"One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency."Arnold H. Glasow
|
| |
A Note To Food Manufacturers...
Food manufacturing in the US has always been about convenience, product availability, taste and price. The more society ventured away from the family garden and kitchen, the more food manufacturers developed a market or niche for their products at home ...
The Food Diary: The "Write" Way to Lose Weight
As a child, you may have kept a diary to record your daily activities, your hopes, and your fears. If you wrote in the diary each day, it might have seemed as if the diary itself had become one of your best friends. As you grew older, the diary might have ...
The History of Thai Food
Thai food is famous all over the world. Whether chilli-hot or comparatively bland, harmony and contrast are the guiding principles behind each dish. Thai cuisine is essentially a marriage of centuries-old Eastern and Western influences harmoniously ...
|
|
|
| |
Holidays and festivals are among the most important aspects of Icelandic culture. They mirror not only Iceland's character but also that of its people. Icelanders await and prepare for these lavish celebrations with reverence and anticipation.
An Age-Old Custom
=============
In Iceland, as in any other country, a combination of nature, folklore, religious beliefs, socioeconomic factors, and history influences every celebration. However, it is the tenacious adherence of Icelanders to their ancient customs-which date back to Iceland's pre-Christian, heathen history-that best characterizes their festivals such as 'Žorrablot' (Thorrablot).
A Feast of Traditional Viking Food
=====================
One of the most awaited Icelandic event is Žorrablot, 'The Blessing of Žorri,' which commences on the first day of Žorri, the fourth month of Icelandic Winter. In standard calendar, it always begins on a Friday between the 19th and the 25th of January and ends on a Saturday between the 18th and the 24th of February. The highlight of this month-long annual festivity is the consumption of traditional Viking food. These delicacies include 'sviš' (boiled lamb's head), 'hįkarl' (putrefied Greenlandic shark meat), 'skyr' (yogurt made with 'rennet' [a dried extract made from the stomach lining of hoofed mammals such as cattle, sheep, and goats]), 'flatkokur' (flat, thin rye breads eaten with butter), 'hardfiskur' (dried fish, eaten with butter), 'lifrarpylsa' (pudding made out of lamb's liver), and 'brennivķn' (an alcoholic beverage distilled from potatoes and flavored with the seeds of caraway herb).
The diet and eating habits of the Icelandic people, like those of many other nationalities, have largely changed in the passing of time, so it is unsurprising to know that many Icelanders now eat food prepared in the old fashion only during festivals.
In a Nutshell
---------------
'Viking' is any of a seafaring Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of northern and western Europe from the eighth through the tenth century.
Tracing the Origin
============
Many Icelandic historians say that the earliest extant reference to the word Žorrablot can be found in the late-fourteenth-century Old Icelandic collection of manuscript 'Flateyjarbók,' (the Flatey book). According to the book, a certain King Žorri held a festive offering every late Winter to ask the deities to spare his kingdom from the harshness of the freezing season. Thus, many people believe that Icelandic Winter's fourth month, 'Žorri' (Thorri)-when the season is at its mildest-was named after the said king, who started the festival in the first place. Through the passing of time, Icelanders eventually came to regard the king as an Icelandic Winter god. To other people, however, Žorrablot means 'Feast of Thor'-an ancient feast originally celebrated back during Iceland's pagan times in honor of the Norse god Thor.
===================
Celebrating in the Modern Day
===================
Whatever its real origin, Žorrablot to this day remains to be a standard part of the Icelandic social calendar, and it has even been adopted by many neighboring countries like Denmark, Greenland, Norway, and Sweden.
As festivities take place in Winter, most of the food served are preserved in some way-dried, pickled in whey, putrefied, salted, or smoked. And amidst this food galore are children playing traditional games, dancing, singing Old Icelandic songs, and heavy drinking (especially that 'brennivķn' and other alcoholic beverages are, in Winter, ideal for warming the body and stirring the spirits).
=======
References:
=======
"High Days and Holidays in Iceland." [http://www.randburg.com/is/mm/high.html] 06/06/04.
[http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-759291-iceland_eating-I] 06/06/04.
[http://www.vnlnd.net/author/FB01A400.htm] 06/07/04.
The Icelandic Society of Greater New York. "Why Do We Celebrate Žorrablót." [http://www.icelandicsocietyny.com/thorri_whycelebrate.htm] 06/06/04.
'The Troth Official Homepage.' "Rites and Ways of the Troth."
[http://www.thetroth.com/ourfaith/rites.html] 06/08/04.
"Žorrablót."[http://www.icelandichorse.is/thorrab.html] 06/08/04.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Obama plays food critic on public TV - News-Democrat
CHICAGO -- Barack and Michelle Obama are known for nights out on the town in Chicago, dining at some of the city's poshest restaurants with the smartest chefs. But who knew the future president was a food critic? "Check Please!," a Chicago public ...
UN says Israel deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza - Thaindian.com
Gaza City, Jan 7 (IANS) Israel is deliberately targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, IRNA reported quoting an UN official as saying here Wednesday. The remark came a day after 40 Palestinians were killed at an UN-run school in the salient Tuesday ...
Drug from genetically engineered goats a first - WTOP Radio
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a scientific first, an anti-clotting drug made from the milk of genetically engineered goats is moving closer to government approval for humans. An evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration released Wednesday says the ...
Red Cross needs shelter for fire victims - News 8 Austin
PARIS, Texas -- Red Cross officials are meeting today to decide what housing options are available for the survivors of a fire that killed five homeless shelter residents. The Paris News reports the survivors are being sheltered for three days at ...
Sarkozy sparks confusion on Gaza truce plan - International Herald Tribune
PARIS : French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday Israel had accepted an Egyptian truce plan for Gaza, but his office later said he was simply welcoming Israel's previously announced reaction to the proposal. Egypt said on Tuesday it was ...
|
