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Öskudagur in Iceland, in English known as Ash day, is a special day when children dress up in costume, go from shop to shop singing for candy and have fun.
The tradition goes back to ash being used to purify souls in churches before the long fast, usually rubbed on the forehead or strewn about with birch wand. But as early as the 1700´s the tradition of hanging small bags of ash on people for their protection was practiced. The bags were made of different fabrics and ash put in them. Through the years it has changed a bit and in the last century the main object was to be able to pin an ash bag on someone without them noticing. In the earlier part of the century, they were even used to profess love to someone.
Although less practiced now, most all towns in Iceland used to have children´s games and festivities in the town square, te most popular festivity being "slá köttinn úr tunninni" or directy translated "to break the cat out of the barrel". Do not worry, there is no reason to believe there was ever a real cat involved. The barrels have always been filled with candy and the children each take a swing to release the goodness within. Later still, the tradition of going to shops and businesses and singing for candy got added, and we will most certainly be giving out treats for any prospective singers, be it children or our guests.
We are hosting an Ash Wednesday at Fosshotel Baron with Inspired by Iceland. Click here for more informatio http://invitations.inspiredbyiceland.com/invitation/176001?ref
