# data[].attributes.body
About 80% of Icelanders believe in the existence of the smafolk, the small elven people.

For a long time no one has been able to rationally explain the overbearing and unpredictable phenomena such as volcanic eruptions under glaciers, geysers or thermal pools. Iceland was for a long time isolated from the rest of the world, for the inhabitants who spent dark winters it was comforting the idea of ​​living with other invisible beings.

It was very impressive today to hear the ancient stories about elves told by a modern storyteller on the streets of Hafnarfjordur. In the silence the wind blew tree branches, grass and moss on the rocks. The Icelandic natural environment is mystical, there is an ancient magic between stones and caves, where small invisible creatures live: elves. Every element of nature is alive and must be respected, even the rocks have a history and a soul that the Icelanders still know how to feel thanks to their close connection with the environment in which they live. In fact, in 2016 the Reykjavik road department decided to divert the construction of a road because the population has asked to protect the rocks where, according to ancient beliefs, the elves live. To take a road to protect a rock: a great lesson of civilization, humility and respect for the environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Today we have been in a magical city, the capital of elves and goblins. He welcomed us a nice guide with a red pointed hat, just like a respectable elf. She was anxious and happy to tell us about the Icelandic tradition that sees these strange creatures being part of the lives of its inhabitants. For Icelanders this cohabitation is something normal and natural. I believe that legends or fantastic stories help men to overcome difficult and complicated moments. Cohabitation between elves and men is based on mutual respect, vital spaces are not invaded and everything runs smoothly. A national survey points out that the Icelanders firmly believe in the presence of these fantastic beings, in their habits and in the world around them. Some might think that it is a strange thing or out of reality, but if this is good, it should not be eliminated. Telling certain stories envelops everything in a trail of mystery and superstition. Listening to all this gives a smile to the visitor and at the same time: adds one more piece to the knowledge of a people and its land

Goblins.

Up there on the windy peaks,

Down there in the valleys of rushes,

We dare not go hunting

For fear of little men;

Good people, little people,

which is gathered together in droves;

Green jacket, red cap,

And white owl pen!

(William Butler Yeats)

# data[].attributes.body
Our day has started with a short presentation of the course and then we have talked about the different existing humanities heritage: tangible, intangible and natural. After this, we saw a small beautiful room with trolls and natural elements that not only decorated the room but also made it very didactic and creative. I loved this little place!
We have visited the Saga Museum, a place that has managed to recreate scenarios from hundreds of years ago. The decoration, the characters, the details ... All accompanied by an audio guide in several languages ​​that allowed us to follow the explanations without any problem.
Throughout the tour we have seen scenes showing the arrival of the first habiantes of Iceland, the sadness of the black plague that struck a third of the population (and that curiously did not kill who took it to the island), Brave women fighting, evil sorcerers and seers whose reputation depended on the successes of their visions, witches (or nymphomanians) at the stake ...
A very complete museum that without a doubt I thank Rita that has taught us. And, as she has emphasized, it is we (human beings) who must take care that this heritage is not lost from generation to generation.

# data[].attributes.body
Today we visited The Saga museum, which recreates key moments in Iceland story. It was wanted by a local family to honor and pass the culture of the Icelandic people to future generations and other peoples. This gives a sense of continuity and identity to all the community, allowing other peoples to learn about other cultures and thus become more aware of their own identity through confrontation. Rita has made us reflect on the fact that the initiative of this Icelandic family shows how every single man can have great influence on others and can change the course of events. The museum represents a tangible and intangible culture; in fact Rita explained to us that cultural heritage includes physical culture, intangible culture and natural heritage. Culture is what we learn, it is our link with the past and a bridge to the future because it is constantly changing. The museum reproduces some moments of life and history in a very realistic way that has left me a strong emotion. 'island was the destination of people who wanted to be free from the dominant tyranny in their own country, yet they encountered a hostile nature, a land where nature is so strong that it has conditioned and still strongly influences human life today. Especially in the West, man thinks he is superior to other living beings and to control nature at will, in Iceland it becomes clear that this thought is false and presumptuous.

I was struck by the ancient political organization of Iceland, not very structured and very democratic, different from that of Europe and Italy where great empires or powerful families reigned for centuries.

Before entering the museum, Rita asked us to answer the following question: "How is it that even today most Icelanders believe in supernatural beings like trolls?" Faced with an extreme nature that can kill him, Man feels the need to ask for help from imaginary beings; moreover, Icelandic citizens have always been allowed religious freedom, so they have not been forced to abandon their traditional beliefs even after the advent of the Christian religion.

At the end of the lesson I ate a lot of fish cooked so well!

# data[].attributes.body
Today it was the first meeting with Rita and the other participants to the Erasmus project. I felt immediately at ease with everybody. Rita introduced us to the course and to some key concepts.

I have learned that heritage is not only what comes from the past, but is something that lives in my present and that will continue after. Heritage involves tangible aspects, such as monuments, buildings and historic places, intangible aspects like music, skills, crafts but also natural elements.

My first impression of Iceland is that this country is permeated by intangible culture. Its astonishing landscape, the force of nature, the unpredictable weather conditions influence the life of its inhabitants and the course of their history.

It was very interesting to visit the Saga museum and discover how the first inhabitants settled in this land and managed to invent new crafts, such as iron making, and new traditions. I reflected on the vicissitudes of the Vikings and their cruel battles, and I thought of how war leads destruction and changes in the lives of the people involved. Finally I have thought that we learn in different ways, but learning by experience is much more exciting and effective because what we get through practice is really capable of changing us.

