Sigrun Þormar

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My name is Sigrun Guttormsdóttir Þormar. I live inBorgarfjord west Iceland, where I work as a project leader at the cultural medieval center Snorrastofa in Reykholt. For those that don't know, Reykholt was the home of Snorri Sturluson, medieval writer and poet whom lived in Reykholt from 1206 to 1241. He was the author of the Edda, Heimskringla (History of the kings of Norway) and Egils Saga Skallagrimsson. For me Snorri is the most amazing employer whom I proudly serve and constantly present in my every day life! He is absolutely still going strong at 835 years of age. Please come and visit us at www.snorrastofa.is. We are open all weekdays during the winter and all days during summer. We have an exhibition about Snorri Sturluson and offer lectures for groups. Hope to see you soon :)

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Sigrun Þormar

St.Þorlák Day 20th of July

Þorlákur Þórhallsson is Icelands only saint. Þorlákur had come to Skálholt in 1178 from the monastery of Þykkvibær, where he had been abbot. After he became bishop at Skálholt he fought for increased independence of the church, which led him into conflicts with the icelandic chieftains. These were troubled times, and increasing conflicts where different rivaling clans tried to gain more powers in Iceland. When Þorlákur died in 1193, the Icelandic church was in need of its own saint, to add prestige and revenue for the church, and after several years with cold winters and bad harvest

Sigrun Þormar

Hundadagar - Dog Days

"Dog Days" last from 13th July to 23rd August. The term originated with the ancient Greeks who linked the heat of midsummer to the Dog star, Sirius. In Iceland summer weather is rarely more than comfortably warm, so the Dog Days did not have the same implication as in Southern Europe. The deviation of the term Dog Days was attributed to various local factors in folklore; dogs were said to chew grass at this season of the year, possibly because they were in need of additional nutrient after the hard work of early summer, when dogs played an important role in herding sheep to their upland p

King Olav of Norway's visit 1988- asphalting work Reykholt 2014

Sigrun Þormar

King Olav of Norway's visit 1988- asphalting work Reykholt 2014

Today we got our parking area in front of Reykholt Church and Snorrastofa Medieval center paved. We have been waiting for this moment for a very long time, so this was a day of celebration, even the sun was shining all day long :) This brings the memory back to 1988 when king Olav of Norway visited Reykholt. The occasion was that president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was laying the cornerstone to a new church building. Because of the royal visit, it was decided to pave the road in Reykholts Valley, so the king wouldn't have to drive on a dirt road. This initiative was welcomed by all living in

Sigrun Þormar

Women's Rights Day 19 June

Icelandic women were among the first in the world to gain the right to vote, on June 19th in 1915. Women had been able to vote in local and parish elections since 1881, and in 1902 they became eligible for office in these bodies. The extension of the franchise to women was approved by Parliament in 1911, but twice denied royal ( The danish king) assent ! before finally being approved in 1915. The Women's Rights Association together with several women's societies in Reykjavik arranged a celebration of this momentous step forward on July 7.th 1915. Thousands of women in their finest clot

Sigrun Þormar

70 years of the republic of Iceland

Today is the 17th of June, which is Iceland´s national holiday, where we celebrate the foundation of the Icelandic republic and independence from Danish rule in 1944. The specific date of the 17th of June was choosen in honor of Jon Sigurðsson, a leader of the 20th century independence movement and president of the Alþingi, our national parliament. Jon Sigurðsson was born in the West of Iceland in 17th of June in 1811, so only 3 years ago he was 200 years old. The formation of the republic of Iceland was based on a clause in the 1918, Act of Union with Denmark, which allowed for a revisi

Sigrun Þormar

Living in a birch forest

I had to share this Saturday morning with you :) I live in a birch forest in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland. The picture shows the view from my windows. The time is 8 am and Snipe is flying back and forth, there is no wind and the mountain is mirroring in the lake Skorradalsvatn. Am I living in Paradise or what? Working this Pentecostal weekend in Snorrastofa, we are open all days from 10 to 18 hours :)

Sigrun Þormar

Newborn foal and "Settlement Chicken"

Wanted to share this with you :) My college in Snorrastofa and training partner (we actually have a very fine local fitness center called "Heilsuhof" at the small village in Kleppjárnsreykir) lives on a small farm in the Valley of Reykholt. Not only is she our librarian in Snorrastofa, but she also breeds horses + has around 50 ewes and last but not least some very fine icelandic chickens. In Iceland we call them "Settlement Chickens" because these are the same chickens as the settlers took with them 1.100 years ago from Norway. I think that´s great, because I have an "egg subscription

Sigrun Þormar

17th of May -Norway's Constitution Day

Congratulation Norway with your 200 years anniversary! The constitution of Norway was signed at Eidsvoll on May 17 th in the year 1814. The constitution declared Norway to be an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway's devastating defeat in the Napoleonic wars. The celebration of this day began spontaneously among students and others from early on. However, Norway was at that time in a union with Sweden (following the Convention of Moss in August 1814) and for some years the King of Sweden and Norway was reluctant to allow the celebrations.

The Nordic Foreign Ministers meet in Reykholt

Sigrun Þormar

The Nordic Foreign Ministers meet in Reykholt

29. - 30.April 2014, Foreign ministers meet in Snorrastofa. This week was very busy in Reykholt. The five Foreign Ministers from the Nordic countries held their meeting in Snorrastofa. Norwegian minister - Børge Brende Swedish minister - Carl Bildt Finnish minister - Erkki Tuomioja Icelandic minister - Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson Danish minister - Martin Lidegaard The ministers arrived in Snorrastofa at 19 hours and dinner was held in our facilities under the church tower. The food, pure icelandic kitchen, with fish for starters, lamb for main course and filled icelandic pancakes for

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