Event Link: https://www.hcscconline.org/njals-saga-tapestry.html

FEE: Regular admission applies, Free Tuesday Evening from 5 to 8pm

The HCSCC is excited to display a small section of the Njal's Saga Tapestry from Iceland. The exhibition of this remarkable work of the hands will be in the Viking ship gallery of the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, MN, Aug. 6-13, 2025. Njal’s Saga is the most popular and famous of the Viking-era Icelandic sagas and a source of enormous cultural pride in Iceland and among Icelandic Americans.

Inspired by the world-famous Bayeux Tapestry in France, a small community in southern Iceland set out to create its own hand-embroidered illustration of its most famous tale. Begun on Feb. 2, 2013, and completed on Sept. 15, 2020, the 50-centimetre-wide tapestry was hand-embroidered on 100% linen with Icelandic wool yarn used for the stitching. The yarn was dyed with Icelandic herbs by ancient Viking methods. The two stitches used are based on those in the Bayeux Tapestry which are now thought to have originated in Iceland. Due to unprecedented interest and many volunteer embroiderers stopping in to work on it, the tapestry was completed more quickly than originally planned.​

Alongside this display will be a series of events hosted by  Claudia Pétursson , an Icelandic-American with a strong passion for the project. Events include:

 A Presentation on the Project by Claudia Pétursson - August 7 at 6pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free

A Workshop on the Stitches used in the Tapestry directed by Claudia Pétursson - August 9 & 10 from 1 to 3pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free
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A Book Club Discussion of Njal's Saga led by Claudia Pétursson - August 12 at 6pm in the Oak Room of the Hjemkomst Center, Free

Copies of Njal's Saga and embroidery kits will be available for purchase at the Heritage Gift Shop in the Hjemkomst Center. 

 This 5-metre exhibit will also be shared at the following places and dates:
                                    Jul. 31 – Aug 3     Mountain, ND                               The Deuce-ICA of ND
                                    Aug. 4-5              Gimli, Manitoba                             Icelandic Festival of Manitoba
                                    Aug. 14-21           Nome, ND                                      Nome Schoolhouse
                                    Aug. 22-29         Minneapolis, MN                           Norway House              


This event is funded in part by a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation; The Arts Partnership with support from the Cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo; the Alex Stern Family Foundation, the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, the F-M Icelandic Klub, and Maureen Kelly Jonason.