The Ceremony

The wedding ceremony will be conducted principally in English, with traditional Icelandic songs performed by our friend Guðbjörg Bjarnar Guðjónsdóttir and Jóhanna’s brother Hörður Már Bjarnasson. You’ll find translations of the songs below, but first …

A brief history of Hrunakirkja

Hrunakirkja is somewhat (in)famous in Iceland. Today’s church was built in 1865 after the original met an untimely end. Legend has it that the old church - then located on top of the hill behind the current building - disappeared after the vicar held too many raucous parties featuring dancing, card playing and other nefarious acts. Stories tell that the devil himself eventually showed up and pulled the church, the vicar and all of his dancing guests into the earth. God-fearing locals rushed to help after they heard the cries of the congregation. But the church - and everyone in it - was gone.

This painting of ‘The Dance in Hruna’ is on display in Flúðir’s community hall.

And now for those song lyrics. These translations are admittedly fairly free - but we think they capture the spirit of these lovely songs:

Lag 1: Sólskinnsnætur

Song 1: The Nights of Sun 

Enn syngur vornóttin vögguljóð sín,

            The spring night sings its lullaby,

veröldin ilmar, glitrar og skín.

            A fragrant world of glint and shine.

Kvöldsett er löngu í kyrrum skóg.

            Night slips through the forest quiet,

Öldurnar sungu sig sjálfar í dá,

            Sung to sleep by whispering waves.

síðustu ómarnir ströndinni frá

            The sound ebbs from the shore,

hurfu í rökkurró.

            And fades into the dusk.

Manstu það, ástin mín, hve andvakan var

            Do you remember how we loved

yndisleg forðum? Hamingjan bar

            Those nights of sleeplessness?

ljóð okkar vorlangt á vængjum sér.

            Our song was borne by wings of joy,

Brosmilt og þaggandi lágnættið leið.

            As tranquil silence midnight passed.

Ljósið sem dagsins tindunum beið,

            Then light crept over mountains,

fann þig í fangi mér.

            To find you in my arms.

Ennþá á vogunum vornóttin skín,

            The spring night bathes the bay with light,

Vakir og syngur ástarljóð sín.

            Awoken now its verse of love.

Blómgaður lundurinn bíður þín!

A flowered grove is where you lie,

Þangað ég hverf til að hvísla að þér:

‘Till I join you there and whisper:

Héðan af áttu ekki úr fanginu á mér

            In each other’s arms,

Afturkvæmt, ástin mín.

            We rest forever.

Lag 2: Draumalandið

         Song 2: The Dreamland 

Ó leyf mér þig að leiða

            Oh let me lead you yonder

til landsins fjalla heiða

            To the moors and mountain heights

Með sælu sumrin löng

            Where endless summer reigns

Með sælu sumrin löng

            Where endless summer reigns

Þar angar blómabreiða

            The scent of meadow flowers

Við blíðan fuglasöng.

Fills air with birdsong sweet

Þar angar blómabreiða

            The scent of meadow flowers

Þar angar blómabreiða

            The scent of meadow flowers

Við blíðan fuglasöng.

Fills air with birdsong sweet

Þar aðeins yndi fann ég.

            Only here could I be happy

Þar aðeins við mig kann ég

            Only here do I belong

Þar batt mig tryggðarband

            A sacred bond now binds me

Þar batt mig tryggðarband

            A sacred bond now binds me

Því þar er allt sem ann ég

            For here is all I love

Þar er mitt draumaland

This is my dreamland

Því þar er allt sem ann ég

            For here is all I love

Því þar er allt sem ann ég

            For here is all I love

Þar er mitt draumaland

            This is my dreamland