Culture and People of Iceland
Jan 7, 2018 1:07:31 GMT
Post by The Northern Lights on Jan 7, 2018 1:07:31 GMT
Icelanders generally have a traditional liberal Nordic outlook, similar to other Nordic countries such as Norway and Sweden. Yet, an important key to understanding Icelanders and their culture (which differentiates them from the majority of their contemporary Nordic peoples) is the high importance they place on the traits of independence and self-sufficiency.
Icelanders are proud of their Viking heritage and Icelandic language and take great care to preserve their traditions. Modern Icelandic remains close to the Old Norse spoken in the Viking Age.
The majority of Icelanders either believe in elves or are unwilling to rule out their existence. There are a number of accounts of roads that have been re-routed and building plans redesigned or abandoned to avoid disturbing rocks where elves are said to live.
Icelandic society and culture has a high degree of gender equality, with many women in leadership positions in government and business. Iceland also has a highly progressive gay rights legislation, with couples having been able to register civil unions since 1996, adopt since 2006, and marry since 2010. Women retain their names after marriage, since Icelanders generally do not use surnames but patronyms or (in certain cases) matronyms. There is a relative lack of formal marriage, and out-of-wedlock births (13 to 36 percent) have never been stigmatized. Women frequently have a child before they marry. Many people are related to numerous half siblings from their parents' other children by other mates.
The state church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which 92.2 percent of the population are nominal if not practicing members.
The principal language of Iceland is Icelandic, a highly inflected North Germanic language. Danish and English are also taught in schools.
Principal tourist attraction are the geothermal pools located around the nation.
There are no railways, but an extensive road system.
Heavy Cut and Paste Usage from:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iceland
www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.html
Icelanders are proud of their Viking heritage and Icelandic language and take great care to preserve their traditions. Modern Icelandic remains close to the Old Norse spoken in the Viking Age.
The majority of Icelanders either believe in elves or are unwilling to rule out their existence. There are a number of accounts of roads that have been re-routed and building plans redesigned or abandoned to avoid disturbing rocks where elves are said to live.
Icelandic society and culture has a high degree of gender equality, with many women in leadership positions in government and business. Iceland also has a highly progressive gay rights legislation, with couples having been able to register civil unions since 1996, adopt since 2006, and marry since 2010. Women retain their names after marriage, since Icelanders generally do not use surnames but patronyms or (in certain cases) matronyms. There is a relative lack of formal marriage, and out-of-wedlock births (13 to 36 percent) have never been stigmatized. Women frequently have a child before they marry. Many people are related to numerous half siblings from their parents' other children by other mates.
The state church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which 92.2 percent of the population are nominal if not practicing members.
The principal language of Iceland is Icelandic, a highly inflected North Germanic language. Danish and English are also taught in schools.
Principal tourist attraction are the geothermal pools located around the nation.
There are no railways, but an extensive road system.
Heavy Cut and Paste Usage from:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iceland
www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.html