Iceland, known for its dramatic landscapes, hot springs, and northern lights, officially has no designated national animal. However, the Icelandic sheep has a strong claim to represent this Nordic island nation due to its cultural and economic significance.
If you’re short on time, the main takeaway is that while not officially recognized, the Icelandic sheep functions as Iceland’s de facto national animal given its integral role in Icelandic history, culture, and agriculture.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we will explore why the Icelandic sheep can be considered Iceland’s national animal in everything but name. We will overview the history of sheep farming in Iceland, the unique traits and importance of the Icelandic sheep breed, how vital sheep were and remain to Iceland’s economy and way of life, the prevalence of sheep and sheep products in Icelandic culture and cuisine, and why no animal is more fitting to embody this remote North Atlantic island nation.
The History of Sheep Farming in Iceland
Introduction of Sheep by Settlers
Sheep were first introduced to Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries. These sturdynordic short-tailed sheep were perfectly suited to Iceland’s rugged landscape and severe climate. They thrived on the island’s lush summertime grasses and mosses.
Sheep quickly became invaluable to Iceland’s early inhabitants. They provided meat, milk, wool for clothing, and skins for bedding. Sheep farming spread across Iceland and sheep became deeply ingrained in Icelandic culture over the next centuries.
Sheep Farming Through the Ages
Over generations, Icelanders developed effective sheep farming techniques tailored to their environment. They managed communal grazing lands and devised a transhumance system to utilize upland summer pastures and lowland hay meadows.
Icelandic sheep farmers became extraordinarily self-sufficient out of necessity in their remote island locale.
Sheep farming expanded massively in the 19th century during a wool boom, when Icelanders could trade thick, high-quality woolen products to Europe and North America. By the 1890s, around 800,000 sheep grazed Iceland’s countryside.
Sheep numbers peaked in the early 20th century, with around 2 million sheep total on the island, or about 8-10 sheep per person!
Shift to Sustainable Farming Practices
After periods of overgrazing damaged Iceland’s fragile ecosystems, concerted conservation efforts began in the late 20th century. Sustainable sheep farming practices are now utilized to prevent land degradation while maintaining profitability.
Today around 460,000 sheep inhabit Iceland. While numbers have lowered, sheep farming remains a strong tradition. Over 1,100 farms raise sheep across Iceland. They produce premium wool, meat, dairy products and tallow for export abroad. Icelanders still eat jú lamb and skyr regularly too!
Traits and Significance of the Icelandic Sheep
Hardy Nature
The Icelandic sheep is known for its hardy and robust nature, allowing it to thrive in Iceland’s harsh climate and rugged landscape (IcelandMag). It is a landrace breed that has adapted over centuries to survive long, bitterly cold winters with deep snow and harsh winds.
Their double coat of fleece keeps them warm and protected. They are excellent foragers and can dig through snow to uncover vegetation. Their small size and agility allows them to traverse rocky and uneven terrain. Truly, the Icelandic sheep is a testament to natural selection in extreme environments.
High Quality Meat and Wool
While hardy, the Icelandic sheep provides top-notch meat and wool. The meat is considered a delicacy, valued for its fine texture and flavor. The breeds’ free-ranging lifestyle contributes to excellent muscle tone and marbling.
Lamb meat from Icelandic sheep has even obtained the European Union’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification, attesting to its premium quality and traditional production methods. Moreover, their dual-coated fleece is highly sought after by knitters and weavers, prized for its lightweight yet warm properties.
It comes in a variety of natural colors like white, gray, brown, and black. Products made from Icelandic wool command high prices around the world.
Integral Role in Icelandic Agriculture
Given their suitability for Iceland’s environment, Icelandic sheep play an integral role in the nation’s agricultural economy. Records show that they arrived with Viking settlers over 1100 years ago. Today, Iceland has over 500,000 sheep who roam lush summer pastures and graze in winter valleys.
