2. Traditions Icelandic wedding drink, Mead. Way back in the Viking era it was a legal requirement to drink Mead for a full ‘moon’ or 30 days after a marriage. (honeymoon) Traditional Icelandic wedding cake called Kransakaka almond in flavor, made of ascending rings to form a cone. It is filled with chocolates or candy inside. Friday – goddess Frigga Wedding traditions of the Lutheran church (98% of Icelandic population
3. Kransakaka Make sure that you do the final kneading of the dough in a large pot over low heat. It´s a pain, but it´s worth the work. The heat does wonders for the sugar, resulting in moist kransekage with the most amazing crust. 6 egg whites2 kg almond paste (best to special order from baking places)500 g powdered sugar Preparation Put everything in a large stand mixer with a dough hook and mix until sugar is incorporated. Transfer to a large pot over medium low heat and continue to knead dough for 20-30 min. Dough should be smooth, add powdered sugar if needed. Cool dough, shape according to directions on kransekage forms.
11. All Orientation Weddings June 2010- same sex couples can now have a full wedding in Iceland. The Prime Minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir, married her partner. There are a range of choices for the ceremony.
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14. Worth Checking Out!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIIKHFN0svc&feature=related Wedding song video directed by an Icelander http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utwU4pOhWqs Please watch: destination wedding of iceland short film.
Friday was the traditional wedding day-Sacred to the goddess FriggaFriggaNorse Goddess of Love and MarriageFrigga(also known as Frigg, The Beloved) was the goddess of love, marriage, and destiny. She was the wife of the powerful Norse god Odin, The All-Father. The date of the weddings in Iceland planned by the climate -Harvest time so wouldn’t have to travel during winter and darknesscelebrations usually lasted about a week “Requirements of a wedding made it mandatory that the bride and groom drink the bridal ale together, mead. Therefore, honey must have been used to brew the ale, and in sufficient quantities so that the couple could drink the mead in the four weeks following the marriage. From this tradition stems the term "honey-moon."
unique couple focused weddings. personal touch to the day While some continue to have a church wedding, the trend is now including locations in other locations or destination weddings. Just like those in the United States, Iceland is moving from the traditional older generational standards and the people are now incorporating more of other traditions into their wedding culture. This takes place a lot during weddings abroad because the couples often incorporate one of the customs or traditions of where they get married into their celebration. In Icelandic culture, where many Icelanders study abroad for college the trend is now incorporating the traditions of where they have studied. After having the privilege of speaking with Gallerí Fold’s, ElínbjörtJónsdóttir and other Icelanders, the common theme was that wedding planning is a very personal experience based on the individual couple.
Icelandic engagements and marriages are more liberal Cohabitation is more than accepted. taught to question everything and to never believe everything they are told. seeks to find answers and are very independent people. not untypical for Icelanders to cohabitate without being engaged, engaged and never marry, or to marry after living together for some years. It is considered official if a couple is living together. Often, the couples wed after children are already in the picture and now there sometimes is a combination celebration of both wedding and baptism. more Americanized engagement, wedding and holiday traditions since globalization. Some women now have diamond engagement rings. The custom in Iceland differs from that of America, where the groom traditionally asks the bride’s father for permission to propose. Engagement parties, bridal and baby showers are not customary in Iceland. very private nonintrusive group of people. It is very unusual to propose in public because it can be embarrassing and puts pressure to have a yes answer to the proposal. It is between two people and no one else. Sometimes one, both, or neither will wear an engagement ring. Sometimes the engagement ring is the equivalent of a wedding band with the name and year of engagement inside the ring. When the one year anniversary arrived, traditionally the woman would be given a ring with stones. The engagement or wedding ring is often worn on the right ring finger. The Icelandic word for wedding is brúðkaup, which when translated means to buy a bright.
