Vatnabyggð

ÞORRABLÓT - A WELCOME HARBINGER OF SPRING

Joan Eyolfson Cadham
FOAM LAKE, SK

This is a traditional Þorrablót on the prairies in Canada. What is Þorrablót all about? It is an evening for talking, singing, drinking and eating like we are tonight," said the Icelandic Consul General, Ambassador Kornelíus Sigmundsson, speaking at the Vatnabyggð Þorrablót.

"However," he said, "I must say this is a special atmosphere."

"Some people say, 'There's a taste of my amma in that food.' You all know rúllupylsa and vínarterta," Ambassador Kornelíus Sigmundsson said. He explained that they are rarely served in Iceland, and pointed out that the Canadian Þorrablót does not have the more exotic foods that are served in Iceland this time of year - sheep's head jelly, rotten shark, ram's testicles. "Your federal authorities will not authorize the importation of ram's testicles and rotten shark," he said, explaining that, in some European countries, those delicacies are defined as "food not fit for human consumption."

The 23rd Vatnabyggð Þorrablót attracted 175 people to Wynyard's Civic Centre. The evening included a roast beef buffet dinner, a program, a dance, and an Icelandic lunch. Special guests were Ambassador Kornellus and his wife, Anna Soffía Hauksdóttir, Honourary Consul of Iceland in Saskatchewan, Jón Örn Jónsson and his wife, Ulu, and INL of NA President, Sigrid Johnson and her son, Matthew.

Ambassador Kornelíus told the crowd that he might have been Canadian. His great grandfather had intended to move to Canada with his wife and nine children. To facilitate that move, he had given his children names that would work in both Iceland and Canada - Anna, Kornelíus, Adam. However, when he attempted to board ship to make an exploratory trip to Canada, the authorities sent him back, believing that he was trying to flee his wife and nine children. "So," said Ambassador Kornelíus, "he went back home and made a success of a career as a printer

This is the Ambassador's second visit to Vatnabyggð. He was here on April 1, 1989, during the INL/NA convention held in Wynyard.

Saskatchewan's Honourary consul of Iceland, Jón Örn Jónsson, expressed everyone's feelings when he said, "Finally, finally they arrived in tandem, Þorrablót and spring. I am sure you are as ready as I am for the warmth of spring and the warmth of fellowship at Þorrablót. This year Þorrablót is truly a most welcome harbinger of spring."

"Much noteworthy has happened since the 2001 Þorrablót here in Wynyard," he said. "Last year the first ever Þorrablót in Foam Lake was a resounding success. This was followed by Vatnabyggð's splendid hosting last summer and fall of distinguished and welcome visitors from Iceland. Ambassador Hjálmar Hannesson and his wife Anna Birgis, and Consul General Eiður Guðnason his wife Eygló and the delightful musical duo, mezzo soprano Ingveldur Ýr Jónsdóttir and pianist Guðríður St. Sigurðardóttir. All of them were touched by the warmth of the welcome you extended to them and impressed by the size and vitality of the Icelandic presence in Saskatchewan. As was President Ólafur when he visited Vatnabyggð in 1999.

"We are on a roll that will continue," he said. "With Joan Eyolfson-Cadham serving on the Icelandic National League's International Visitors' Program, I have no doubt we will be hosting many more interesting visitors from Iceland."

"I am very pleased and proud that the INL of NA has accepted Vatnabyggð's invitation to hold its 2005 Convention in Saskatchewan, our centennial year. I know that all of you will work together to make the convention the best ever and a memorable success."

Sigrid Johnson said that, when she was a child, she traveled Highway 16 to visit friends of her parents and grandparents. From Arborg, MB, she attended the University of Alberta and stopped in the Vatnabyggð area on trips home.

The Vatnabyggð Þorrablót program traditionally opens with the Canadian and Icelandic anthems. This year, the Icelandic language class joined the Vatnabyggð choir, their first public opportunity to publicly use their newly acquired skills.

The program focused on the Icelandic love for music, story and dance. Pianist Jeff Bjornson, played an original composition, as well as "My Heart Will Go On." Generations, the popular trio of Bina Keyser, Audrey, Shepherd and Frances Blyth, sang in English and Icelandic. Joan Eyolfson-Cadham provided an ancient Icelandic legend and the Vatnabyggð Dancers, just back from a performance in Saskatoon, performed Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic folk dances.

Dance music was provided, gratis, by the Fiddling Farmers, Bill, Edna, and Ian Paulson and Blaine Hanson from Foam Lake, and Steve Hanchak from Margo.

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