was at Scandapades, a
variety show produced by the
Scandinavian Centre and held annually at
the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
Each of the five groups did a part of the
two hour performance.
When the Edmonton club joined the
Icelandic National League (INL), Lillian
recommended the name NorSurljos
(Northern Lights) for our chapter. Lillian
also designed the logo that continues to be
used on our letterhead.
Scandinavian Centre
We have cooperated with and support-
ed other Scandinavian groups. A very pop-
ular affair was Scandapades, which was
held annually at the Jubilee Auditorium.
The Saga Singers
We collaborate with the other
Scandinavians for the Heritage Days week-
end. This is an annual culturally diverse
celebration that takes place in Hawrelak
Park. In 2004 our club, along with other
Scandinavian Clubs participated in the
Klondike Days event in which we hosted a
Scandinavian Pavilion. For years we took
part in the Klondike Days Parade and often
had a beautifully built Viking longboat.
Scandinavian Centre 1964
The Scandinavian Centre was built
with splendid co-operation between the
five ethnic groups; Danes, Finlanders,
Icelanders, Norwegians and Swedes.
Our library (boksafn) is now housed in
the Danish Library, which is on the second
floor of the K. Hansen Masonry Ltd.
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