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Icelandic
Culture
 Iceland was originally settled primarily by
people of Scandinavian origin, bringing with them Celtic
people from the Norse regions of the British
Isles. Modern Icelandic culture developed from
this mix of Scandinavian and Celtic influence.
Early Icelandic people embraced literature and art
and developed their Sagas, which have become world
famous, and are the lone Norse
contribution to great medieval literature.
Icelandic people are especially proud of
their Viking heritage and language, which is still
spoken today. Modern Icelandic language is very
close to the original Norse language spoken over a
thousand years ago.
Icelanders harvest their food directly from
the clean, unspoilt land. Seafood, mushrooms,
berries, reindeer, and lamb. In recent
years Icelandic chefs have learned from
international trends how to preserve the
countries' raw materials and edible resources and
turn them into gourmet dishes.
As a progressive modern European country,
Iceland boasts a National Museum, Symphony
Orchestra, Opera, Ballet company, and Theatre, as
well as hosting many musical events from both domestic and
international artists. Icelanders are especially
fond of literature, fine art and chess and the many
art galleries and museums feature a fine mix of
national and international exhibitions.
 Icelandic society
features a high level of gender
equality. Icelandic women generally retain their
maiden names when they get married, since most
Icelanders still follow the ancient tradition of
deriving their last name from the first name of
their father (thus, it is not unusual for a family
of four to have completely different surnames).
There are also a large number of women in
governing, business and leadership roles in
Iceland. Icelanders have a high standard
of living, with one of the world's best economies, as
well as a high standard of education and technology.
Visitors will find that Iceland is a classless
society with a strong literary tradition. Delight
in culture has been an inseparable part of the
Icelandic character and identity ever since they wrote the
medieval Sagas which rank among the great classics of
world literature. Activity flourishes in all
branches of the creative and performing arts.
A popular activity in Iceland amongst both
Icelanders and visitors is visiting the many
geothermal
spas and pools throughout the country, especially
the famous Blue
Lagoon - known for it's unique therapeutic
properties.
 Famous Icelanders include Leifur Eiriksson (the
first European to set foot in North America),
Halldór Laxness (Awarded the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1955), musicians Björk and Sigur Rós,
and Television Presenter Magnus Magnusson. Most
recently, Icelandic singer Magni Asgeirsson has been featured
on the reality show, Rock Star: Supernova, as a
finalist.
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