Culture of Iceland

The culture of Iceland is rich and special, with roots going back to the 12th century. It began with powerful stories and books that have been shared for hundreds of years. Today, Iceland still loves art and creativity. People in Reykjavík enjoy many places to see and do fun things, like theaters, art galleries, bookstores, cinemas, and museums.

Iceland also has beautiful traditional arts. People make lovely things by weaving, creating shiny items with silversmithing, and carving beautiful shapes from wood with wood carving. There are even four groups that love to dance together, keeping old folk dances alive.

One amazing thing about Iceland is that almost everyone can read and write. The literacy rate there is one of the highest in the whole world, meaning most people enjoy learning and sharing stories. This love for books and ideas helps keep Iceland’s culture strong and full of life.

Arts

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Iceland

Icelandic architecture comes from Scandinavia. Because there were not many trees on the island, people built houses using grass and turf to cover them. The first homes built by the first people in Iceland were based on Viking longhouses.

Literature

Main article: Icelandic literature

Iceland has a rich history of stories called the Icelandic sagas and Edda. Some famous ones are Njáls saga, which tells of a big family feud, and Grænlendinga saga and Eiríks saga, which describe the discovery and settling of Greenland and Vinland (now part of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada). Other well-known sagas include Egils saga, Laxdæla saga, Grettis saga, Gísla saga, and Gunnlaugs saga ormstungu.

Iceland has had many famous writers such as Halldór Laxness, Guðmundur Kamban, Tómas Guðmundsson, Davíð Stefánsson, Jón Thoroddsen, Steinn Steinarr, Guðmundur G. Hagalín, Þórbergur Þórðarson, and Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Writers like W. H. Auden and Louis MacNeice wrote about their travels in Iceland in a book called Letters From Iceland published in 1937.

Painting and sculpture

Main article: Icelandic art

The first professional painters who did not paint religious scenes appeared in Iceland in the 1800s. One of these artists was Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval, who painted everyday life in villages. In the 1900s, Ásmundur Sveinsson became a well-known sculptor. Another important painter was Einar Hákonarson, who started showing people in his paintings again in 1968. He helped start the Icelandic Printmaking Association and was its first leader.

Attitudes and customs

Icelanders share a traditional liberal Nordic outlook, like other countries such as Norway and Sweden. They highly value independence and self-sufficiency. In a 2005 study, over 85% of Icelanders said independence was very important.

Icelanders are proud of their Viking history and Icelandic language, working hard to keep their traditions alive. Their language stays close to the old language from the Viking Age. Icelandic society supports gender equality, with many women leading in government and business. The country has fair laws for all families, and people celebrate special days like the National Day in June.

Cuisine

Main article: Icelandic cuisine

Iceland has many traditional foods that people enjoy. One special food called Þorramatur is eaten in January and February to honor old customs. It includes unusual dishes like pickled ram’s testicles, singed sheep heads, and dried fish.

Many Icelandic meals come from the sea, with popular foods such as smoked salmon, smoked lamb, and sausages made from sheep. Skyr is a creamy dish made from milk, and Brennivin is a special potato liquor enjoyed by adults.

Education

Main article: Education in Iceland

Iceland's education system is inspired by the Danish system and has four levels: pre-school, compulsory school, upper secondary, and higher education. Children must go to school from the age of six until they are sixteen. Most schools are paid for by the government, and there are only a few private schools. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture oversees all schools. Over time, schools have become more local, with towns and cities managing primary and lower secondary schools, while the government handles upper secondary schools and universities. Students can leave school at sixteen, but they may also stay until they are twenty.

Entertainment

Technology

Iceland is very advanced with technology and being connected online. In 2006, it had more broadband Internet connections for its people than any other country in the OECD countries.

Icelandic people

Main article: Icelanders

Iceland has many famous people from its past. One well-known explorer was Leif Erikson, who brought Christianity to Greenland and was the first European to reach North America around the year 1000. Two important leaders, Bishop Jón Arason and Jón Sigurðsson, worked hard to help Iceland become independent from Denmark. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir made history as the first woman to be elected president of a country, serving from 1980 to 1996.

Iceland also has many famous writers and poets. Ari Þorgilsson was the first to write about Iceland's history. Snorri Sturluson wrote the Prose Edda, a famous book about old Norse stories. Hallgrímur Pétursson wrote beloved religious songs. Other important writers and poets include Bjarni Thorarensen, Jónas Hallgrímsson, Matthías Jochumsson, Þorsteinn Erlingsson, Einar Hjörleifsson Kvaran, Einar Benediktsson, Jóhann Sigurjónsson, and novelist Halldór Laxness, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955.

Other notable Icelanders include botanist Stefán Stefánsson, geologist and philosopher Helgi Pjeturss, world chess champion Bobby Fischer, who became an Icelandic citizen in 2005, and Russian pianist and composer Vladimir Ashkenazy, who has been an Icelandic citizen since 1972.

Language

The main language spoken in Iceland is Icelandic, a special kind of North Germanic language. Schools also teach Danish and English. Icelanders take great care to keep their language pure, avoiding words borrowed from other languages. Instead, they create new words from old Icelandic roots. For example, the word for computer is tölva, made from ancient words meaning number and seer. Sometimes, old words that are not used anymore get new meanings.

Leisure

Music

Main article: Music of Iceland

Icelandic music is connected to Nordic music and has lively folk and pop traditions. One famous medieval music group is Voces Thules. The only folk band with recordings outside of Iceland is called Islandica.

The national anthem of Iceland is called "Lofsöngur". It was written by Matthías Jochumsson and Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson in 1874 to celebrate the thousandth anniversary of people living on the island. The song was written like a hymn and was first published with a different title.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Iceland

Long ago, the people who first lived in Iceland believed in Norse Paganism. Around the year 1000, Christianity arrived, and later in the 1500s, Lutheranism became the main religion. Today, most people in Iceland are still Lutheran, though many other religions are also practiced, including Catholicism, Mormonism, Islam, Judaism, and Ásatrúarfélagið.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Iceland

One of the most popular things for visitors to do in Iceland is to relax in the country's warm geothermal spas and pools. A famous spot is Bláa Lónið (The Blue Lagoon), located on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the Keflavík International Airport.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Iceland

Iceland does not have any railways. Instead, it has many roads, including a special road called the ring road that goes around the whole island. In some areas, like the Westfjords, the roads can be very winding and sometimes close during winter. Because of this, people often use planes and boats to travel to faraway places.