The Swedish Vasa community hosted a Swedish Lucia celebration on Saturday, December 8, at 4 p.m. at Church of the Saviour in Cleveland Heights. The program began with a winter concert of the Vasa Voices, directed by Judith Higbee, singing traditional winter and folk songs in Swedish. Following the vocal concert, the Lucia procession took place.

Lucia procession 2018

More photos from the Swedish Santa Lucia Celebration

Leif Erikson Day 2018

The Scandinavian community of Cleveland, including those from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland gathered at the bust of Leif Erikson in front of Shooters in Cleveland's Flats to celebrate Leif Erikson Day.

Posing for photos with the Leif Erikson bust

Leif Erikson was a Norse explorer regarded as the first European to land in North America (excluding Greenland), nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

Catherine Jorgensen McCutcheon

See photos and a video of the 2018 Leif Erikson Day in Cleveland

Icelandair Airline Launch in Cleveland

On April 25, 2018 the International Business Network meeting centered on the Icelandair announcement of flights to and from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The new Icelandair flight service from Cleveland to Europe will begin in May and includes a variety of options for stopovers in Iceland.

Icelandair and IBN leaders

Photos and videos of the Icelandair event

Organizations and Resources for Icelanders in Cleveland

Submit your Cleveland Icelandic organizations and resources.

Business, Education and Employment Information

Submit your Cleveland Icelandic jobs, classes and other opportunities.

Cleveland Icelandic Feedback and Memories

Iceland History and Culture

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark.

Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US.

Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards..

(From the CIA World Factbook)

Tell us about the music, food, holidays, traditions, costumes, language and other qualities that makes people from Iceland so special.

Submit your Cleveland Icelandic cultural items.

Profiles of Icelanders in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio

If you know of a Cleveland Icelandic who should be profiled,
please let us know.

ClevelandPeople.Com - Icelandic Ambassadors

Read more about the Icelandic and other Ambassadors. If you are interested in being considered to be an official ClevelandPeople.com Ambassador to the Cleveland Icelandic community, please contact us.

For sponsorship opportunities please contact us at info@clevelandpeople.com

Top of Page

Please support the Icelandic pages of ClevelandPeople.Com

Stay informed about
the news and special events
of the Group(s)
you choose by
signing up
for the free
ClevelandPeople.Com
e-newsletter

Follow ClevelandPeople
on Twitter

or Cleveland People on Facebook

Like the work
of ClevelandPeople.Com?
Contribute to the cause
via Paypal

Visit our
On-line Store
featuring Books, DVDs,
Music, Flags,
Clothes, Food
and more from our
various ethnic groups.

Browse over 6,500
ClevelandPeople
YouTube videos

Murder in the Cultural Gardens
Whodunit Mystery
by Dan Hanson
set in the
Cleveland Cultural Gardens