Visitor from Vestmannaeyjar

Kári Bjarnason from Vestmannaeyjar will be visiting Utah again, August 5-15. Kári and Fred E. Woods would like to meet with the descendants of Icelanders in Utah during this block of time. Please let me know if you would be willing to meet with Fred and Kári. If you met with Fred and Kári before you may have something else to share with them. Please let me know the days as well as your phone number and address.
Those that live outside the State of Utah maybe we could arrange a phone interview.

You will be happy to know that Fred and Kári‘s first joint publication came out last month as well as an article on the opening of the Vestmannaeyjar exhibit on the Latter-day Saints last July. Here is the bibliographic information:

Fred E. Woods and Kári Bjarnason, “Jon Jonsson: Icelandic Mormon Poet and Translator,“ Mormon Historical Studies vol. 12, no. 2 (Fall 2011): 49-61.
In this same issue is this article:
Steven L. Olsen, “LDS Exhibit in the Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland Folk Museum,“ Mormon Historical Studies vol. 12, no. 2 (Fall 2011):161-165.

David Ashby
626 W 550 S
Orem, UT 84058
801-225-1227
DAA@Q.COM

Couples Zone Conference in Iceland May 2012

Denmark Mission Senior Couples Conference was held in Iceland May 2012. This is a you tube video of some of the conference. Thanks to  Ældste Nick Bowler & Søster Bonnie Bowler.

You tube has a limit of 15 minutes for a video and the one I made was 25 minutes. The first part is 15 minutes and the second part is 10 minutes.
The music is all Icelandic Folk Music I was able to find on You Tube. The last song of part 2 is the Icelandic National Anthem. The others all have Icelandic names too hard to spell or pronounce.

Part one of the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duvzWWxlDjg&fmt=18

Part two of the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y6UltK_47M&fmt=18

Fréttir July 2012

Presidential Election 2012

 Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson was elected president again, with a staggering 52.78% of the votes. An estimated 69.2 % of the people used their freedom to vote which must be said is an all time low in the presidential voting.
This means he is setting a record for being in office for the fifth term, which is a first. Iceland has had two presidents that served four terms, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and Ásgeir Ásgeirsson.
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson had said before that he would offer himself as president for the fifth term but was not sure if he would want to serve the full fifth term or not. After the votes were counted last night he gave a press release that stated that this would be his last term in office.

Ólafur will be staying as the president of Iceland for the next four years. Mr. Grímsson got 52.78% of the overall votes. Others running for the Presidency got: Þóra Arnórsdóttir 33.16%, Ari Trausti Guðmundsson 8,64%, Herdís Þorgeirsdóttir 2,63%, Andrea Ólafsdóttir 1,8%, and Hannes Bjarnason 0,98%.

The President of Iceland is the country´s head of state and the only representative chosen by the entire electorate in a direct election. The office of President was established in the Constitution of the Republic of Iceland which took effect on 17 June 17 1944.

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth President of the Republic of Iceland.

Status of the Icelandic Association of Utah

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Icelandic Association of Utah, Inc. is to: Celebrate and perpetuate the common interest in culture and heritage of Iceland, through activities and continuing education. Promote closer and better relations with the people of Iceland. Preserve the memory of the early Icelandic pioneers who established the first permanent Icelandic settlement in North America at Spanish Fork, Utah

IAU

The Icelandic Association of Utah is a successful association. The success of this association depends on its members. In recent years it has been very successful and that tells you a lot about the members. The Icelandic Association of Utah has held Iceland Days in Spanish Fork since 1897 and Þorrablót has been on the agenda since 1998. In recent years several hundreds have attended the festival in Spanish Fork. In 2005 there was an estimated four-thousand in attendance at the dedication of the Icelandic Memorial. Since 2002 Iceland Days has been held in June but before, the celebration always took place in August except the Centennial Celebration of the first three Icelanders coming to Utah. It was held on June 15-17, 1955. We have had many Snorri participant in recent years. The Icelandic Association of Utah publishes and sends newsletters two or three times a year. We also maintain a presents on face book I think we need to have a web page too.

