Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.01.2019, Blaðsíða 16

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16 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • January 15 2019
In December 2018,
members of the Leif Eiriksson
Icelandic Club of Calgary were
treated to a special storytelling
session, “Look Out for the
Yule Cat,” presented by author
Karen Gummo. She delighted
us with a couple of traditional
stories that she imagined her
great-grandmother may have
heard while she was growing
up, but it was her creative
vision of the journey from
Iceland to Canada, taken by
her langamma and family,
that gave her audience a real
insight into the hardships
faced by those early Icelander
immigrants. The following is a
portion of the story shared by
Karen Gummo.
It is fascinating to imagine
the life of a child in the
years when Jólakotturinn
was on the prowl and when
Grýla, too, was lurking in the
darkest places. Who would
have experienced that kind of
peril and that spine tingling
feeling?
My langamma, Steinunn
Jasonardóttir, might have
felt it. She was my great-
grandmother. She was my
mother’s father’s mother.
My afi, Swain Swainson (né
Svein Sveinsson), was such a
kind and optimistic person, I
know that he must have had a
wonderful mother. Who was
she? I am gradually getting
to know her through my
investigations. I am dreaming
of Steinunn and of her family.
Steinunn was born in
1867 in a little turf cottage
in Húnavatnssýsla, not
too far from Blönduós in
northwestern Iceland. When
she was six years old, her
family, like many others, had
come upon hard times. Nearby
earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions that darkened the
atmosphere and pack ice
hovering off the north coast of
Iceland made it impossible to
eke out a living.
As poet Matthías
Jochumsson said:
“When the grass dies,
the beasts die too:
First the horse, then
the sheep,
Then the cow.
After that the beggar.
Then the farmer,
then his wife,
And finally his child.”
To keep away the Jule
Cat that winter of 1873,
Steinunn had to keep her
fingers moving, dancing over
the spinning wheel, weaving,
and knitting. She would do
her best to please her mother
who seemed more quiet than
usual as she sorted through
small treasures, keepsakes,
and clothing. The dark days
strung together in a blur.
Steinunn, along with her
mother, father, and siblings,
carefully began to pack up
their belongings.
They prepared to make
their way to the port town of
Sauðárkrókur, more than a
day’s journey on foot. They
had had to be careful about
choosing what to bring. It had
to be essential. It had to be light
enough to transport mostly on
their backs …
They had been careful to
save their coins and to stow
away enough cash to prepay
their passage on a British
steamship to carry them to
Quebec City. Unfortunately,
they arrived in the port town
only to discover that there was
no ship coming. They waited
for days and weeks and then
made their way back home
again. Who can blame the
neighbours who had felt envy
toward those who could escape
this unending poverty, now
snickering under their breath
at their failed attempt to sail
away? There were a few kind
souls who gave a helping hand
where they could.
Finally, when Steamship
agent Guðmundur Lambertsen
chartered a ship to sail directly
from Iceland to Canada,
horsemen were dispersed to
gather the travellers again. And
so Steinunn and her family
ventured with new hope to
board the waiting steamship,
S.S. Patrick. The details of
their journey can be found in
diary accounts recorded by Jón
Rögnvaldsson and others and I
will leave you there.
I give great thanks to
Don Gislason who wrote The
Icelanders at Kinmount: An
Experiment in Settlement and
for Nelson Gerrard’s book, The
Icelandic Heritage, along with
my visit to Hofsós in Iceland,
and anecdotes from family
members and saga excerpts.
Karen Gummo, storyteller
and visual artist, is the
author of a recently published
children’s book, Ladybird
Fly. For additional details
on Karen’s work, visit www.
karengummo.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.
Find Your Story
Connect with Your Cousins
WWW.ICELANDICROOTS.COM
PLEASE CONTACT BRUCE GUDMUNDSON AT:
MAIL: 681 MCCLURE ROAD,
KELOWNA, BC, V1W IL7
EMAIL: BGUD@TELUS.NET
Do you have an
Oli Thorsteinsson violin?
Or do you have any information that
you’d like to share about the violin
maker and his creations?
I’m gathering information and would
like to share the story, so please send
me pictures and stories that you can
remember (all photos will be returned).
PLEASE CONTACT BRUCE GUDMUNDSON AT:
MAIL: 681 MCCLURE ROAD,
KELOWNA, BC, V1W IL7
EMAIL: BGUD@TELUS.NET
Do you have an
Oli Thorsteinsson violin?
Or do you have any information that
you’d like to share about the violin
maker and his creations?
I’m gathering information and would
like to share the story, so please send
me pictures and stories that you can
remember (all photos will be returned).
March 15
P: 204-219-1126 E-mail: info@richardrosin.ca Web: richardrosin.ca 196A Tache Avenue at Hanbury Street
As I begin my 34th year in funeral service, I’ve never lost my
curiosity for people and hearing the unique chapters
of your lives.
T ey are chapters worth sharing because they inspire, teach,
and give us a legacy of memories.
Call me anytime, and we can pick the chapters that you want
to share with the people whose lives you’ve touched, in a
venue that is right for you.
P: 204-219-1126 E-mail: info@richardrosin.ca Web: richardrosin.ca 196A Tache Avenue at Hanbury Street
We spend so much time researching - comparing and
reading reviews for everyday products and services.
What about your funeral?
It’s a big moment, so take the proper time to research
and  nd the funeral company you can trust.
I believe that you are unique. You make a di erence, and you
have a story to tell.
Jan 15
Feb 15
P: 204-219-1126 E-mail: info@richardrosin.ca Web: richardrosin.ca 196A Tache Avenue at Hanbury Street
Your birthday is a dress rehearsal for your funeral event.
We celebrate with family and friends, sharing our favourite
food, great music and memorable stories.
Your funeral event is the time to celebrate that you are unique.
You’ve made a di erence, and you have a story to tell.
“Look out for the Yule Cat”
Karen Gummo with an
introduction by Cindy
Morris
Calgary, AB
PHOTO: © MICHAEL TARR
The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is currently
accepting nominations for the 2019 Fjallkona
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS
IS FEBRUARY 28TH, 2019
AUGUST 2 – 5, 2019!
www.icelandicfestival.com
ÍSLENDINGADAGURINN
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Contact the festival office at
info@icelandicfestival.com for nomination
forms or download the form from the website