Ring of Seasons

by Lacy, Terry G.

• ISBN13: 9780472109265
• ISBN10: 047210926X
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-07-01
• Publisher: Univ of Iceland Pr

Summary

A remote island with a rich and ancient literature. A land of hot springs and volcanoes. A country with an extraordinary history, a challenging geography and a vibrant contemporary culture. A land of ice. InRing of Seasons, Terry Lacy--an American who has lived in Iceland for twenty-four years-- brings both the perspective of the outsider and the familiar eye of the long-term resident to this delightful exploration of all facets of Iceland, past and present. She conveys her story with a skillful interlacing of history, religion, politics, and culture to paint a vivid picture of the way Icelanders live today as members of a wealthy society still very dependent upon nature--from a reliance on her icy waters to support an international fishing industry to a watchful cohabitation with the volcanoes that both destroy villages and create new islands. This is a book for all who have been charmed by reading the Norse sagas, for all those intrigued by the country that can claim the oldest living democracy. It is an excellent introduction for anyone planning to visit Iceland and a delightful read for all those who do their exploration from the comfort of an armchair. Terry G. Lacy is an American currently residing in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xi
A Note on the Icelandic Alphabet	xii
Understanding Icelanders	xiii
Iceland and Icelanders
What Is an Icelander?	3	(10)
The Formation of the Land	13	(8)
Living with the Weather	21	(5)
The Icelandic Language	26	(8)
Eddas and Sagas	34	(9)
Gyrfalcons and Iceland Moss	43	(6)
Heroic Seafarers	49	(9)
The Family: Winter Feast---A Toast to Survival	58	(7)
Spring---Beginnings
The Family: Birth, Marriage, and Death	65	(6)
The Myth of Creation	71	(5)
Iceland's History: The Settlement	76	(9)
The Myth of Thor	85	(4)
Iceland's History: The Commonwealth and the Conversion to Christianity	89	(15)
Sorcery and Superstition	104	(5)
The Family: Confirmation and Easter	109	(6)
Summer
The Family: The First Day of Summer	115	(7)
The Sealskin	122	(1)
Iceland's History: The Settlement of Greenland and North America	123	(13)
The Myth of Loki	136	(3)
Iceland's History: The End of the Commonwealth	139	(10)
The Family: A Birthday Party	149	(6)
Autumn
The Family: Afternoon Coffee	155	(5)
Trolls, Elves, and Ghosts	160	(6)
Iceland's History: The Norwegian and Danish Domination Through the Reformation, 1262--1550	166	(12)
A Legendary Outlaw: Eyvindur of the Mountains	178	(3)
Iceland's History: The Hardest of Times, 1550--1830	181	(12)
The Family: Sausage---Making	193	(6)
Winter---Independence and New Beginnings
The Family: Christmas Eve	199	(5)
My John's Soul	204	(2)
Iceland's History: The Struggle for Independence, 1830--1918	206	(14)
Turf Houses and Filigree Belts	220	(10)
The Myth of New Beginnings	230	(3)
Iceland Since Independence	233	(17)
The Family: New Year's Eve	250	(3)
Common Words Found on a Map of Iceland	253	(2)
Key Dates	255	(2)
Notes	257	(14)
Bibliography	271	(14)
Index	285	(12)
About the Author	297