The Icelandic Association of Utah has had high and low points. There have been times when it has almost gone away. Many things have helped it survive a few of them are; 1) the Icelandic Monument in Spanish Fork, dedicated in 1938, 2) the centennial celebration of the first Icelanders arriving in Utah in 1955, 3) the visit of President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson for the centennial celebration of Iceland Days in 1997, 4) the 2000 millennium celebration in Iceland that we provided an exhibit at Hofsos, Iceland and a monument on Vestmannaeyjar, and 5) the sesquicentennial celebration of the first Icelanders arriving in Utah, in 2005.

The Icelandic Association of Utah holds several events each year to celebrate our Icelandic culture and heritage. Þorrablót is held the last Saturday in February each year. We have Iceland Days on the fourth weekend in June. This includes workshop sessions on Friday evening, Iceland Day at the park on Saturday, and an Icelandic Heritage Fireside on Sunday. The association maintains the Icelandic Memorial in Spanish Fork and supports the Family History Center in Spanish Fork. There have been other things that that association has been involved with that have gone away in the last four years.

The Utah Icelanders created the Icelandic Association of Utah in 1897, an association that provides a time to gather annually and celebrate our Icelandic heritage. The association continues to provide the instrument for descendants of the Icelandic immigrants to Utah to maintain a cultural sense of Iceland. Our ancestors left us a legacy: belonging to the Icelandic Association of Utah means belonging to something that has a history of over one hundred years and has accomplished a few great things.

It is remarkable that 150 plus years after the first Icelanders arrived in Utah, and there remains a strong cultural sense of Iceland among the descendants of the Icelandic pioneers. We have a need to continue to honor our Icelandic ancestors and the land of our forebears, as we have been shown to do by those that have gone before. The Icelandic emigrants to Utah and other places in North America have left us a rich heritage that we all can be proud of. We, who have descended from great and faithful forebears, have the right to say “I’m proud of my Icelandic heritage”.

Tyler Shepherd was appointed president for the next two years. He needs all the members and other descendants and friends of Iceland support to make sure this association continues as it has in the past. Krege Christensen an attorney in Salt Lake City and of Icelandic descent wrote the bylaws that were adopted by the association in 2000, the president and members of the board of directors needs to follow and have elections and follow the other rules and regulations set forth in the bylaws. I feel this would help make the association stronger and a more valid organization.

Pylsur

Icelanders are nearly fanatical about their hot dogs, and once you taste one, it’s easy to see why. The hot dogs are made mostly with lamb and traditionally topped with mustard, ketchup, fried onion, raw onion and remolaði, a mayonnaise-based sauce with sweet relish. And in a country known for being exorbitantly expensive, they are a delightfully low cost way to fill up and try a local specialty.
The Icelandic hot dog is available all over the country, at hot dog stands, convenience stores and even gas stations. In Reykjavik, the best hot dog stand is generally believed to be found at Bæjarins beztu pylsur (English: The best hot dog in town) and (pylsur is the Icelandic word for hot dog), which has been around for over 60 years. Bæjarins beztu pylsur often shortened to simply “Bæjarins beztu”, is a popular hot dog stand in central Reykjavík, Iceland. The stand is located down by the harbor on Tryggvagata. There’s no address, but you can’t miss it. Just look for the little red building, and the crowd gathered around it. There’s nearly always a line, which can be quite long, but service is quick. If you want one with everything, just ask for it “eina með öllu”. Hot dogs costs 300 ISK or $2.62 USD as of March 2011, and believe me, you’ll want two.
Click here for more Icelandic cooking, recipes and food  http://icecook.blogspot.com/

Emigrant of the Month, Gísli Eggertsson

Gísli was Born 4 August 1882. His parents are Eggert Gudmundur Olafsson, born 1 November 1855, died 2 December 1918; and Gudrun Arnadottir, born 26 August 1854, died 24 August 1882. Gisli immigrated to Utah with his father in 1887. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized in 1903.
He married Emma Wilhelmina Hansen on 7 December 1904. Emma was born 17 March 1884 in Vissenbjerg, Odense, Denmark. Gisli died 10 September 1961 in Salt Lake City and is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. He was known as Gill Olson.

