Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.04.2019, Page 2

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2 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • April 1 2019
Icelanders and their
descendants have been
coming to Victoria for a
very long time. In 1886, the first
train went to Port Moody, BC.
In 1887, the first CPR passenger
train arrived in Vancouver.
Some Icelanders were on those
first trains to British Columbia.
We have been coming to BC
ever since. That was evident
at our annual Þorrablót, our
celebration of the returning
spring.
Þorrablóts make a lot of
people happy. Maybe they
should be called Happy Boats
– sort of like Viking longboats
taking people some place
safe and enjoyable where
there is good food and good
companionship and friendship.
Happy Boat, Þorrablót,
just doesn’t happen. All across
Canada and in some places in
the United States, volunteers
put their heart and soul into
organizing the event. Our
food, of course, is very much
of our time and place: there
is coleslaw and pickled beets,
salads of various kinds, and
mashed potatoes with gravy.
(This year, the gravy was made
without gluten so I was able to
ladle it onto my potatoes – what
a treat!) There was pickled
herring. There was lamb and
beef, both done to a turn. And
then there were the traditional
dishes: hangikjöt and
rúllupylsa, but sadly no svið
(sheep’s head) or hrútsprungar
(pickled ram’s testicles).
Fred Bjarnason explained
that although our celebration is
called “Thor’s feast” we weren’t
going to be drinking horse
blood and swilling libations to
the god Thor. He told us that
the Þorrablót is fairly recent,
started by Icelandic students in
Copenhagen. Like all students,
they missed home and their
traditional foods. They held a
celebration and served those
late winter, early spring foods
that were created from the
sheep and dairy cattle and fish
on the farms. There was little
grain in Iceland. Grain would
not ripen. What there was had
to be imported and was very
expensive. Usually, what was
available was rye flour and that
was used to make bread. Today,
that dark bread is topped with
rúllupylsa – that is, lamb flank
spiced and rolled, then boiled.
To be served, it is sliced into thin
rounds. It is a great favourite.
Before dinner there was
dried cod with butter. Dried cod
replaced bread. In Iceland, fat
of any kind was greatly desired,
as there was always a shortage
in people’s diets, so dried cod
with butter would be a luxury.
And of course, what has most
come to North America are the
desserts: skyr (Icelandic yogurt
with sliced strawberries added),
pönnukökur (a crêpe spread with
brown sugar and rolled into a
cylinder), vínarterta (that famous
seven-layer torte filled with
stewed prunes), and a gluten-free
cake (made by Beverly with me
and my celiac disease in mind).
Vorna and Ruth took charge of
the door prizes and promised to
provide a large vínarterta and
two small ones.
As to all the work and
organizing that is needed to
put on such a supper, planning
is required. The hall has to be
rented. The keys to the door
and to the kitchen cupboards
have to be secured. One without
the other means no supper.
Our president, Ruth Jonasson-
Cartwright, secured those. Her
husband, Ian, is our faithful
bartender. Valla Eiriksson,
genius with the computer, has
created a website that allowed
us to sell tickets electronically.
There are a lot of door prizes
so we need tickets with stubs
that can have names on them.
Valla and Beverley Norman and
Rheta Steer phoned members
to remind them about the
Þorrablót. Ruth, the president
who wears many hats, ordered
the hangikjöt and picked it up.
She also made a vínartera and
brown bread. She is famous
for having made over fifty
vínarterta for the Scandinavian
craft fair. Fred made gravlax
and ástarpungar. Ruth picked
up the strawberries and skyr and
also is the keeper of the hard
fish. It isn’t just those in the
immediate area who contribute.
Hazel Bjarnason from Riverton
came to our rescue by buying
and mailing our rúllapylsa at the
last minute.
Kathy Arnason donated
one of her books and two of
her huldufólk dolls for a door
prize. There were actually some
children at this Þorrablót, thank
goodness, and the winner of the
book and dolls was a very happy
little girl who carried around a
doll for the rest of the evening.
There were primulas and
cellophane and ribbon needed
for centrepieces that needed to
be bought and constructed. Fred
saw to the tablecloths that would
fit the round tables for eight.
Runa Pleshak agreed to sell
50/50 tickets. The winner of the
50/50 draw was Brian Sessions.
I believe that he is the oldest
member of the club. His wife,
Kay, is a descendent of the first
Icelanders who came to Victoria.
She has the distinction of having
lived in the famous Ross Bay
Cemetery, as her father was the
caretaker for many years. You
know how popular they are
from the applause that burst out
when Brian was announced as
the winner of the hundred and
fifty dollars.
I have not listed all the tasks
and task doers. Organizing
a happy event like this takes
endless attention to detail.
I wasn’t able to physically
help (guilt, shame) because I was
packing to leave for Manitoba
early the next morning. But
those who had agreed arrived
bright and early at Norway
House to get everything ready.
For many years, the Jonasson
family prepared the dinner, then
Fred Bjarnason, our professional
chef organized and cooked the
dinner, but by selling lots of
vínarterta and fundraising we
can now afford to hire a couple
to do the actual cooking and
serving and Fred is able to have
the evening off – except, of
course, for his being the emcee.
This all reminds me of
birthday parties when I was
a kid. We all enjoyed the
sandwiches and ice cream, the
games and the birthday cake
with the dime hidden in it, but
it all happened because Mom
made the sandwiches, bought
the ice cream, bought the party
favours, set the table, served
the food, organized the games,
and cleaned up afterward.
Nothing ever just happens.
Somebody always does the
work that creates that happy
boat, that Þorrablót.203.803.8899 | kent@gudlite.com | www.gudlite.com
DJ SERVICES LIGHTING PLANNING
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Þorrablóts make a lot of people happy
PHOTOS: W.D. VALGARDSON
The door prizes sitting on the table. Someone won that vínarterta. Margo and Kathy doing
yet another job – sitting at the door, taking in money and handing out tickets.
W.D. Valgardson
Victoria, BC
Wouldn’t your amma and afi be proud?
THE ICELANDIC NATIONAL LEAGUE OF NORTH AMERICA
Tel: (204) 642 5897
Email: inl@mts.net www.inlofna.org
Are you proud of your Icelandic Heritage?
Do you want to see it preserved for your children and grandchildren?
Are you a member of your local Icelandic Club?
Don’t know where they are or who to contact?
Visit our website for more information or contact our INL office.
If you don’t have a club in your area but are interested in
forming one, please call the INL office.
In Support of Lögberg-Heimskringla to register visit: WWW.LH-INC.CA
LH@LH-INC.CA | 204 284 5686
Cocktails & Dinner at the Johnson Hall (limited seating/tickets available)
August 2, 2019
Links at the Lake Golf Course
Gimli, MB
REGISTER TODAY!
Registration $160
For sponsorship or registration contact us :
LH@LH-INC.CA | 204 284 5686
WWW.LHINC.CA
August 2, 2019
Links at the Lake Golf Course
Gimli, MB
Cocktails & Dinner at the Johnson Hall
(additional tickets available)
REGISTER TODAY!
Registration $160
In Support of Lögberg-Heimskringla
For sponsorship or registration contact us :
LH@LH-INC.CA | 204 284 5686
WWW.LHINC.CA
August 2, 2019
Links at the Lake Golf Course
Gimli, MB
Cocktails & Dinner at the Johnson Hall
(additional tickets available)
REGISTER TODAY!
Registration $160
In Support of Lögberg-Heimskringla