Christmas in Iceland
December 12th to January 6th
Throughout the country
Christmas traditions in Iceland is worth the experience. The Icelandic Christmas culture is loaded with native old Icelandic traditions. In Iceland there are 13 Icelandic Santa Clauses (jólasveinn) and each has its own name, character and role. Their parents are Grýla, a mean old woman who drags off naughty children, and Leppalúði, who is not as mean.
Thorlaksmessa (the mass day of St Thorlakur) is celebrated on 23 December. Shops are open until 23:30 and then close for three days during Christmas. Many attend midnight mass.
The Christmas season lasts 26 days.
New Years Eve in Iceland
Throughout the country
At New Years Eve the country glows with magical lights and the atmosphere is spectacular. Being in Iceland during this time of the year is something you will remember for the rest of your life.
At midnight the sky lights up with fireworks, everybody is celebrating and bonfire parties in many communities. And it is also a chance to see the Northern lights dance in the sky.
Twelve Days of Christmas - Þrettándinn
January 6th
Throughout the country
The Christmas holiday season ends on January 6, with a special celebration of the Twelfth Night.
This is when elves and trolls come out and celebrate with the Icelanders, dancing and singing.
On this day, the festivities of New Year's Eve (bonfires and firework show) are repeated in smaller extend all over Iceland.
Þorrablót
January 19th to February 18th
Throughout the country
Þorrablót (pronounced Thorrablot) is an ancient Viking midwinter tradition of feasting on traditional foods like shark, dried fish and sheep.
Around the country, the icelandic people celebrate these old traditions, eating, drinking and singing, not much unlike what the vikings did back in the day
Live like a Viking just once a year.
Valentines day in Iceland
February 14th
Valentines Day is a day to express your love, and to celebrate the spirit of love.
Surprise your partner with in a unusual way and take a trip to a romantic getaway in Iceland.
Special Chocolates and strawberries in Icelandic hotels
Happy Valentine's day in Iceland!
Lent
February 19th to February 21st
Throughout the country
Enjoy delicious cream and jelly buns on Monday which the Icelandic people refer to as Bolludagur (buns day), saltet meat and peas on Tuesday we call Sprengidagur (bursting day - an old custom where people used to have great meat feast before the long friday fasting).
Like the name suggests, overeating is not uncommon! On Wednesday, children dress up in costumes and walk store to store, earning candy by singing.
Food and Fun
February 21st to February 25th
Reykjavík
The name really says it all... Food and Fun is an event which combines outstanding culinary skills, fresh natural ingredients, Icelandic outdoor adventure and the world-famous Reykjavik nightlife to create the ultimate recipe for fun.
Check out the website at: http://www.foodandfun.is/
Festival of the light
February
Reykjavik
Winter light festival is held each February in Reykjavik. The aim of this exotic festival is to cast a light on the city at the end of the long and dark winter months.
The festival is celebrated all over the city with various activities, like concerts, sport activities reading of the ghost stories, masses parad es and fireworks.
Many of Reykjavik's art establishments, clubs, galleries and associations join in the fun with events, performances, exhibitions and parties taking place in various venues throughout the city.
Festival of lights is a joint project of Reykjavik Energy, National Power Company, University of Iceland, National Museum of Iceland and Reykjaviks Kindergartens and Elementary Schools.
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