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The Turkish Abductions of 1627
The Turkish Abductions, often known as the Turkish Raids or “Tyrkjaránið” in Icelandic, was a tragic occasion that occurred within the yr 1627 and left a big mark on the historical past of the Westman Islands and Iceland as an entire. Needless to say the time period “Turk” on the time referred to all nations underneath the Ottoman Empire, which included modern-day Turkey, however prolonged to a big space across the Black Sea, components of the Arabian peninsula, and most of North Africa.
Through the summer time of 1627, the tranquil lifetime of the Westman Islands was shattered when a fleet of round 300 Barbary pirates, hailing from Algiers and Morocco, launched a collection of raids on the Icelandic coast, with the Westman Islands struggling essentially the most extreme penalties.
With little means to defend themselves in opposition to the closely armed pirates, the islands fell sufferer to a brutal onslaught. The pirates killed roughly 36 islanders and captured round 242, virtually half the inhabitants of the Westman Islands on the time, and a complete of about 400 Icelanders, promoting them into slavery in Algiers.
Among the many captives was a pastor named Ólafur Egilsson, who was later launched to journey again to Denmark to rearrange the cost of ransom for a few of his fellow countrymen. Whereas a number of captives had been finally ransomed and returned dwelling years later, many others spent the remainder of their lives in captivity.
Ólafur’s written account gives an in depth perception into the occasions of the Turkish Abductions and his journey again dwelling. His story has since been revealed as a e book, which has not too long ago been translated into English with the title “The Travels of Reverend Olafur Egilsson.”
Photograph from Wikimedia, Inventive Commons, by Jan Luyken. A Dutch engraving from 1684 displaying Christian slaves for public sale in Algiers.
The Turkish Abductions left deep wounds amongst Icelanders. The worry of future impending assaults lived among the many individuals for hundreds of years afterward, with tales of the horrors being shared between generations.
An instance of this may be discovered within the native folklore. There’s a massive cliff that towers over the city of Vestmannaeyjabaer, generally known as Hasteinn. In line with native lore, it was mentioned that if three particular issues occurred, it could imply the return of the pirates and a repeat of the 1627 abductions.
This could occur if the city expanded to the west previous Hasteinn cliff, the freshwater supply of Vilpa was blocked, and if the son of a bishop had been to develop into a priest within the Westman Islands. By 1973, two of those had occurred, and whereas the pirates didn’t return, some linked this perception to the eruption of the Eldfell volcano in January of that yr.
The identical yr, the third occasion occurred as Karl Sigurbjörnsson turned a priest within the Westman Islands, who occurred to be the son of Sigurbjörn Einarsson, a former bishop of Iceland.
So who is aware of? Perhaps the story was true, and these occasions had been pre-determined, and nature was just too fast on her toes…
The Eldfell Eruption of 1973
Photograph from Wikimedia, Inventive Commons, by Tom Simkin.
Some of the vital occasions in Iceland’s latest historical past is the eruption of the Eldfell volcano on Heimaey Island. The eruption, which began on January 23, 1973, was a dramatic occasion that had a profound influence on the island and its inhabitants. It lasted for round six months, lastly coming to an finish on July third.
On the fateful night time, a fissure opened on the japanese facet of the island, near the city. Lava fountains erupted into the sky, and inside hours, lava and ash had been raining down in town. The eruption was fully sudden; there had been no seismic exercise to warn of the approaching catastrophe, and earlier than this, it was believed that every one volcanic exercise on the island was inactive.
Photograph from Wikimedia, Inventive Commons, by Christian Bickel fingalo.
The island’s residents had been woke up in the midst of the night time by the police and the sound of the volcano’s thunderous roar. Remarkably, a fishing fleet was within the harbor as a consequence of unhealthy climate, and the boats had been instrumental in evacuating the island’s inhabitants. All 5,000 inhabitants had been evacuated to the mainland, and miraculously, just one life was misplaced following the occasion.
The eruption continued for practically six months, burying properties and buildings underneath lava and ash and drastically altering the island’s panorama. The lava movement threatened to shut off the harbor, which was the lifeblood of the island’s financial system. Ingeniously, islanders pumped seawater onto the advancing lava to chill and gradual its progress, efficiently saving the harbor.
Photograph from Wikimedia, Inventive Commons, by Christian Bickel fingalo.
After the eruption ended, the method of cleansing up and rebuilding started. Two-thirds of the island’s inhabitants returned to rebuild their properties and lives, demonstrating outstanding resilience.
Of the 1350 homes on the island on the time, 417 went underneath the lava, and plenty of extra had been considerably broken. You possibly can see a few of them right this moment, and a few homes have even been preserved on the Eldheimar Museum, the place you possibly can study extra about this dramatic occasion.
At this time, the panorama bears the scars of the eruption, and Eldfell stands as a poignant reminder of the island’s fiery previous.
A part of why the eruption was so sudden was that the know-how used on the time merely was not superior sufficient. Seismologists have decided that if present know-how had been accessible, locals would have identified 30 hours forward of time in regards to the impending eruption.
Which means that if one other eruption had been to happen within the Westman Islands, it is not going to catch locals unexpectedly.
Traditions within the Westman Islands
The locals of the Westman Islands have some distinctive cultural occasions and traditions that differ from the mainland. Listed here are some issues to know earlier than you go.
Thjodhatid
Photograph from Þjóðhátíð í Eyjum.
The Nationwide Competition, or “Þjóðhátíð” in Icelandic, is an annual competition celebrated in Herjolfsdalur valley within the Westman Islands. It is one of many greatest occasions on the Icelandic cultural calendar, with 1000’s flocking to the islands annually.