June 17th is Þjóðhátíðardagurinn

Icelandic National Day (Icelandic: Þjóðhátíðardagurinn, the day of the nation's celebration),

Utah Iceland Days 2012

FRIDAY NIGHT CULTURAL WORKSHOPS:
LOCATION: LDS Church at 300 East Center St, Spanish Fork UT
TIME: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Main Speaker/20-30 minutes
Lin Floyd on the Snorri Plus Experience

Rotating Workshops/20-30 minutes each
1. John K Johnson-Icelandic Artifacts
2. Thelma Marinosdottir-Icelandic Traits "How Icelandic Are You?"
3. Jack Tobiasson-Make Your Own Icelandic Pancakes

SATURDAY FAMILY FAIR:
LOCATION: Spanish Fork City Park at 100 South Main Street

Flag ceremony
10:00 am

Breakfast
10:30 am-11:15 am
Icelandic pancakes & pastries

Barnabær (Children's Village) organized by Charlette Henry
Kids games, prizes, photo opps, piñata
10:30 am Opens
11:00 pm Balloon Man arrives at Barnabær (Children's Village)
12:00 pm Icelandic Hot Dogs! with chips, cookies, soda/water
12:30 pm Barnakór (Children's Choir)
12:45 pm Honoree Ceremony for Rhea Jean Hancock

1:00 pm Entertainment/Games

1:30 pm Raffle (entered at registration table)
2:00 pm Historic Bus Tour (see registration table)

SUNDAY NIGHT FIRESIDE:
LOCATION: LDS Church at 300 East Center St, Spanish Fork UT
TIME: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Speaker-J. Mark Fillmore, BYU student & return missionary having served in ICELAND!

Fréttir June 2012

Utah Iceland Days

I will post more about Iceland Days when and if it becomes available. If anyone could help with information about Iceland Days this year please contact me.

Iceland Days 2012, June 22, 23, & 24 in Spanish Fork, Utah

Friday Night:
Main Speaker……………………….. Lin Floyd, Snorri Plus Experience

Rotating Workshops

1.                  John K Johnson presenting Icelandic Artifacts (20-30 min)

2.                  Thelma Marinosdottir presenting "Icelandic traits. How Icelandic are you??" (20-30 min)

3.                  Icelandic Language Workshop, Tentative

Saturday Family Fair:

Flag Ceremony

Breakfast

Icelandic Breakfast/
Icelandic pancakes & pastriespancakes and pastries  Iceland Pancakes Recipe for Icelandic Pancakes

 Children's Choir/ (Rhea Jean)

Children's Village

Charlette Henry with kids games, prizes, photo ops, piñata

Catered lunch/ TBA

T-shirt & memorabilia sales table/ Tentative: The William's have stepped down from participation in the association. Need someone to man this booth. Be sure to thank them for their years of service!

Sunday Night Fireside:

Speakers/ TBA

Follow the Icelandic Association of Utah on their Facebook Page

Icelnadic Assocition of Utah on Facebook

  

Video of the Glaumbaer Turf Farm 
Glaumbaer Turf Farm

Icelandic Sweaters
Icelandic wool sweaters. Designs, pattern and colors inspired by the old Viking tradition. The art of knitting pullovers and cardigans has past from mother to daughter for generations, since the time of the Viking settlement in the ninth century. Icelandic  knitters typically are elderly women who have knitted sweaters all their life, for their fisherman’s or farmer’s husbands and sons, their daughters and relatives. It takes about 30 hours to knit a quality sweater. The Icelandic knitwear is famous for its quality. The knitting pattern of the knit sweaters or cardigan sweater is very traditional for Iceland, and both man and women wear it at work or as a sportswear. The hand knit wool sweater will last for years. It should be only hand washed from lukewarm water.

