Iceland Uncovered: Culture, Food, and Identity

The event “Iceland Uncovered: Culture, Food, and Identity” will be a deep dive into Icelandic culture through its history, geography, language, cuisine, and values. Participants will explore how Iceland’s harsh environment and long isolation shaped not only its traditional foods (which we’ll sample) but also its language, storytelling (from Viking sagas to Norse Mythology to troll and elf folklore), and core social values like resilience, cooperation, community, and respect for nature. The event will feature Icelandic snacks, a presentation on how geography and community resilience shaped Icelandic traditions, and
selected clips from the comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. My goal is to encourage residents to broaden their cultural horizons, appreciate global diversity, and reflect on how culture, food, and environment shape identity both abroad and at Penn.