Hæ hó jibbí jei!
… Is a phrase normally reserved for this day, which happens to be Iceland’s National Day! 🇮🇸
More accurately, it is the first line in the chorus of a popular song that is normally sung on 17 June. If you are curious about it and would like to hear it sung over, and over, and over, and over for a full hour this is the video for you.
You’re welcome.
So the Republic of Iceland is 80 years old as of today!
You thought it was older? Nope! It was in 1944 that we Icelanders cut all ties with our Danish overlords and crowned our country the Republic of Iceland.
This day is always filled with festivities and there is a special ceremony on Austurvöllur square, in front of the parliament buildings, where the prime minister speaks and the Fjallkona (Lady of the Mountains—the embodiment of the nation) delivers a poem written for the occasion each year. The woman who assumes the role of Fjallkona is specially selected by the prime minister, and is a different person each year. Per tradition there is always secrecy around who will be the Fjallkona, though the woman chosen is always an actress. Being selected as Fjallkona is a big honour that five years ago went to my daughter, Aldís—the first Fjallkona of mixed heritage and race.
Definitely one of my prouder moments as a momma, not least because her being selected was a statement of inclusivity for the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic fabric of our nation today, as opposed to the staid old ideas of what it once was. As such, the national institution that is the Fjallkona got an upgrade, becoming an accurate representation of the nation, as opposed to being a dusty old symbol of nationalism and homogeneity.
👏
In other news …
We have returned from our Bookdroptour of which I wrote here, touring the West Fjords to visit booksellers and other retailers. This is probably my favourite part of my job, next to the actual writing1. I love touring Iceland’s landscapes (who doesn’t?) and I also love meeting all the people all around the country who are doing interesting and amazing things, operating little shops, cafés, restaurants, accommodation and more. We stayed overnight in Króksfjarðarnes, Norðurfjörður, Ísafjörður, Tálknafjörður and Reykhólahreppur, and in each location there was something wonderful to experience. I logged our journey in my Instagram and Facebook stories, and have saved all as highlights on Instagram that you can access via my profile—it’s called Bookdrop 2024.
Thanks for reading. ‘Till next time!
Thank you to my paid subscribers for sponsoring this newsletter. 🫶
Interested in knowing more about Icelanders and their holidays? You might want to check out my Little Book of Days in Iceland, or one of my other books.
Full disclosure: the best part is not the actual writing, but the rewriting 😁
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So who got the big honor THIS year?