Thjodhatid at all times takes place in the course of the first weekend of August. It is generally known as Retailers Weekend, as the next Monday is a public vacation, generally known as Commerce Day. On lately, you will discover extra festivals and celebrations throughout Iceland, however Thjodhatid is by far the most important.
Even in the event you’re not attending any competition, remember that there will likely be considerably extra site visitors on the Ring Street, particularly on Monday. Many individuals may also be driving hungover, so be cautious.
Know that in the event you go to Heimaey in the course of the first weekend of August, you should have a really completely different expertise than when visiting every other time. The city will likely be stuffed with individuals, some renting lodge rooms and residences, however most are tenting. You will additionally discover occasions supposed for households with kids in the course of the day, and in the course of the night time, lots of people will likely be partying.
Photograph by Gunnar Ingi Gíslason from Þjóðhátíð í Eyjum.
The historical past of Thjodhatid traces again to 1874 when the nation celebrated the thousand-year anniversary of Iceland’s settlement, and so they acquired their first structure from Christian IX of Denmark. Within the Westman Islands, this celebration occurred in Herjolfsdalur valley.
It isn’t identified if it’s because they could not make it to the mainland due to unhealthy climate or in the event that they merely needed their very own celebrations, however by the flip of the century, the competition had develop into a practice. It has been held virtually yearly since 1901.
In the event you do resolve to attend the Thjodhatid, the celebrations span three days and nights, from Friday morning to Sunday night time. You will have a good time having fun with bonfires, fireworks, dwell music, and festivities among the many locals.
One of many highlights of the weekend is when torches are lit on Herjolfsdalur valley’s slopes, making a mesmerizing sea of sunshine underneath the midnight sky. Under, the attendees sing and occasion collectively by the night time.
Whether or not you partake within the wild nightly events or benefit from the family-friendly daytime occasions, Thjodhatid provides an unfiltered glimpse into Icelandic tradition. It is a celebration cherished by many, embodying a way of neighborhood and custom that lingers lengthy after the final torch has burned out.
Goslokahatid
Photograph from Goslokahátíð í Vestmannaeyjum.
Goslokahatid, which interprets on to “Finish of Eruption Competition,” is a yearly occasion within the Westman Islands. It commemorates the top of the 1973 Eldfell volcanic eruption that profoundly impacted the island neighborhood, and usually takes place over seven days at first of July.
Actions throughout Goslokahatid embrace guided walks across the volcanic website, exhibitions showcasing artwork and pictures, and communal gatherings with music and dance. You will additionally discover particular occasions within the island’s museums. Whereas most of those will go on in Icelandic, there will likely be occasions that guests can get pleasure from, together with the celebratory ambiance.
It is the second-largest competition within the Westman Islands and serves as a robust reminder of the fragile stability between people and nature and the enduring spirit of the Westman Islander neighborhood.
Puffin Searching and Egg Selecting
Puffin searching is a centuries-old custom within the Westman Islands, Iceland. These islands home the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colonies. Locals used to catch puffins primarily for sustenance. Moreover, egg-picking on steep cliffs has been accomplished by the centuries
At this time, nevertheless, it is principally a sport, utilizing strategies handed down by generations. Essentially the most historic technique is “sky fishing,” the place hunters use a long-handled internet to catch puffins in flight.
Nevertheless, with declining puffin numbers in recent times, there have been rising conservation considerations. In consequence, searching quotas have been applied, and a few years see a complete ban on puffin searching to permit populations to get well.
If you wish to strive puffin meat, you possibly can some eating places serving it round Iceland.
The Puffling Patrol
Photograph from the Pysjueftirlitið or Puffling Patrol.
The Puffling Patrol is a heartwarming custom within the Westman Islands, the place locals, particularly kids, rescue child puffins, or “pysjur” in Icelandic, which have gotten disoriented by the city’s lights throughout their maiden flights to the ocean.
Every autumn, as pufflings go away their nests, some inadvertently fly inland. Youngsters, geared up with flashlights, packing containers, and gloves, scour the streets long gone their bedtime, looking for and amassing these misplaced birds. As soon as discovered, the pufflings are stored in a single day after which launched the following morning on the shore, making certain a protected journey to the ocean.
This community-driven initiative highlights a profound connection between the island’s residents and their feathery neighbors.
Spranga – Cliff Swinging
Photograph from the Spectacular 4-Hour Clifftop Hiking & Boat Tour on the Westman Islands.
Spranga is a novel and exhilarating cliff-swinging exercise and the native sport of Heimaey. It is a part of a centuries-old custom the place locals would scale the steep island cliffs with ropes to gather fowl eggs, although right this moment, it has principally advanced right into a leisure journey for each locals and guests.
Prior to now, locals would practice within the artwork earlier than making an attempt to tackle the damaging ocean cliffs, with the most well-liked coaching location being Sprangan rock. There, you possibly can strive your hand on the sport, although that is most safely accomplished with assist from a information or an area.
It’s also possible to expertise Spranga cliff swinging as a part of your exploration of the Westman Islands, with this spectacular 4-hour clifftop hiking and boat tour. You will have assist from a information as you swing from the Saltaberg rock, earlier than embarking on additional journey.
For a greater concept of how the game works, watch the video beneath, the place you possibly can see an expert practising Spranga.
Abstract of the Westman Islands
The Westman Islands, with their charming landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage, stay certainly one of Iceland’s most alluring locations. Whether or not it is the haunting fantastic thing about the volcanic terrains, the sight of pleasant puffins, or the local people and tradition, the islands provide one thing distinctive to each customer.
A visit to those islands provides a brush with historical past and a real Icelandic journey. Those that enterprise to this often-overlooked gem go away with a richer understanding of the fragile concord between nature and mankind.
Which places would you wish to see within the Westman Islands? Would you strive your hand at Spranga? Are there any places we missed? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
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