'Was Iduna Frisian? Nordic Tendencies in the Reclamation of the Frisian Past'

Simon Halink gave his English-language lecture “Was Iduna Frisian? Nordic Tendencies in the Reclamation of the Frisian Past” at a workshop that was part of the conference Norrøn arv nationale identiteter / Norse heritage and national identities. 

Halink spoke about the emergence of a Frisian national identity in the first half of the nineteenth century and the growing interest in Scandinavian culture, mythology and language debates. Frisian intellectuals such as Harmen Sytstra and Tiede Roelofs Dykstra saw the North as a source of inspiration and renewal for the Frisian language, literature and culture. Together, they founded the Frisian-language magazine Iduna (named after the Old Norse goddess of eternal youth) in 1845, in which they used their controversial, archaic spelling of Frisian and gave Frisian culture distinct northern/Scandinavian accents.

In his research, Halink examines the scope of this Scandinavian influence, but also its connection with similar boreal initiatives in Northern Europe and compares it with the ideology behind similar magazines (also often called Iduna).

About 'Reclaiming the Northern Past'
 

'Reclaiming the Northern Past' is the title of an international research project based at the Reykjavík Academy. It was awarded a three-year project grant from the Icelandic Research Fund in 2024. The subtitle of the project, The Shaping of National and Transnational Identities through Old Norse Literature 1750-1900, provides further insight into the matter under investigation. The plan is to examine the productive reception of Old Norse literature in various cultural fields during the period, with a special focus on the role of the heritage in national discourse. The study will cover the Nordic countries and a few other countries in Northern Europe.

Simon Halink is an affiliated researcher with the project on behalf of the Fryske Akademy. Other researchers involved in “Reclaiming the Northern Past” are affiliated with the University of Iceland, National and University Library of Iceland, Reykjavik Academy, Uppsala University, University of Gothenburg, University of Oslo, University of Strasbourg and University of Stavanger. 

More information: Reclaiming the Northern Past