HISTORICALLY SPEAKING ICELAND PATCH PROGRAM
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1. Iceland is a Nordic country in Europe located in the North Atlantic Ocean. Contrary to its name, Iceland is actually very volcanically active. Locate Iceland on a map and its Capital. Identify its flag. The capital city is Reykjavik. Iceland’s flag is red, white and blue.

2. The official language of Iceland is Icelandic, which descended from Old Norse. English is also widely spoken, and Danish is understood with most speakers. Rather than using family names, as is the custom in all mainland European nations, the Icelanders use patronymics or matronymics. The patronymic and matronymic follows the person's given name, e.g. Elísabet Jónsdóttir ("Elísabet, Jón's daughter") or Ólafur Katrínarson ("Ólafur, Katrín's son"). Choose a language to learn how to speak a phrase or some words.

3. Chicken, vegetables, rice, and fish are the most popular cooked foods in the Ivory Coast. Thetypically cook their food spicy with peppery sauce. The national dish is foutou, dough with mashed plantains or yams dipped in a spicy sauce. Try some foods from Ivory Coast or make a recipe from Iceland.

4. Due to the variety of ethnic groups in the Iceland, each area usually has their own festivals and celebrations. There are some holidays and festivals that are celebrated by all residents. Some examples of holidays and festivals include: Festival of Masks, Harmattan Winds Festival, Festival of Abissa, Yam Festival, Eid al-Fitr, Independence Day, and Ramadan. Visit a cultural celebration or re-creation of a holiday event OR learn the background of the celebrated holiday or festival. You may also create a drawing or art project, or prepare a food.

5. In Iceland, folk music and dance is a large part of the traditional culture. Dances were meant to be societal gatherings that many people would attend for a night full of dancing, music and fun. They are also created to tell a story and to include the entire group. Some dances date all the way back to when the Vikings settled on the land. Folk music is often very entertaining and can date as far back as the 14th century. Watch a dance or listen to a traditional folk song OR learn more information about a dance and try your own moves.

6. Legends and mythology in Iceland were brought to Iceland by the Celtic and Norse peoples. In Iceland, The Eddas Sagas is a set of Norse Mythology that is still read and studied today in Iceland. The stories include stories of History, mythology and supernatural beings. Read a story, legend, OR listen to a legend or play.

7. Iceland is rich in Viking history. Vikings were sailors in the beginning of the century. The Vikings sailed along the North Sea, which borders Iceland. Learn more about the Vikings, OR read a Viking legend, OR learn about a famous Viking.

8. Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Iceland runs right along the Icelandic Hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Range, meaning it is volcanically active. Contrary to the name, Iceland is not a big block of Ice. It actually has higher annual temperatures than most landmasses of the same latitude because of its close proximity to the North Atlantic Current. Learn more about the geography of Iceland OR being a volcanically active island OR make your own volcano and make it errupt!

9. Iceland's main traditional handicraft is knitting warm sweaters from high-quality wool. There is a special design for Icelandic sweaters, that being a white body with a geometric pattern at the collar area. Iceland is known all over the world for its high-quality knit-wear. Create a craft or project using a traditional a skill OR representing Iceland, OR observe someone creating a handicraft OR view them on the Internet or books.

10. Traditional Icelandic dress consists of a long skirt and a white shirt worn under a vest or cardigan. All of these items vary in color, embroidery, and material. Knitwear is also very popular in Iceland because of the cold climate. Draw a picture of the clothing, dress up in a Icelandic themed costumes, create an accessory, complete our paper dolls OR view traditional clothing through books or the internet or our country manual.

11. There are a variety of games that played in Iceland by children. Learn a traditional game OR play a game that symbolizes Iceland OR play a game in our manual.

This patch program will help its participants learn more about the history and sites in this country. If you have the privilege of visiting this country, you can complete some of these requirements there. It would be helpful to learn more about the country prior to your visit. Use the library and the internet to research more.