The culture of the Faroe Islands.
The Faroe Islands are not famous for their majestic architecture. There is a little sun, vegetation is scarce, and over the islands and sea, there is a thick fog. There live 47 thousand people. Over the centuries, without resorting to bloody wars, they defended the right to autonomous existence. They fought for the development of their own culture, along with the cultures of historically close countries of the Scandinavian region. In recent decades, the archipelago has coexisted a tendency to strive for isolation in the development of national culture.
The culture of the Faroe Islands is very interesting and unusual.
On these Islands, there is a custom that makes this region a territory inhabited by soulless barbarians. This custom is hunting for the grind (black whales of small breeds). For them, this is a whole ritual of dedicating boys to men. Tribute to the tradition of ancestors and the practical benefits – extracted whale meat for food. Pictures on the Internet with a sea of blood horrify the whole world. Perhaps in the future, the Faroers will stop coping with this custom.
The traditional dish of the Culture of the Faroe Islands is the strips of meat withered on the salt sea wind. The most famous are “Rastkoyot”,”yog-spik”, “Ryuiskiyot” and “skerpikyot”. A characteristic feature of the Faroese cuisine is the low consumption of salt and fresh vegetables.
The next thing is the folk festivals, the largest of which takes place on July 29. In honor of St. Olaf. Olaf II Haraldson is a Norwegian king who completed the establishment of Christianity in Norway. After his death, he was proclaimed a saint. People come to Torshavn, where the main events take place. They participate in competitions in rowing, horse racing, folk music, theatrical performances and etc. Men are usually dressed in red waistcoats with black camisoles and in pants. Women are dressed in knitted sweaters with lacing on the chest and long burgundy skirts.
The culture of the Faroe Islands has a lot of interesting festivals.
The most important sight of the festival is the Faroese round dance, the oldest dance in Europe. It is performed without music, to the accompaniment of the long, monotonous ballads of the Viking times. The dance has pagan roots. Only the Faroers managed to convey it to us through the centuries of the Inquisition. Modern music can be heard at another summer festival, which is also very fond of the Faroe Islands. In addition to cultural festivals, Christian festivals are very fond of the theater.
Opera and ballet performances, concerts can be seen in the “House of the North” in Torshavn. For tourists, there are held cultural events “Faroese evenings”. For example, the Faroese dance and dinner with fish dishes.
Since the Viking times, to the culture of the Faroe Islands came another tradition – to sow the roofs of houses with grass. The main thing is that it is of practical use: the turf on the roof is an excellent thermal insulation material. If you suddenly decide to visit the island, do not be surprised at the stealthy gaze on your nails. Spots on them can tell a curious Islander about your fate all. Such are their customs.
Religion plays an important role in the culture of the Faroe Islands. More than 80% of the population of the Faroe Islands refer themselves to the Faeroese People’s Church. The rest profess other branches of Christianity. Almost every village has its own church. The churches also serve as cultural centers for the settlement, and as a venue for various social events. They are usually open all day, and anyone can visit them.