Sour sheep-testicles, sharkmeat and boiled sheepshead...
Okay, so I may have gotten some attention from you guys now - hopefully - but I wanted to share with you an old and very popular tradition here in Iceland. Let me begin with showing you a picture I found online:
What you see here is a nicely set table, full of food called "thorramatur" or "Thorri-food". In old age (some centuries ago) there was an older/different calendar used here in Iceland and other Nordic countries. Each month had a specific name (Thorri, Goa, Harpa, Skerpla ... ) Thorri is probably the most popular and known month of this old calendar and some "festivites" related to that. Thorri always begins on a Friday, and that Friday is called "Bondadagur" (Husband Day). The following month was called Goa and the first day of that month (I think always on Sundays...if I remember correctly) is called "Konudagur" (Wife Day).
So today on "Husband Day" women generally treat their husbands very well, give them something extra ... and the women here at my work have all been baking and preparing delicious feast for us the guys (we will do the same for them on "Wife Day") ...
The picture shows "Thorri-food", and common things in Thorri-food are: sharkmeat, sour sheep-testicles (I'm not kidding, you can look this up if you don't believe me!), sour (or not) "haggis", pig-stew, sheep-stew, dried fish, boiled sheepheads...etc. On the picture you can also see two bottles of "Islenskt brennivin" (Icelandic Liquor) which is very strong - equally strong as Vodka - but tastes much different. Having sharkmeat and a sip of Icelandic Brennivin is a popular test of "manhood" in parties, generally held during the month of Thorri. But the downside is: sharkmeat stinks!!!!
But it's a nice tradition and the food actually is great ... I hope in the next month (Thorri) ... I'll have opportunities to have at least a good tasting, if not a full meal, of Thorri-food.
HAPPY HUSBAND-DAY!!! (or boyfriend-day ... if that is the case ...
)
Okay, so I may have gotten some attention from you guys now - hopefully - but I wanted to share with you an old and very popular tradition here in Iceland. Let me begin with showing you a picture I found online:
What you see here is a nicely set table, full of food called "thorramatur" or "Thorri-food". In old age (some centuries ago) there was an older/different calendar used here in Iceland and other Nordic countries. Each month had a specific name (Thorri, Goa, Harpa, Skerpla ... ) Thorri is probably the most popular and known month of this old calendar and some "festivites" related to that. Thorri always begins on a Friday, and that Friday is called "Bondadagur" (Husband Day). The following month was called Goa and the first day of that month (I think always on Sundays...if I remember correctly) is called "Konudagur" (Wife Day).
So today on "Husband Day" women generally treat their husbands very well, give them something extra ... and the women here at my work have all been baking and preparing delicious feast for us the guys (we will do the same for them on "Wife Day") ...
The picture shows "Thorri-food", and common things in Thorri-food are: sharkmeat, sour sheep-testicles (I'm not kidding, you can look this up if you don't believe me!), sour (or not) "haggis", pig-stew, sheep-stew, dried fish, boiled sheepheads...etc. On the picture you can also see two bottles of "Islenskt brennivin" (Icelandic Liquor) which is very strong - equally strong as Vodka - but tastes much different. Having sharkmeat and a sip of Icelandic Brennivin is a popular test of "manhood" in parties, generally held during the month of Thorri. But the downside is: sharkmeat stinks!!!!
But it's a nice tradition and the food actually is great ... I hope in the next month (Thorri) ... I'll have opportunities to have at least a good tasting, if not a full meal, of Thorri-food.
HAPPY HUSBAND-DAY!!! (or boyfriend-day ... if that is the case ...
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xoxo kl
ps. I am really into Icelandic history and culture, so if you ever want to chat, msg me!
thanks for making me feel like a queen