nPostednon June 21, 2014
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nGreenlandnis part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but it is its own “autonomous”ncountry. That means it mostly rules itself, separate from anyninfluence by Denmark’s government.
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nAndnit also means that it has its own flag and its own National Dayn(today!).
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nGreenlandnis the world’s largest island, and it has the world’s largestnnational park.
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nGreenlandnis the world’s least densely populated country. This map of Greenland gives you a pretty good idea why:
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| Yes, Greenland is mostly covered by a thick ice sheet. All the towns are on the coastal areas. |
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nGreenland isnicier than Iceland, and Iceland is greener than Greenland – gonfigure!
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Accordingnto Icelandic sagas, the Norwegian-born Erik the Red, who had earliernbeen exiled from Norway for killing someone, was ALSO exiled fromnIceland, again for “some killings.” He and his family and manynrelatives and all of his thralls (his servants, or serfs) wentnsailing to find new lands to settle. They explored icy Greenlandnuntil they found a habitable area. When they settled there, theynnamed it Greenland, apparently to make the land sound enticingnto other people, in the hopes that they too would come and settlenthere.
Accordingnto Icelandic sagas, the Norwegian-born Erik the Red, who had earliernbeen exiled from Norway for killing someone, was ALSO exiled fromnIceland, again for “some killings.” He and his family and manynrelatives and all of his thralls (his servants, or serfs) wentnsailing to find new lands to settle. They explored icy Greenlandnuntil they found a habitable area. When they settled there, theynnamed it Greenland, apparently to make the land sound enticingnto other people, in the hopes that they too would come and settlenthere.n
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| Uummannaq, Greenland |
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nTodaynGreenlanders will be singing songs, giving speeches, hoisting theirnflags, marching in processions, and enjoying Greenlandic dancing andnmusic and other entertainment. People open their homes for kaffemiks,nget-togethers during which coffee is served. There’s also soccer (which most of the world calls football) and food and fireworks. Some people show offntheir kayaking skills; many people show off their national costumes;nand visitors take advantage of the loooooooooooonng day to snap somenphotos of said kayaks and costumes.
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nActually, the whole long-day thing is exactly why today was chosen to be Greenland’s National Day. It’s the solstice, the longest day of the year. And for Greenlanders – that’s a pretty long day! Today in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital and largest city, the sun will rise at 2:54 in the morning, and it will set shortly after midnight (yes, it is the land of the midnight sun!). A little farther north, in the town of Ilulissat, the sun has been up for all of June and much of May as well! It will not set until the early morning of July 25!n
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nTon learn more about Greenland, check out Kidz World.n I like how the author begins the bit on Greenland’s history:
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n“Nothingnmuch happened, still nothing happened. A couple of guys arrived butnleft right away. Nothing else happened for hundreds of years.”
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| Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland |
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nHeren is a taste of life in a village in Greenland.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nSolstice
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nWorldnHandshake Day
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nNationalnAboriginal Day in Canada
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in June
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJulyn holidays
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nJulyn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in July
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