Anna Sólrún’s Confirmation & Party

2017-04-23Finnur's family, Friends, Hrefna's family, Us Standard

[Photos taken on 23 April 2017, posted online 30 July 2017. Since the last post we’ve spent 10 days in France, and a week at a summer house!]

Anna’s civil confirmation day was a beautiful one.

The civil confirmation, held by Siðmennt, the secular ethical humanist organization of Iceland, is a version of the religious confirmation/Bar & Bat Mitzvah/Rite of passage concept, and consist of a 12 week course where various topics are covered, while encouraging critical and philosophical thinking.

At the end of the course there is a ceremony where some of the kids perform, a speaker holds forth, and the kids get certificates for completing the course.

Afterwards there is traditionally a celebratory party! (A large majority of kids in Iceland still get religiously confirmed, but the secular group keeps growing every year.) For the kids, it’s all about the gifts, but for the parents it’s a chance to show off their awesome kids, surrounded by friends and family.

Here are 66 photos from the day. Click here to see ALL the 124 photos!

The proud parents outside Salurinn, the auditorium where the ceremony was held. It was the third and last such civil ceremony of the day.

The ceremony began with the kids marching onto the stage while a trumpet played, and then going to their seats.

A father-son duo performed a song, and I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if this young man becomes a bit of a celeb later on in his life.

The speaker that day was Ævar Þór, also known as Ævar the Scientist, although he’s actually an actor/author. He was a fun speaker, and implored everybody to stop looking at their phones in the cinema/movie theater!

Then it was time to hand out the certificates, and here is Anna receiving hers.

Anna’s confirmation ceremony group.

Anna with her friend, Jóhanna, after the ceremony.

Looking over the cultural houses of Kópavogur, right before ducking into the car, and doing what needed to be done for the upcoming party.

The party was held in a large room in my grandmother’s house.

Anna with her great-grandmother, Hrefna.

The dessert table. We added a few photobooks of Anna for decoration, and for people to peruse through.

The cake, chosen by Anna, was from Kuðerí Kaffitárs.

Anna decided early on that she wanted blue decorations. Granny Hrefna provided the vase.

Because of the odd shape of the room, we opted to hang photos of Anna on the walls, instead of projecting images on a screen. Anna arranged and hung the images herself!

The back-section of seats.

The front section of seats.

We found a runner that was the same color as Anna’s dress, and a friend of mine lent me little colored pellets to put on top.

Another view of the dessert table. Mental note: Order a decorated candle sooner than the Friday morning before… We had to pay extra for the “rush”.

Guestbook, and a bowl to leave good advice for Anna.

And then, the guests started arriving by the car-loads!

The kids didn’t waste much time in commandeering the play room, and the toys we brought seemed to go over well.

Gunnhildur and Helena arrive.

Some good friends from our California years: Snorri, Guðrún, a newly confirmed Baldur, Soffía and Ágúst.

My uncle Arnar, his wife Magnea, my aunt Hulda’s spouse Ágúst, and my grandma Hrefna.

Our friends Adda, Kristín Berg, Lea Hrönn, Kristófer, Halli and Hildur Sif.

Finnur’s family: Ýmir and Margrét holding Hallgerður, Ragnheiður, Andri, Einar with Aðalsteinn, Steinunn, and Óli hiding in the seat. There were more of them, but they mostly successfully hid from my camera!

My brothers Nökkvi and Pétur, with Ylfa and Fannar.

Óli with two of his girls.

Our friends Agnes and Ragnar, with Eyþór and Dagrún.

Meanwhile, the kiddo room was busy!

My dad, Shirley and Anthony arriving.

Sisters! At this point, Anna had swapped dresses, because the blue dress was much to warm!

Our trusty assistant setting up the food. We highly recommend her!

It was a busy room!

Vignir with his granddaughter, and Anna.

With all the guests in attendance, it was time to give a speech or two…

Finnur and Anna had worked on what she would say, as he thought “thank you for coming, please go have some food now” was insufficient as a Rite of Passage. Anna did very well.