About 10% of Iceland’s exports come from sheep farming and related products, valued at over $100 million annually (AtlasObscura). Many farmers even offer culinary experiences to tourists, providing a taste of traditional Icelandic lamb or skyr – a yogurt made from sheep’s milk.
As Iceland’s landscape nurtured this breed, so too has this breed shaped Iceland’s landscape, culture, and economy. The Icelandic sheep stands as a symbol of resilience and self-sufficiency for this Nordic island nation.
Importance of Sheep to Iceland’s Economy and Way of Life
Major Export Commodity
Sheep have been a vital part of Iceland’s economy for centuries. Wool production became a major export commodity as early as the 12th century. To this day, the wool industry remains important to Iceland’s economy, with wool products accounting for around 1% of the country’s total exports.
There are around 800,000 sheep in Iceland, outnumbering the human population of just 360,000 people. With such a high sheep to human ratio, it’s no wonder that sheep farming and wool production play such a central role in the livelihoods of many Icelanders.
Vital Food Source
In addition to wool, sheep have long provided Icelanders with essential nutrition. Sheep meat and dairy products like skyr, a thick yogurt-like cheese, have been dietary staples since the age of the Vikings. Historically, sheep were vital for surviving long winters when other resources were scarce.
Today, lamb and mutton remain popular centerpieces of Icelandic cuisine. On average, Icelanders consume around 20 pounds of lamb per person each year! The abundant sheep population ensures food security and allows Iceland to be self-sufficient in lamb and mutton production.
Influence on Settlement Patterns and Rural Life
The need for expansive grazing lands has greatly influenced where Icelanders have settled over the centuries. Sheep herding led to the establishment of farms across the rugged terrain. To this day, sheep grazing continues to shape the rural landscape and lifestyle.
Many Icelanders still live on family-owned farms passed down through generations. Caring for sheep flocks is often a community and family affair, with tasks like roundups and shearing bringing people together. The sheep have connected Icelanders to the land and to cherished cultural traditions.
So while wool and meat production are economically essential, sheep also hold deep social and cultural meaning for Icelanders.
Sheep in Icelandic Culture and Cuisine
Prevalence in Folklore and Literature
Sheep have had a central role in Icelandic folk tales and literature for centuries. References to sheep herding and iconic dishes like smoked lamb can be traced back to the Sagas – epic tales written by Icelanders in the 13th-14th centuries.
Folk stories tell of shapeshifting seals who shed their skins to come ashore as beautiful maidens trying to lure shepherds. There are also mischievous tales of hidden people living inside hills who try to lure sheep that have wandered from their flock.
Sheep have captured the Icelandic imagination for generations.
Iconic Dishes Showcasing Sheep Products
From creamy skyr to succulent lamb, sheep products are integral to Icelandic cuisine. Some iconic dishes include:
- Skýr – A rich, yogurt-like cultured dairy product made from sheep’s milk. It has been produced in Iceland for over a thousand years.
- Hangikjöt – Smoked lamb, traditionally served at the midwinter feast of Þorrablót. The meat is cured with salt and smoked for hours over fragrant wood chips like birch.
- Slátur – Sausage made from pressed sheep meat cut with grains and sheep blood. This is also commonly eaten during the ancient Þorrablót festival.
These traditional foods showcase the exceptional quality of Icelandic sheep products, especially lamb and sheep’s skyr which is considered superior to cow’s skyr.
Annual Sheep Roundups
Every September, farmers all around Iceland herd their flocks from highland summer pastures down to winter lodgings through an event called réttir. These annual sheep roundups date back over 1,000 years and have become iconic cultural festivals.
The largest roundup is the Réttir at Skagaförður in northern Iceland, where around 15,000 sheep descend from mountain pastures towards the corrals in a single epic drive. Locals dress in traditional garb and ride on horseback alongside special sheepdogs trained just for this purpose.
Once the sheep reach the corrals, they are herded into pens and lambs are separated from their mothers for ear marking or separation. Then there is traditional country festivities, singing, dancing, and sheep themed menus in celebration of this deeply traditional event.
