#27: Jól

I thought it might be nice to follow up yesterday's somber post with a happier one, so today I'm going to talk about the Icelandic word jól. It's a seasonal word that is absolutely everywhere in Iceland at the moment, and that's because it means "Christmas." With only 10 days left to buy all of the gifts, cook all of the food, and mentally prepare to deal with your extended family, now seems like a good time to talk about all things jól.

Read More

#26: Ártíð

What is the opposite of a birthday? Not all cultures celebrate birthdays to the same extent that we do in America, but most languages at least have a word or phrase that means "the anniversary of one's birth." However, it is a curious phenomenon that many of those languages do not have a corresponding word to denote the anniversary of one's death. Icelandic, though, does have such a word-- ártíð.

Read More

#4: Þrákálfur

If you can get past the guilt associated with celebrating a holiday that romanticizes the ethnic genocide perpetrated by our country's forefathers, Thanksgiving actually has a lot going for it-- yummy food, a big flashy parade, and the chance to spend quality time with your loved ones. But, like all good things, there's a catch, and that catch is that you have to invite that guy. He could be your annoying uncle, the weird out-of-state cousin, your newest someone-in-law, or that "family friend" who had nowhere else to go. One thing is certain, though: the that guy will inevitably bring his/her unique brand of backwards politics and controversial opinions to the table and, try as you might, you won't be able to avoid it. Fortunately, Icelandic has a word for the that guy, and it's þrákálfur.

Read More

#3: Kalkún

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States, and so everyone who isn't vegetarian or vegan is either defrosting their turkeys in anticipation or dueling to the death for the last one at the local grocery store. As such, it seems like a good time to talk about the Icelandic word for "turkey," kalkún.

Read More