# data[].attributes.body
‘A picture says a thousand words’ and this one was the highlight of day 1 for me. Why?! Because it shows the universal language of Love! A mother’s unconditional love portrayed at the Saga Museum made me feel ‘saudade’ for my Mother. This feeling only translated in a noun in the Portuguese language shows so much of our tangible and intangible identity: the longing for a loved one, the importance of women, the richness of idioms and literature to immortalize them. This and so much more I experienced today in our ‘hidden’ quest for openness! In Iceland, love warmed me and kept me high-spirited through adversity yesterday and today’s windy day! Identity is shaped and moulded by a country’s weather and here I’ve learned that Icelandic people have lived and live their lives by LOVING and ACCEPTING, hence their fierce identity: they know and are proud of their roots and ancestors, may they be real or unreal. A mother’s love is very REAL as enhanced in this  choice of historical figures to be part of the Saga Museum, which also pays tribute to Nature’s importance in the shaping of one's identity - our natural heritage. Thank you for a loving day surrounded by lovable people. By the way, love in Portuguese is AMOR! 💛

# data[].attributes.body
Albertina
Today, after Rita told us about the term "intangible cultural heritage" and the importance of transmitting this good, we visited the Saga Museum.

Visiting the museum I discovered that only in 870 d.c. there was the first man in Iceland and then I met the most important stages in Icelandic history.

I was amazed by the importance that women have had in the history of Iceland, as the woman who took the sword opened her tunic and leaned the blade against her naked breast and with this gesture put her opponents to flight.

I reflected on some historical aspects such as the plague and heresy that caused many deaths in Italy as in Iceland.

# data[].attributes.body
The first topic of this course was about heritage. Heritage is  very important for every civilization, it links together past ,present and future.  We  inherited traditions  from our ancestors and we’ll pass them to future generations through knowledge and preservation. We learnt that heritage may be tangible, intangible and natural,all important and irreplaceable in the same way.

About heritage was the visit to Saga Museum  about Iceland history.The visit  shows the  key moments in Icelandic early history, moments that have determined the fate of Icelandic people. It was  useful for my understanding  how Icelanders have lived for more than a millennium.
I noticed how strong is the attachment of the Icelandic people to their land and how deep is their roots in their territory. Icelanders know they live in a unique environmental context, for better or for worse, and they are proud of it.  Iceland and the Icelanders are a happy example of how humans can adapt to  adverse
environmental contexts, not only taking sustenance but also prosperity.

# data[].attributes.body
Today has been a day of introduction to the fascinating world of cultural heritage. We have visited the Saga Museum and we have enjoyed it with a fantastic walk through time: the first settlers of this extraordinary island, the adventures of Erik the red, diseases, wars ... But, above all, we have met the fantastic characters and supernatural, which we will study in the coming days.
Also worth noting is the companies from all over Europe that we have known today and with whom we will make this trip full of wisdom transmitted by the Icelandic ancestors.
Finally, we must thank Rita for the clear and precise explanations and advice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Copyright © 2017 Saga Museum. All rights reserved.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the most important things that I learned today was the meaning of knowledge as a part of intangible heritage. I realised that different kind of skills are around us in everyday life. When we see a nice artifact, we can also see a lot of inherited knowledge  behind it. It’s not just the things we see or hear or taste, but it’s also the knowledge of how it was made. For example in the restaurant the chef said that they had used his mother’s recipe to make some of the food.  It was a small piece of Icelandic culture, I think, and I had the greatest opportunity to enjoy it today.

# data[].attributes.body
This morning we visited the Saga Museum. We learnt about the first settlers of Iceland and  about sagas, which are a long story of heroic achievement, especially a medieval prose narrative in Old Norse or Icelandic. It surprised me to see so many strong women represented in the different scenes .
I did not know that women had had a relevant role in the sagas, where  they are portrayed as courageous, free-spirited,  independent women. I found out that Gudrid Thorbjarnadottir, born in Iceland,  had crossed the seas in a Viking ship and explored the Western hemisphere. And this was around  the year 1000!

# data[].attributes.body
I learned a lot about the intangible cultural heritage today. Of course we especially studied it at the Saga museum where we could see a typical example of it: we saw traditional legends that are also contemporary and living; stories that are both inclusive and universal; and they were all represented very nicely and in a true community-based way. In an even more practical  way we however witnessed intangible cultural heritage today in meetings with each others and also the local people. We saw it in the ways we deal with problems, and we saw it in the social situations like in the local spa. In some ways we all have both inclusive and universal  traditions and social practices which make it really worth it to gather together to the course like this. That’s why my favourite picture of the day is the one where we all are happy together.

# data[].attributes.body
Today after the meeting with the participants of the course, which warmed up a cold Icelandic morning in April, we have visited the Saga Museum. We have retraced the history of Iceland and every time we know the history of a country, a thousand emotions assail us.  How much blood has been shed to get to what we are today, how many evolution, how many achievements, how much pride! The history of Iceland is imprinted on the DNA of every inhabitant and together with it, popular beliefs, superstitions, fantasies have been created together with legends. This long journey between real and fantastic is still alive and throbbing

Historia vero testis temporum, lux veritatis,vita memoriae,magistra vitae, nuntia vetustatis.  M.T. CICERONE

# data[].attributes.body
Today was an interesting day. In retracing the historical phases that led to the definition of the immaterial culture of the Icelandic people, I understood an important key to understanding their way of thinking and living (which is different from most of their contemporary Nordic people).

The Icelandic people by culture attach great importance to independence and self-sufficiency.

Icelanders are proud of their Viking and Icelandic heritage and are very careful to preserve their traditions and language.

Most Icelanders believe in elves or are unwilling to exclude their existence.

There are a number of evidences of roads that have been diverted and construction projects modified or abandoned to avoid disturbing the rocks where the elves are believed to live.

This is very interesting and connotative.