Iceland culture

Many first-time visitors wonder: why is Iceland called Iceland? After all, Iceland isn’t completely covered in ice. In fact, much of the country is green during summer, with rolling hills, lava fields, waterfalls, and grassy valleys. Meanwhile, neighboring Greenland is mostly covered by ice despite its much greener-sounding name. The story behind Iceland’s name dates […]

The Story Behind “-dóttir” and “-son” Surnames If you’ve ever met an Icelander, you might’ve noticed something funny, everyone seems to have a last name ending in ‑son or ‑dóttir. Maybe you’ve even wondered, “Wait… are they all related?” It is a small island, after all! But here’s the twist: Icelanders don’t use family surnames […]