These epic roundups that have continued every year for over ten centuries truly showcase the special connection Icelanders have with their hardy and capable sheep.
Why the Icelandic Sheep is Iceland’s National Animal
The Icelandic sheep, or Íslenska sauðkindin as it’s known locally, has been an integral part of Icelandic culture and livelihood for over 1,000 years. Brought to Iceland by the first Viking settlers, these unique North European short-tailed sheep quickly adapted to the harsh subarctic climate.
Over the centuries, Icelandic sheep farmers selectively bred sheep to thrive in Iceland’s rugged landscape. Today, Icelandic sheep are considered a national treasure, prized for their meat, milk, wool and hides.
There are several key reasons why this hardy ovine breed earned its status as Iceland’s national animal:
Vital to Iceland’s Economy and Livelihood
After their introduction to Iceland, sheep quickly became vital to survival and prosperity. wool, meat, hides and milk provided essential food, clothing and shelter. This reliance on sheep helped Iceland develop a strong tradition of sheep farming and wool production spanning generations.
Even today, the Icelandic sheep industry remains crucial to Iceland’s economy. Over 1 million sheep graze Iceland’s countryside during summer months. Sheep farming and affiliated industries account for around 3% of Iceland’s total GDP and 7% of overall employment.
Icelandic wool products like lopapeysa sweaters are also popular exports. Clearly, sheep are still pivotal to Iceland’s economic livelihood.
A Symbol of Iceland’s Agricultural History and Expertise
The Icelandic sheep breed exemplifies Iceland’s deep agricultural roots and expertise with livestock. Through centuries of experience, Icelandic farmers became extraordinarily knowledgeable in sheep husbandry.
Their mastery manifests in the Icelandic sheep – healthy, fertile and perfectly adapted to Iceland’s environment.
The Icelandic Sheep Breeders Association also maintains meticulous pedigree records tracing many sheep lineages back over 50 generations. Such records showcase Iceland’s leadership and dedication to sheep breeding.
In essence, the Icelandic sheep encapsulates Iceland’s agricultural history and expertise.
Possessing Unique Qualities and International Fame
Icelandic sheep possess many exceptional qualities that brought international acclaim. Most sheep breeds only produce quality wool or meat – but Icelandic sheep excel at both. Their double-coated fleece is exceptionally soft yet durable, while their meat is considered a delicate gourmet food.
Icelanders also take great pride in their sheep’s beauty and varied colors like moorit (reddish brown), white and spotted grey.
But what truly sets Icelandic sheep apart is their genetic purity and diversity. Centuries of isolation allowed Icelanders to independently develop the breed without crossbreeding. Experts consider Icelandic sheep one of the last remaining landraces (livestock breeds native to a specific area).
Maintaining their genetic heritage remains incredibly important.
The qualities, genetics and global fame surrounding Icelandic sheep make them an obvious representative animal. They epitomize Iceland’s singular agricultural legacy.
A Mainstay of Icelandic Culture and Folklore
Beyond economic importance, Icelandic sheep hold deep cultural meaning in Iceland. They frequently appear in literature like Njal’s Saga and poetry as symbols of rural life. Folk tales featuring mischievous sheep or shepherds also abound.
And motifs inspired by the distinctive Icelandic sheep can be seen in handicrafts, jewelry and artworks.
During the annual autumn sheep roundup, thousands of sheep walk along roadways to return from highland summer pastures. Locals and tourists alike enjoy this iconic sight and rural tradition connected to sheep.
Simply put, Icelandic sheep have become interwoven into the nation’s cultural fabric and identity.
Conclusion
While Iceland has no officially designated national animal, the Icelandic sheep has a strong symbolic claim to the title. As outlined in this article, sheep have played an integral role in Iceland’s history, economy, cuisine, culture and agriculture for over a millennium.
The Icelandic sheep epitomizes the hardy yet sustainable nature of farming in Iceland’s extreme northern climate. With its ubiquitous presence in all aspects of Icelandic life, the Icelandic sheep functions as Iceland’s de facto national animal and most fitting representative.