 Emigrant of the Month June 2012

GUÐRÚN SOFFÍA JÓNSDÓTTIR was born 25 January 1863 at Elinarhus, Vestmannaeyjar. Her parents are Jon Petursson, born 29 March 1829, died 15 July 1868 in Vestmannaeyjar; and Vilborg Johanna Thordardottir, born 5 February 1831 at Hjaleigusandur, Storidalur undir Eyjafollum, Rangarvalla, died 18 January 1924 in Spanish Fork, Utah. Gudrun’s father passed away when she only five years of age. Her mother married Sigrudur Arnason, born 28 November 1842 in Vestmannaeyjar, about 1870. In 1874 Sigurdur and Vilborg and her children, Johann, Gudrun Sophia, Olof and Vilhjalmar, emigrated to Spanish Fork, Utah.
Gudrun married Petur Valgardsson, born 31 December 1842 at Nyjabaer near Reykjavik, Gullbringu, the son of Valgardur Ofeigsson, born 1 September 1801 at Efstadar, Arnes, died 10 July 1876 at Sudurkot, Kalfatjorn, Gullbringu; and Adalbjorg Jonsdottir, born 1 January 1807 at Moldhaugar, Glaesibaer, Eyjafjardar, died 20 August 1883. They were married 17 November 1881 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gudrun and Petur had seven Children, all born in Spanish Fork, Utah: Vilmina Christina (1882-1952), William (1884-1960), John (1886-1955), Walter Albert (1888-1949), Ephraim (1891-1950), Edward (1891-1891), and Sophia (1893-1895). Gudrun Sophia died 5 February 1893 and is buried in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. She was known as Soffia Valgardson in Utah.

Fréttir 6

The DVD Fire on Ice The Saints of Iceland

Steven J. Andersen recently donated to the Icelandic Association of Utah two cases of the DVD Fire on Ice: The Saints of Iceland.
This generous donation means that the popular Fire on Ice DVD is readily available again from the Association's Gift Shop. To order Fire on Ice, send $24 ($20 for the DVD plus $4 for shipping and handling) to
The Icelandic Association of Utah
PO Box 874
Spanish Fork, UT 84660

Fire on Ice The Saints of Iceland, captures the compelling history surrounding the conversion, emigration, and assimilation of the early Icelandic Latter-day Saints. This remarkable story of faith, courage and sacrifice highlights the nearly 400 pioneers that left their homeland between 1855 and 1914 and the powerful legacy they left behind. On June 24th 2005, 150 years after the arrival of the first Icelander Samúel Bjarnason, a Memorial in Spanish Fork was erected and dedicated by President, Gordon B. Hinckley in honor of these early pioneers.
Featured interviews include the President of Iceland, Ólafur R. Grímsson, prominent Icelandic Historians Gunnar Karlsson and Jonas Thor, as well as many of today´s Icelandic Latter-day Saints. This unique story becomes a cherished part of America’s pioneer ancestry, woven by the faithful saints of Iceland, past and present.
You will want to hear their stories. This DVD is a must-have item in your collection. Also, Fire on Ice makes a remarkable gift to friends and family.
The DVD is based on the book, Fire and Ice by Dr. Fred E. Woods, Producer Russ Kendall, Executive Producer Steven J. Andersen, Written and Directed by Ethan Vincent, Cinematography Brian Wilcox, and Music Composed by Sam Cardon.
Also included on the DVD are Special Features:
Excerpts from interview with Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, president of Iceland
Excerpts from interview with Jónas Þór, Icelandic Historian
On Thingvellir by Dr. Fred E. Woods
David B. Timmons about Haldór Laxness
Scenes of Iceland
Icelandic Festival Choir at Selfoss, Iceland
Centennial Celebration at Spanish Fork, 1955
The Centennial Celebration at Spanish Fork, 1955 was recorded by Finnbogi Guðmundsson in 1955 and given to me (David Ashby) in 2005 when I was in Iceland.  

