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Nina (1991) 

What's in a Name? - or how Iceland exists in every Ukrainian 

EUROVISION COUNTRY: Iceland
KYIV DESTINATION: Cemeteries 

Iceland and Kyiv were established in the same decade by the same group of Viking traders.
Although they are thousands of miles apart they share something more than blood to this day.

Only Icelanders and the eastern Slavs retain the system of patronymics.
That is - in both societies people have a first name, followed by the name of their father.
For example, in 1999 Iceland's Eurovision entry was sung by Selma Björnsdóttir - or Selma, daughter of Björn.
Take the grave of the 1930s Ukrainian actress above.


She has three names:
Christian name:  Ekaterina
Father's name:    Alexandrovna (Alexander)
Surname:            Gursikina
Do you know of any other links with Iceland?
Icelandic consulate:     Yakir St, 8 Kyiv.
Tel:                                  +380 44 568 5963/ 2
email:                             iceland_consulate@yahoo. com
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