Viking Roots

On this day in 1853, Stefán (Guꝺmundsson) Stephansson is born at Kirkjuhóll, in the Skagafjörður region of Northern Iceland.

“The odds were against a child born in Iceland at that time, as one out of four died in infancy. Those children who did survive, if they were of a poor farming family, had little hope of prosperity or material success. However, an extraordinary fate awaited this little boy. He was to emigrate to another hemisphere, where he would take the name Stephan G. Stephansson and earn a reputation as one of Iceland’s greatest poets – the only Icelandic literary figure of such humble origins to achieve such recognition.” (Wakeful Nights, p.30)

Til hamingju með afmælið, Stephan!

Image courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta A15947

Have you seen the show before?

It's terrific, and this should be an amazing night.

2026 Fjallkona - Maria Bear 👑

Born in Gimli into a proud Icelandic family, she has spent much of her life supporting her community through volunteer work, cultural involvement, leadership, and mentorship.

From a young age, she was involved in 4-H, where she spent several years developing and mentoring youth in public speaking, leadership, and conducting meetings.

She served for seventeen years on the board of the Betel Home Foundation and the personal care homes in Gimli and Selkirk, helping support the care and wellbeing of elders in our communities.

Her commitment to Icelandic culture has been especially evident through more than twenty years with the Icelandic National League of North America and the Selkirk Bruin Chapter, where she has served as president.

She played a leading role in the chapter’s annual Sumardagurinn Fyrsti celebration each April and helped sustain our traditions through music, community building, hospitality, cultural events, raffles, and of course Icelandic baking.

She has sung with the Selkirk Bruin choir in both Icelandic and English, supported the Icelandic Language Camp for many years, and continued her own Icelandic language studies throughout her life.

🇮🇸 This nice little hot spring is a perfect place for a little bathing stop on your drive to the Westfjords. Or just a foot bath 😊
It’s called Guðrúnarlaug and is located at Laugar in Sælingsdal Valley.

Enter “Gudrunarlaug” into google maps and you are good to go! 💦

Follow for more great ideas for your dream trip to Iceland 🫶

In October 1875, about 235 Icelandic settlers landed on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg at a place they called Willow Point. They named their new home Gimli, after the home of the gods in Norse mythology.

The following summer, over 1,200 more arrived directly from Iceland, fleeing volcanic eruptions that had destroyed 2,500 square miles of their homeland.

What makes their story remarkable is not just the hardship. It is what they built. By 1878, New Iceland had its own written constitution. They divided their territory into four districts, each with its own elected council, modelled on Iceland's ancient parliament, the Althing. Self-governing on the Canadian frontier.

Today, roughly 100,000 Manitobans trace their roots here. This is where it all started.

Location: Gimli, Lake Winnipeg.

Sources and footnotes
[1] First settlers arrived October 21, 1875 at Willow Point; over 1,200 more arrived in 1876. Manitoba History: New Iceland, Manitoba Historical Society. https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/40/newiceland.shtml
[2] Constitution of New Iceland ratified 1878; four districts modelled on Iceland's Althing. Manitoba History: Nyja Island I Kanada, MHS. https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/27/icelandicsettlement.shtml
[3] Walking tour of Gimli historic sites: mhs.mb.ca/docs/features/walkingtours/gimli/index.shtml

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Laufey - Hin gömlu kynni (Auld Lang Syne) LIVE 2024 Laufey Lín flytur lagið Hin gömlu kynni gleymast ei í áramótaþætti Vikunnar með Gísla Marteini. Hún var jafnframt valin manneskja ársins í þættinum.