The Monument to the Emigrants

The “Monument to the Emigrants” was erected as a tribute to the faithful Icelandic pioneers who immigrated to Utah between 1854 and 1914.

The monument was dedicated on June 30, 2000, by Elder Wm. Rolfe Kerr, Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David A. Ashby, President of the Icelandic Association of Utah, Inc. presented the monument to the people of Iceland on behalf of the Icelandic Association of Utah. Sigrun Inga Sigurfeirsdottir, president of the city council, Vestmannaeyjar, accepted the gift on behalf of the people of Iceland.
The sculpture atop of the monument is an eight-foot-tall angel, titled the Messenger, by Gary Price. Each side panel has the name of each of the Icelandic emigrants to Utah, listed. The monument also includes a biblical passage from Ezekiel 20:34.
The center pedestal, also in both Icelandic and English, reads: “In Honor of the Icelanders that heard the call to build Zion and moved to Utah 1854 to 1914.”
This beautiful monument is located near the Mormon Pond which received its name from the many Icelanders who were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early days of the Church in Iceland.
In 1851, two natives of Iceland, Þórarinn Hafliðason and Guðmundur Guðmundsson, were studying in Copenhagen, Denmark where they came in contact with two Mormon missionaries from Utah. After careful investigation, they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, they returned to their native Iceland to spread their new faith.
In 1852, Guðmundur Guðmundsson described the valley where the Mormon Pond is located as “a beautiful little round valley, surrounded by nature’s own mountain walls. In the midst of this most picturesque valley was found a small grassy plain, as level as a floor, and containing something like 20 acres of land. We approached this place one at a time, in order to avoid being noticed by our opponents and persecutors. Here in natures pure embrace, with nothing but the blue canopy of heaven for our covering, we raised our hands and our voices ‘on high,’ and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus to bless and sanctify this lovely spot, surrounded by these romantic mountain walls.”

Emigrant of the Month

GUÐRÚN MAGNÚSDÓTTIR - Born 29 June 1840. Her parents are Magnus Sigmundsson, born 1810 at Vestur Holt, Hafur, Rangarvalla; and Haldora Jonsdottir, born 16 September 1814 at Hatun, Kirkjubaejar Klaustur, Austur Skaftafell, died 7 September 1867 at Berjaneskotl, Steinar, Rangarvalla.
On 6 November 1870, she married Einar Eiriksson, born 30 December 1847 at Medalfell, Bjarnanes i Hornafiridi, Austur Skaftafell. His parents are Eirikur Runolfsson, born 1 June 1798, died 1851; and Gudrun Jonsdottir, born 19 December 1801.
Gudrun joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized by her husband on 16 August 1874. In 1880 some money was sent from Spanish Fork, Utah, by a few Icelanders who lived there, to help some of the Icelandic Saints immigrate to Utah. Consequently, on 23 April, 1880, Gudrun with her four children, Lilja, Bardur, Eirikur, and Helga, together with eleven others, left Vestmannaeyjar for Utah. Einar followed, leaving Iceland on 7 June 1880. Gudrun and Einar had seven children: Halldora Helga, born 16 April 1871, died 28 November 1871; Lilja, born 8 October 1872, died 26 March 1948; Bardur, born 10 September 1875, died 22 July 1970; Eirikur, born 12 July 1878, died 27 March 1965; Helga, born 3 September 1879, died 31 May 1962; Magnea Sina, born 3 January 1884, died 14 May 1890; and Elias W., born 8 September 1887, died 9 January 1975. Magnea and Elias were born in Spanish Fork, Utah; the other five were born in Iceland.
In 1889 Gudrun and Einar moved to Cleveland, Utah. Gudrun died 18 May 1930 and is buried in the Cleveland Cemetery. She went by Gudrun Erickson.