Góðan Daginn

Góðan daginn :)

Hello and happy Monday to everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. My weekend was nice and relaxing, just what I needed after a busy week.

No body does relaxing as good as these two. If only my dogs could fly over for a visit!

On Saturday we were invited to a baby baptism, which in Iceland is very common and also when the baby’s name is first announced. Babies typically aren’t named until there are around 2 months old and so the naming of the baby is a big part of the baptism. Before the baptism begins you can hear people in the crowd taking their guess at what the babies name will be and who the baby will be named after.

Coming from America where couples tend to have names picked out before they are even pregnant, not naming a baby until it is a few months old is a very new concept to me and I was curious to see what the day would be like. Of course in my mind I envisioned Cam and Lily from Modern Family and the circle of life theme song playing.

 

Shockingly this was not what occurred. However we did get to sing songs, well everyone else sang songs, I just stared at the paper with the songs on it trying my best to sound out one or two words. The priest said a few traditional Icelandic hymns and blessings for the baby, of which I understood a few words. Even though I don’t really have any idea what was said during the baptism I thought it was really interesting to get to experience such a traditional Icelandic celebration.

When the priest had finished the parents then announced the name of the baby (no, the circle of life song never was played ;( ) Icelandic names typically have meanings behind them and parents take a lot of time into naming their child for they want them to have a name that means something important and that the child will be proud to have as a name. I think this is so cool and now I think I need to ask my parents why I don’t have a name with some awesome meaning.

 
Our Sunday was exactly what Sundays are supposed to be. We slept in, stayed in our pajamas tell noon, and of course ate delicious pancakes.
 
 

My Grandma made these pancakes, called German Pancakes, every time we stayed at her house. My mom always made these for us as well every year for the first day of school. They are still a favorite breakfast treat of mine even as an adult:)

Even though it was a bit gloomy outside there was no rain or wind, which in Iceland means it’s a prefect day to be outside. Here are some pictures of our walk around our neighborhood.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you have ever had the chance to visit Iceland you will know what I am talking about when I say that there are no norms in house colors here. Any colors go and you see anything from neon yellow to pink, and I love it!
 
 

I am pretty much in love with this door, I walk by this building everyday and just love the bright red door and multicolor of the building.

 
They even have a bar named after me, and of course it is painted in neon multicolors.
 
 
 
Our weekend concluded with none other than…
 
 

As someone that read the entire book series in just a few weeks I was more than excited to go see the movie. I just love all the costumes and makeup, makes me want to throw a Hunger Games themed costume party to see what everyone would come up with. Anyone else see the movie yet? What did you think?

 
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. The days are getting darker and darker here so the Monday blues are getting a bit harder to fight. Good thing we have our vitamin D and Lysi (which Icelanders swear by).
 
Have a great week!
November 25, 2013 by
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  • http://girl-meets-globe.com/ Tina @ Girl-Meets-Globe

    Neat how they do a naming along with the baptism. I just can’t imagine not having a name for my child for that long, but if it’s what they know then it’s normal to them! :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com Kiki

      That was my thoughts exactly when I first heard about this! I was like well what do you call your baby then. Still a bit strange but it has been very interesting to learn about!

  • Sallie Meng

    Love the idea - you get to know your baby first and then the name comes to you! Am sure your parents will provide you with plenty of reasons why you have almost every letter in the alphabet in your entire name! You are blessed to be named after two quite remarkable women…..love the paint colors on the houses - saw the same thing on some of the islands we visited on our cruise. Remember to turn to the light and then you will not see the shadows…..Lv GS

    • http://unlockingkiki.com Kiki

      Don’t worry Grandma, I wear my names proudly:) It is no easy task to fit that many letters into a name, seems my parents knew I would always want to be an overachiever. Hopefully one day you guys can come see all the colorful houses on this lovely island here:) Christmas lights have already been hung to help with the darkness :) LV

  • Lesa

    Ok, let’s just set the record straight — you are named from one of my best friend’s sister from high school (yes, I did happen to date her twin brother but that is for another time, maybe it is a sign).. I always liked her baby sister’s
    name and when you where born, with blue eyes and blond hair, I knew that was the name for you. Yes, I also gave you 2 middle names from both of my beloved grandmothers but who knew that you would have 2 sisters who could have shared. So is life. Love you and as your grandma would say, to each their own, as ever.. Mom

    • http://unlockingkiki.com Kiki

      Hmm interesting part of the story of how I got my name. Maybe it all ties together in the end, extra middle names, extra special girl, you dated a twin, I followed a twin to a foreign country interesting:) Love you :)

  • http://gravatar.com/danniellek Dannielle

    I love traveling to places with lots of different coloured houses, it seems so festive for some reason. Also, I can’t wait to watch the new hunger games! I haven’t actually read any of the books, I’m waiting till after I watch this movie and then will read the first two books. I don’t want them to ruin it for me not knowing the story line.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com Kiki

      We have to have bright colored houses here to make the wintertime less depressing, at least this is the reasoning I will give when I paint my house a bright purple :) The movies do a really good job of following the books. Reading the books will just make you enjoy the series that much more!

  • http://thegrassisdancing.com Claire Duffy

    How interesting - I know a few Icelanders here in Sweden, but had never heard about the naming thing - cool! I do like the way they don’t really have surnames, and are just the son/dottir of one of their parents - it’s so personal, and none of the faffing about deciding whether or not to change surnames after a wedding that we need to deal with!

  • Heather

    Love that there’s a bar called Kiki! That will be the first place we go when I come!! ;)

  • http://confuzzledom.wordpress.com bevchen

    Wow, that naming thing is so interesting. In England/Wales/Northern Ireland you have 42 days to register a birth and in Scotland 21 days, so obviously you need a name by then for the birth certificate!

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