What Is Icelandic Christmas? Who Are The Yule Lads? Why The Grýla?
You’ve heard this, but it bears repeating: Christmas in Iceland is a little different. Instead of one Santa, Iceland has thirteen. These thirteen jólasveinar—Yule Lads, as the
Gunnar Hrafn Infiltrated ISIS: “I’m Going To Get Beheaded For This”
Journalist Gunnar Hrafn Jónsson is a reporter for the national broadcasting service, RÚV, where he specializes in international news. Gunnar has a particular interest in the Midd
Sigur Rós Drummer: My Secret Life As A Talking-Dog-Movie Producer
The world is one strange, fucked up place. You never know what kind of weird shit is going to happen next. One minute, you’re maybe hanging out on a giant, […]
Running Up Those Slippery Steps: Bjarni Bernharður’s Journey Through The Darkness
Poet and painter Bjarni Bernharður Bjarnason is a unique presence in the Icelandic art world. He has endured a life of hardship, marked by poverty, negligent parents, acid, insani
Iceland Becomes You: Four Former Refugees Relay Their Stories
Biljana Boloban Nationality: Serbian Age: 21 Year of arrival: 2001 Biljana arrived in Iceland with her mother, father, and younger sister, who was five at the time. The family were
UNHCR: “Saving Lives Should Always Be A Prerogative”
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is tasked with both providing solutions for refugees, and monitoring and supporting different states in implementing international law. Its Northern E
“We Have To Do This Together”: Mayor Dagur B. On Acceepting “Hundreds” Of Refugees
In the light of Icelanders’ recent groundswell in favour of accepting more Syrian refugees, Reykjavík’s mayor, Dagur B. Eggertsson, was recently quoted as saying that the city
Betty Dodson Will Teach You To Sex Correctly
An Icelander, an Australian and a Yank walk into a bar. The Icelander (a few drinks ahead of the others, naturally) brags: “Sex is so great here. We start the […]
For The Sake Of Memory: An Interview With Arch-Archivist Lára Hanna Einarsdóttir
Lára Hanna Einarsdóttir is not a journalist. In fact, the closest she’s come to journalism is doing subtitles for Stöð 2, a job she’s had since 1987. Yet, she has [
Who Are Iceland’s Shadow Editors?
Study shows bloggers and social media commenters may have biggest impact on what Iceland’s journalists say—and don’t. Here at the Grapevine we are, admittedly, more prone to
Catherine Côté Brings Her Rainbow 3D Nail Art To Iceland
A sparkly pink linoleum floor cluttered with pairs of worn-in Doc Martens and clunky platform shoes marks the entrance to Catherine Côté’s home. The only custom 3D nail artist
Icelanders Celebrate The 100-year Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage
Icelandic suffragettes reaped the fruits of their labour on June 19, 1915, one hundred years ago, when women over the age of 40 were given the right to vote (followed […]
Is The Future Bright For Iceland’s Bright Future Party?
It’s a chilly winter afternoon when I check into the front desk of the parliament building in downtown Reykjavík. After warming up in the lobby for a few minutes, I […]
Frisbee Golf Is The Fastest Growing Sport In Iceland
Disc Golf burst onto the Icelandic scene with a bang last summer, after a few years of slow but steady growth. The explosion of the sport in the country saw […]
Markús Þór Andrésson On Curating ‘Points of View’ At The Culture House
The Culture House (Safnahúsið) may have just been restored to its original 1906 name, but it has reopened to new life and purpose with the inspired and inspiring exhibition ̵
Iceland Writers Retreat Redux
Going into its second year, the Iceland Writers Retreat—which, armchair copyeditors take note, is purposely “apostrophe free”—is riding high on the success of its inaugural
Sjálfsbjörg Caseworker On Strætó’s Incompetence: Driving In Circles
When an eighteen-year-old girl with severe development disabilities went missing for seven hours in early February, people were naturally worried. Like usual, Ólöf Þorbjörg Pé
Inspired By Iceland. For Real
Reykjavík’s “kleina” and hot dogs are invading England’s South CoastIn Southsea, Portsmouth, UK, where Castle Road meets Kent Road, you’ll find 101 Reykjavík, a cosy Ic
Does Spain Have It All Wrong?
Èric Lluent explains the Iceland IllusionÈric Lluent is a journalist from Barcelona, Spain who recently published a book, ‘Iceland 2013: A Story Of Deception,’ about
World-Historical Monuments Recycled As Furniture
In The Name Of Peace And Freedom: Jonni & The Equator Memorial Projecthttps://vimeo.com/107443264 Jóhann Sigmarsson has been some sort of a legend since at least the early nin
Images Make Music More Tangible
Daníel Ágúst on the importance of the visualHow important is the visual aspect to how a band or artists presents itself? Is it a necessary factor, or more of an […]