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*Þorri - Midwinter

[Explore 24/1 #432]

 

* A powder snow fell this morning, wonderful view. Then came the sun.

 

* Þorri is the Old Norse name for Midwinter, which is usually the coldest of the Wintermonths, which in Iceland includes approx. the months of October - April (middle of April). Around April 20th, "Sumardagurinn fyrsti" -- literally "The first day of summer -- is celebrated. Some rather lonely snow flakes may fly around then, which makes it all the more cute! But the interesting about this day of celebration is that it is originally a more than 1000-year old Viking tradition.

As for the word "Þorri" -- Maybe you know that the Icelandic language is, relatively speaking, a very well preserved language with strong roots in its origins in the Nordic Viking culture. As such it is probably the best preserved language in Europe, at least.

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Uploaded on January 24, 2012
Taken on January 24, 2012