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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_the_Faroe_Islands
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/teens-slaughter-dolphins-in-denmark-as-rite-of-passage
YouTube - Horrible Culture . Feroe Island in Denmark
Cultural importance
The pilot whale hunt is an integral part of Faroese social culture. Faroese men often say that grindadráp makes them feel Faroese. Women do not actively take part in grindadráp, but are bystanders or onlookers. This is part of the traditional division of labour concerning grindadráp that is centuries old, and has not changed over time.
In Faroese literature and art, grindadráp is an important motif. The grindadráp paintings by Sámal Joensen-Mikines rank internationally as some of his most important. They are part of a permanent exhibition in the Faroese art museum in the capital Tórshavn. The Danish governor of the Faroe Islands Christian Pløyen wrote the famous Pilot Whaling song, a Faroese ballad written in Danish entitled "A New Song about the Pilot Whale Hunt on the Faroes". It was written during his term of office (1830–1847) and was printed in Copenhagen in 1835.
The Danish chorus line is: Raske drenge, grind at dræbe det er vor lyst
In English: Strong young lads, to kill the grind that's our joy
These old verses are rarely sung by the Faroese today. To many in the outside world (including Denmark) they are seen as a backward cliché about the culture of the islands.
The pilot whale as a source of food
Most part of traditional Faroese food consists of meat. Because of the harsh Faroese climate, grain and vegetables have not been able to grow very well.[citation needed] During the winter months the Faroe Islanders´ only option was to mostly eat salted or dried food (this includes meat, pilot whale meat, seabirds and fish). This means that over the centuries, the pilot whale has been an important source of food and vitamins to the isolated population on the North Atlantic archipelago.
The pilot whale meat and blubber is stored, prepared and eaten in the Faroese households. This also means that whale meat is not available at supermarkets. Although the Faroe Island's main export is fish, this does not include pilot whale meat or blubber. An annual catch of 956 pilot whales[12] (1990–1999) is roughly equivalent to 500 tonnes of meat and blubber, some 30% of all meat produced locally in the Faroe Islands.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/teens-slaughter-dolphins-in-denmark-as-rite-of-passage
YouTube - Horrible Culture . Feroe Island in Denmark
Cultural importance
The pilot whale hunt is an integral part of Faroese social culture. Faroese men often say that grindadráp makes them feel Faroese. Women do not actively take part in grindadráp, but are bystanders or onlookers. This is part of the traditional division of labour concerning grindadráp that is centuries old, and has not changed over time.
In Faroese literature and art, grindadráp is an important motif. The grindadráp paintings by Sámal Joensen-Mikines rank internationally as some of his most important. They are part of a permanent exhibition in the Faroese art museum in the capital Tórshavn. The Danish governor of the Faroe Islands Christian Pløyen wrote the famous Pilot Whaling song, a Faroese ballad written in Danish entitled "A New Song about the Pilot Whale Hunt on the Faroes". It was written during his term of office (1830–1847) and was printed in Copenhagen in 1835.
The Danish chorus line is: Raske drenge, grind at dræbe det er vor lyst
In English: Strong young lads, to kill the grind that's our joy
These old verses are rarely sung by the Faroese today. To many in the outside world (including Denmark) they are seen as a backward cliché about the culture of the islands.
The pilot whale as a source of food
Most part of traditional Faroese food consists of meat. Because of the harsh Faroese climate, grain and vegetables have not been able to grow very well.[citation needed] During the winter months the Faroe Islanders´ only option was to mostly eat salted or dried food (this includes meat, pilot whale meat, seabirds and fish). This means that over the centuries, the pilot whale has been an important source of food and vitamins to the isolated population on the North Atlantic archipelago.
The pilot whale meat and blubber is stored, prepared and eaten in the Faroese households. This also means that whale meat is not available at supermarkets. Although the Faroe Island's main export is fish, this does not include pilot whale meat or blubber. An annual catch of 956 pilot whales[12] (1990–1999) is roughly equivalent to 500 tonnes of meat and blubber, some 30% of all meat produced locally in the Faroe Islands.
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