Weddings are usually the closest people to the couple- it’s usually at the most about 50-70 attendants. At the reception, sometimes there is dancing most often not, but always there is a feast, fun, and drinking. At the reception there is a balance of food. There are the sweet and salty, and hot and cold foods. It is important to note that women do not take the last name of the husband when they marry. The gifts at the reception depend upon the request of the couple. Some may ask for monetary gifts to redo a part of the house, sometimes may ask for gifts from a list of items for a particular shop which is comparable to wedding registries in the States. The parents of the couple typically buy a big ticket item such as a fridge, bed, painting, or a ticket for the couple to go on a trip. There is a Nordic saying that was shared with me when asking about Icelandic customs that states, “The man, who stays at home, stays unlearned.” This is representative of the culture in terms that many Icelanders speak a minimum of three languages and study and travel abroad frequently. This is also the reason why the Icelandic youth are now adopting other culture into their love traditions. Another love tradition that was adopted into Icelandic culture due to globalization was Valentine’s Day in the 70s-80s. This is in addition to some Icelandic role days such as husbands (men), wives (women’s), and young children days. For the Women’s Day, the wife earns the salary of the husband for that day and he is supposed to pay more attention to the wife and may give her flowers or breakfast in bed. For Husbands Day the lady of the house cooks the meal of his choice and spoils and dotes on them. The Young Children’s days are days in Spring where fun activities are incorporated into this day. The Icelandic people have a lot of love. Love, no matter what kind is special and personal. Above all it is between two people and that is emphasized, and rightfully so in the Icelandic culture. When talking with Icelanders there seemed to be a common saying when discussing weddings and love…”.If you love each other... isn’t that enough?”That sentiment may be okay in theory but when it actually comes down to planning a wedding there is a huge difference in America between what the parents want or expect versus what the couple wants. To some, destination weddings may seem like an impossible option especially to the parents. When researching destination weddings, Iceland was mentioned for a variety of objectives. After being in Iceland for a week, I have to agree that it would be a spectacular wedding venue. Some may ask, “Why Iceland?” This question can be answered rather simply with, “Why not Iceland?” Iceland is the ultimate destination for engagements, bachelor/bachelorette (stag and hen) parties, weddings, and honeymoons. Iceland is known for the fashion and music venues as well as the vast opportunities to participate in the nature of the island. There are many activities to choose from and with only mentioning a few choices- seeing the Northern Lights, horseback riding, going to a volcano, or proposing from a Glacier it would definitely enhance the unforgettable moment and provide the ultimate celebratory experience. With the traditional Viking gusto of the nightlife in Iceland, it is not only perfect for a bride or grooms last night out but a night to remember with friends. Icelandair, the official airline of Iceland, as well as stagandhens.com, have three day packages designed specifically around the spectacular and legendary party scene of Iceland. The nightlife goes until 5 am on the weekends and the bar scene includes everything from posh nightclubs and lounges to taverns. This is definitely a weekend warrior society in which it is calm during the week then the nightlife scene unleashes the furies of the week. A shot of Brennivin, or “Black Death” is a must while in Iceland and not for the faint of heart. Foo Fighters lead singer, David Grohl has quoted on multiple talk shows that Brennivin is his favorite liquor.While the Icelandic people enjoy the party scene, they are a friendly and educated culture. They are easily engaged in conversation and enjoy speaking about their motherland which is near and dear to them. They are proud of who they are and where they came from. With the strong sense of nature encompassing Icelandic life, it is no wonder of the excess of activities that are focused around and take part in nature. This lends for great activities that individuals, groups, or couples can attend, become engaged, and even have their wedding ceremonies. One of the key main attractions of Iceland: The Blue Lagoon, is a natural spa outside that appeal to all ages. While just being there is therapeutic, spa treatments are also available for a fee and comparable to spa prices in the city of Philadelphia. They have a gift shop that carries their own Blue Lagoon cleansing and makeup products. This is great way to prepare the skin for the big day! With all there is to do in Iceland, one is bound to be hungry. Iceland has a great offering of food choices and they’re all delicious. Iceland is known for their lamb and it is different than lamb I have had in United States. One must try the hot dog when there! Iceland, which is now a part of the EU (European Union), is an economic steal to travel to from other European countries which makes this a prime location for many stag and hen nights as well. The exchange rate also boasts an economic deal that should be taken advantage of. The influx of tourists and the tourism industry is a large contributing force to Iceland’s economy and also helps with employment of Icelandic people. Within the tourism industry, Iceland is the ultimate