#rettir

The sheep, the woolly sweaters, the hot springs, what is not to like about Iceland? This short article explains the history of the annual sheep roundup and how Icelanders used everything that sheep offered them, even the dung. Some of the Icelandic is unspun which means you can accidentally tear it but you can also bind it back together with your fingers. Many people knit with it, but I am a bit nervous as a newer knitter of the unspun yarns.

hanging with a few sheep.

After the sheep have been divided up during Réttir, everyone gathers in the center, gets sloshed, and sings. Surprisingly, men seemed to sing more.

This is Réttir. An ancient Icelandic tradition when the sheep are rounded up for winter and everyone gets wasted and sings.

I got the opportunity to go to Réttir, the annual sheep roundup in Iceland. This is when the sheep that have been roaming freely all over Iceland are rounded up by farmers and friends into a giant pin where they are then divided up and given to their owners. Apparently grabbing their horns and walking them like this is the best way to do this... 

Laufskálarétt í Hjaltadal. 

Schafe.