Until the early 20th century, Icelanders were forced to survive in extreme weather conditions. Nowadays, they stand out for their special endurance: they work two jobs, live in peat houses and at the same time feel happy, maintaining a positive attitude in any situation.
Strong women
For the first time, a woman took the presidency in this country. Women in Iceland are proactive and know how to defend their rights. For a long time, Icelanders were hardened by difficult living conditions: while their husbands were in the Atlantic, the wives were responsible for the children, life and household.
Instead of a surname, they carry a patronymic
Only residents of foreign origin carry real surnames in Iceland. 90% of Icelanders receive a patronym as a surname: the suffix - son or - dottir is added to the name of the child's father.
Open wide doors
Only 300,000 people live in Iceland, and 120,000 in the capital. The country is very small, many people know each other and therefore do not see the need to fence themselves off from neighbors by fences and hide behind closed doors. Here they calmly leave the car keys in the ignition, and the strollers - at the entrance to the store.
Creative and hard-working
Icelanders are not indifferent to creativity, many are involved in music or painting. But such hobbies do not bring much profit, so citizens are forced to work in a regular but well-paid job in order to live in prosperity (prices and taxes in the country are quite high). However, this is a fairly standard situation.
Believe in fabulous creatures
Many Icelandic people still believe in trolls and elves and build houses for them on their lots. They often resort to the services of local witches, sometimes they perform magical rites to appease the spirits.
Harsh cuisine
Do you know what hakarl is ? It's rotten Greenland shark meat. Fresh, it is poisonous due to the high content of urea, so it is kept for six months in barrels of gravel and then dried in the sun. No less popular in Iceland is the Black Death: a high-grade alcoholic drink made from potato spirit and caraway seeds.