destination for engagements, bachelor/bachelorette (stag and hen) parties, weddings, honeymoons, as well as holiday vacations. This country has something for everyone. The breathtaking views are perfect for outdoor venues and provide the most amazing backdrops to compliment any event. Even if a couple does not choose to have their ceremony outdoors the wedding pictures still will be stunning. There can be a variety of services from religious, to a civil union, or even the pagan ceremony of Norse mythology called Asatru. Other venues include churches, farms, buildings, The Hotel Ranga, and other locations of choice. When researching, I found there are so many options for a venue choice and that Icelanders are so accommodating, that it really depends on what the couple decides best for them. There are also periods of 24 hours of sunlight. There is plenty to pack in because the sun is always out. One could be married in the sunshine at midnight with scenery that is jaw dropping. Golf tournaments are also played at midnight during this 24 hour period of sunlight. For those who do not use the midnight sun for wedding purposes, a main attraction are the golf tournaments during this time. This may be the time that some would want to be wed; whereas, others may desire the white wedding and choose the glacier scene to tie the knot. Another selling point of Iceland to couples is that same sex couples can be legally married in Iceland. Iceland made headlines on ABC International News when the Prime Minister of Iceland, Johanna Sigurdardottir, married her long time partner. This is a major selling point for destination weddings for couples that cannot get married in other locations such as most states in America. When preparing to go on a destination wedding whether in Iceland or another location abroad, it is important to get your paperwork done in advance. The Consulate General of Iceland is located in New York City and all paperwork should be received two weeks before the wedding date. For further information, reference http://www.iceland.org/us/nyc/. A great listing of different options for wedding venues is www.iceland-vacation-information.com then check out the wedding section. A benefit of a trip to Iceland is the accommodating nature of the Icelandic people. I found that everyone is genuinely interested in helping travelers enjoy their country and everyday life. For other information about this glorious country and all it has to offer check out www.visiticeland.com. After returning home from Iceland, it seems that seven days is just not enough to experience all this country has to offer and I definitely look forward to revisiting Iceland. A special thanks to ElínbjörtJónsdóttir for all her help and for sharing her personal stories with me. I would also like to thank all the other Icelanders who I have spoken with on my trip and who have shared their culture with me in making my experience unforgettable.
There are no rehearsal dinners in Iceland before the wedding because as Elínbjört pointed out, there is no need to rehearse to eat! married by a Reverend in the home such as Elínbjört’s mother was, to the official marrying them at the sheriff’s office such as Elínbjört was, and now just like those in the United States weddings in Iceland can become more complicated. Dress ranges from complicated to casual. Brides wear all sorts of outfits for their big day. She can decide on what to wear based on both what she wants and what she can afford. Some brides wear trousers with a tunic, some short dresses, others long, and others choose the traditional route. There is a movement to reintroduce and be married in traditional Icelandic dress such as Elínbjört who is pictured wearing the customary black-and-white costume or some choose still traditional but more of a Viking style. Some brides choose to wear white while others choose to wear colors. Bridal dresses are often rented in Iceland. Black is not to be worn at a wedding unless wearing the traditional Icelandic national costume. Just like in the United States, the bride has flowers and the husband has a boutonniere. Some have a bridal party and others do not. The best man is not a best friend but often the parents. There really are no traditional speeches but the parents of the couple makes a toast and one of the friends in attendance makes some jokes about the couple. There is an Icelandic tradition to cut the toe of the groom’s sock so that he never strays.
When a baby is born there is a certain way to name the baby. The first name of one of the parents which is the father traditionally but can be the mother as well plus an ending reflecting if the baby is male or female. If the baby is a male, it would be the father or mother’s name plus sson, and if it was a female it would be the father or mothers name plus dóttir.
In the Asatru ceremony, the priestess makes the circle sacred then the bride and groom enter. They make their vows and drink from the horn. At the end, everyone is welcomed into the circle and anyone who wants to can speak and drink from the horn. Some include the four elements, noting both their creative and destructive powers, and this is to have nature be a big part of the ceremony
White Night Wedding developed simultaneously for stage and screencontemporary Iceland. It's the story of Jon, a middle-aged professor, about to get married for the second time to a woman half his age. When the guests start flocking to the island where the marriage is to be held, the groom starts getting cold feet. "The film is light, bright, a bit like a grown up 101, Reykjavik," says Johansen. "It was also the right film to do for Baltasar after the darker A Little Trip to Heaven and Jar City."
