The 13 Icelandic Yule Lads: Iceland’s Bad Santas
Icelanders have their version of Santa Claus. Actually, we have thirteen versions of Santa Claus. Yes! Iceland has thirteen Santa Clauses, called Yule lads (‘Jólasveinar’ in Icelandic). The global trend of gentrification has caught up with them, and now they are a delight to children....
Your Northern Lights Guide Just Got Better – All You Need to Chase the Aurora in Iceland
I’ve just given my Iceland Northern Lights guide a major upgrade, and I’m excited to share what’s new. If you’re planning to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, you need more than just hope and a warm jacket. You need accurate information, realistic expectations, and practical...
Icelandic Halloween Special: The Undead Deacon of Dark River
I am a huge fan of the imported festival of Halloween. It has become very popular here in Iceland, which is not surprising. Icelandic culture and folklore are wedded to the macabre. Since it is the spooky season, I thought it would be a good...
Songs of Longing and Love: Icelandic Soprano Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir Releases Hauntingly Beautiful Nordic Album
If you’re heading to Iceland this autumn and want to experience something truly soulful, mark your calendar for October 25th. That’s when one of Iceland’s most beloved sopranos, and my very own much better half, Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir, will take the stage in Harpa’s Norðurljós Hall...