Icelandic National Customs

The book Íslenzkir þjóðhættir (Icelandic National Customs) by Reverend Jónas Jónasson from Hrafnagil is one of the most significant works of Icelandic culture and folklore. It is a unique depiction of the daily life and customs of Icelanders in the 19th century.

Jónas Jónasson (1856–1918) was an Icelandic priest, teacher, and scholar, best known for this book, which was published in 1934, sixteen years after his death.

The book preserves valuable records of Icelandic daily life, which would likely have been lost with modernization, and is considered one of the cornerstone works of Icelandic folklore studies. Beyond that, it is an enjoyable read, as it is written in a way that appeals not only to folklorists but also to the general public.

The book includes a detailed chapter on dogs (pages 177–181), and the account is, in some ways, different from what we find in other writings. Jónas writes about the necessity of dogs for farmers and shepherds. He mentions that Icelanders have long been known for their fondness for dogs, letting them sleep beside them and having them clean their eating utensils. He notes that at Grenjaðarstaður in Þingeyjarsýsla, there were twelve dogs, though that was uncommon. In many places, however, one could see at least six dogs where there was significant livestock and farming activity.

Jónas highlights various folk beliefs related to dogs, which I would like to present here:

"A dog turns out best if it is raised during Þorri or Góa [note: old Icelandic months], as it will then be the right age to be trained with lambs in the spring."

"Great care must be taken when choosing puppies to keep; firstly, they must not be born with their eyes open, for if they are, they must be killed immediately. Otherwise, they will disappear into the ground when they are three nights old, only to reappear at the same spot three years later. By then, they will have become such terrifying monsters that any creature that looks into their eyes will die. If such misfortune occurs, arrangements must be made for this abomination to see itself in a mirror upon emerging, as that will be its immediate end."

"But there is another matter—to ensure that the dog raised will turn out well. Some say that one should choose the firstborn puppy, while others, and they are more numerous, say that the puppies should be taken from the mother after she has given birth and carried away from her sight. She will then take them back and place them in her den; the puppy she takes first will turn out the best and should be the one raised."

"In places where shepherding took place in steep mountains, many preferred to have white or very light-colored dogs, as they are the easiest to spot when sent over long distances."

"The loyalty of dogs has often been praised, but some shepherds have been unlucky enough to have dogs unwilling to follow them. To ensure a dog's loyalty, all one needs to do is give it a piece of food and rub the food in one's sweat. The dog will then willingly follow its master and become loyal to them."

"Some dogs developed a tendency to be aggressive and bite the hind legs of sheep, even tearing them to injury. If they could not be trained out of this behavior in other ways, it was customary to break their fangs with a nail clipper; they were then unable to harm the sheep by biting."

"Dogs are clairvoyant and can see people's guardian spirits and other apparitions; when dogs become restless and bark in the evening, either inside the farmhouse or outside, it is because they see spirits or something unclean brewing. When a sense of unease overtakes them due to something unclean wandering around nearby, they sit down and howl softly or emit a high-pitched whine, as it is called. They can also sense in other ways when guests are expected."

"Dog skin is useful for many things. For example, mittens made from dog skin are exceptionally warm, as are socks and mittens made with dog hair mixed into wool. Dog fat is considered the best ointment for arthritis, bruises, sprains, and other injuries, and many still believe this to be true today."

Fortunately, Jónas does not describe the preparation of dog skins or the production of dog fat, as that could be difficult reading in today's context.

Following my review of the book, I would like to point out a questionnaire on dogs available in Sarpur, a cultural heritage database. The responses touch on many of the topics Jónas mentions in Íslenzkir þjóðhættir, and it is fascinating to read through them. It is only available in Icelandic, but with modern translation techniques, it should be accessible to anyone interested in these folklore topics.

Image: Djúpadalur, 1930. Photographer unknown.