All Things Iceland

This is part of my Folklore Friday Series, where I am sharing an Icelandic folklore story every Friday in 2024. A Magical Woman from Norway Migrates to Iceland In the book of the Icelanders, or Landnámabók, is a person named Þuríður syndafyllir and her son Völu-Steinn. They immigrated from Northern Norway and settled in Bolungarvík in the Westfjords of Iceland. It was rumored that Þuríður had incr...

Rökkvi Vésteinsson was born in 1978 in Iceland. He had a multicultural upbringing, living in Chicago at age 11, and spending summers in Denmark and Sweden during his teens. By age 20, he was fluent in four foreign languages, thanks to his travels and a stint as an au pair in Germany. Rökkvi began his professional journey guiding one-day tours from Reykjavík to Kulusuk, Greenland at 23, leveraging...

Where Iceland’s Loch Ness Monster Lives Lagarfljot, nestled in eastern Iceland, is not just a lake but a river channel flowing from the majestic Vatnajokull glacier to the sea. This secluded area carries a mysterious aura, providing fertile ground for local folklore. Visitors from the east of Iceland or those who have journeyed to Reykjavik might share tales of a monstrous inhabitant lurking...

Have you ever imagined swimming between two continents, touching the jagged edges of the earth’s crust beneath crystal-clear water? I had the unforgettable experience of snorkeling in Silfra Fissure, located in the heart of Thingvellir National Park, Iceland. This unique adventure is available all year round, and whether you visit during the chilly embrace of December or the milder days of April,...

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. How Rusty “The Brown One” Became a Ghost Rusty is a boy that is the main character of this story. According to the legend, he was 16 years old in the late 1700s in Iceland, and one day is he was out walking during a bad storm. Unfortunately, Rust...

This is the third response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here . 1. Should I exchange a small amount of currency before I leave? I have heard that Iceland is a cashless society, but I am thinking about tour guide tips or random purchases.- Christina Iceland is not...

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. A Troll Lurking in Iceland’s East Fjords Mjóifjörður (or narrow fjord) used to have up to 100 inhabitants centuries ago but it is now only about 14 people live there. During the winter it is common for the roads to be completely blocked off and the inhabitan...

Interviews are one of my favorite things to do for the podcast, so I was delighted when Laura was available to come on and share about her experience moving from the San Francisco Bay area to one of the most remote parts of the Westfjords in Iceland. Background About Laura Alice Watt Laura Alice Watt is a professor emerita of environmental history and policy at Sonoma State University in Northern...

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. What is a Skuggabaldur? The Skuggabaldur is a fascinating animal in Icelandic folklore. Whether or not this type of animal really exists is hard to say but there are some interesting stories about it. A Skuggabaldur is created when a female arctic fox and a...

Iceland’s coffee culture is – deeply ingrained in the social fabric of Icelandic society. Along with being a drink that perks people up, grabbing a cup of coffee in Iceland is often a social interaction, where the drink is enjoyed in the company of others, many times in cozy settings. This communal aspect is so integral that offering coffee to guests is considered a basic hospitality g...

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. Why Finnur is a Feared Sorcerer A sorcerer named Finnur that lived a long time ago. So many people feared him and when he died no one wanted anything to do with the death, such as preparing the body or sewing up the shroud, which covers the dead body. Finall...

This is the last episode in my series about the months in Iceland and what to expect. Visiting Iceland in December is a magical experience, often described as stepping into a winter wonderland. Here’s a comprehensive guide on what you can expect, from weather conditions to the must-do activities, road conditions and more. Weather and Average Temperature During December in Iceland December in...

This is part of my Folklore Friday series , where I am sharing an Icelandic Folklore story every Friday in 2024.  Katla The Witch The story today is about how Katla volcano got its name. I’ve seen the name for this folklore as “Katla the Hag”, but I’m not much a fan of that name. Basically, there was a woman who was known as a witch, and she worked at a monastery here in Iceland. She w...

This is part of my Folklore Friday series , where I am sharing an Icelandic Folklore story every Friday in 2024.  The upcoming story is based on a description of the Ox-Whale in the book “Meeting with Monsters – An Illustrated Guide to the Beasts of Iceland” by Jón Baldur Hlíðberg and Sigurður Ægisson. It is an awesome book and I highly recommend getting if you like to read about creatures that ma...

This is the second response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here . 1. “What do Icelanders generally like and dislike about Americans?” – Garrett In general, I’d say that Icelanders don’t have a lot of dislikes when it comes specifically to America...

This modern-day folklore mixes the supernatural with Iceland’s gorgeous landscape. It all starts with a man named Dillon, a Brit that had traveled to Iceland many times. One day he claims to have been contacted by aliens who told him to gather people in Iceland on November 5 th , 1993 because they were going to be on Snæfellsjökull glacier that day. According to Dillon, his information was backed...

Today’s episode focuses on the historic site of Skriðuklaustur , which offers a captivating glimpse into Iceland’s rich Icelandic culture, history, and literature. This enchanting destination, nestled amidst the rugged beauty of the Icelandic landscape, serves as a bridge between the past and the present, inviting visitors to explore the layers of stories etched within this museum. The Origins of...

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series, where I am sharing fascinating stories from Icelandic folklore on Fridays throughout 2024. This week’s tale is about a talented human midwife who ends up with a special ability after helping some elves. Please note that there is a violent act shared in this story and you may not deem it appropriate for young kids. A Talented Icelandic Midwife Is B...

Visiting Iceland in November offers a unique and enchanting experience, blending the majestic winter landscapes with the possibility of witnessing the magical Northern Lights. Previous Episodes About Months in Iceland January in Iceland February in Iceland March in Iceland April in Iceland May in Iceland June in Iceland July in Iceland August in Iceland September in Iceland October in Iceland Icel...

A quick but fascinating Icelandic folklore tale about Naustahvilft. According to the legend, a troll was hurrying home to avoid being turned into stone by the sun that was going to rise soon. She was traveling quickly enough that she was ahead of schedule and was able to stop to rest. The area that she stopped is Ísafjörður, the fjord where the largest town in the Westfjords is located. The troll’...

This is the first response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here . Questions sent in from the listeners of the All Things Iceland Podcast 1. Can you please discuss some of the history of Ravens in Iceland. I was delighted to hear about some mischievous R...

For this episode of Folklore Friday we’re diving into the chilling tales and explosive history of Iceland’s very own Mount Hekla, often dubbed as the “Gateway to Hell”! Hekla Volcano’s Eruption Patterns & Destructive Past Our story begins in the year 1104, when Hekla made its grand entrance into the annals of volcanic history with a bang! Since the 1970s, this fi...

As of January 15th, 2024, Keflavík International Airport (KEF) has stated that they are gearing up to host a whopping 8.5 million passengers this year, making it one of their busiest years ever. Yep, you heard it right, this little volcanic island is becoming more of a hotspot than ever before! I know 8.5 million sounds like a lot, because it is, but I will put that into context during this episod...

At the famous, beautiful, and dangerous Reynisfjara black sand beach there are three sea stacks clearly visible out in the ocean. They look as though they have popped up out of nowhere but there is a story behind their existence. Legend has it that two trolls were trying to pull a ship to shore during the middle of the night. However, they lost track of time and since this was during the warmer se...

Visiting Iceland in October offers a unique and captivating experience, characterized by its transitional weather, diminished crowds, and the chance to witness the Northern Lights. Previous Episodes About Months in Iceland January in Iceland February in Iceland March in Iceland April in Iceland May in Iceland June in Iceland July in Iceland August in Iceland September in Iceland Weather and Averag...