Rembember Thelma Ásdísardóttir, the woman I
told you about previously on my blog?
Now she has been honored with the title "Woman of the Year" by "Nýtt líf" (New Life), an Icelandic monthly magazine, for her courage to come out in the open with her story of how she and her sisters were abused by their father their entire childhood. In this photo she is seen with former president of Iceland,
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and Gulllveig Sæmundsdóttir, editor of Nýtt líf, after receiving her prize on 11/30/2005
Thelma has also been chosen "Ljósberi" (Light Bearer) of the year 2005,
here is the newsarticle (in Icelandic, sorry) in one of Icelands two largest newspapers, the "Morgunblaðið" (The Morning Paper).
Thelma´s life is really busy these days, she is giving talks in various societies all over the country, including at a meeting arranged by the towncouncil of Hafnarfjörður, her hometown, where she grew up and which was the scene of her misery. She says in a short interview with "Séð og heyrt" (Seen and Heard), Icelands main tabloidmagazine, that her life has taken an U-turn, but that the most inportant thing that has come from the publishing of her book is the positive reception that it has met, going beoynd her wildest dreams, and the great effect it is having in opening up a debate about childabuse and encouraging other victims to come forward.
And Thelma is a great humourist: Talking about her feelings at the presentation of her prize as Woman of the Year, she told the journalist that she had been quite overwhelmed with feelings, but that she managed to maintain her calm and hold back her tears, in order to be able to make her speech of thanks, by thinking about her forthcoming VISA-bill!
Congratulations, Thelma, you are a real hero!
New Year´s Eve in Reykjavík - The photo is borrowed from the site of Stelpa
Líf fyrir listina eina
As I have already given links to blogs with stuff about the Icelandic yulelads, I now want to give a link to the Danish Christmas NISSE, from Denmark, the country of my grandmother on my father´s side. And here is some information about Danish yuletide traditions, some of whom have been adopted by the Icelanders, with Iceland being a former Danish colony, or until 1918, and a part of the Danish Kingdom, having selfrule in certain matters but with a shared monarch, until 1944.
Just crowned in China: Miss Iceland - Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir
1985 Hólmfríður Karlsdóttir
1988 Linda Pétursdóttir
In 1963 Guðrún Bjarnadóttir (second from the left in photo) was chosen Miss Universe International on Long Beach, USA. After winning her title she had a successful career working internatianally as a much sought after model and has lived in France for many years.
And in 1970 Henný Hermannsdóttir, a young dance teacher from Iceland, won the title Miss Young International in Japan. She taught at her father´s dance school for many years.
I just found this list of sites about the way we celebrate Christmas in Iceland:
