Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.12.2009, Blaðsíða 24

aðfangaDagur
(Ath-founga-dager)
December 24th, Aðfangadagur, is the day
Icelanders celebrate Christmas (as opposed to
December 25th in most countries). The first
half of the day usually goes towards finishing
off all of the last minute preparations, making
food, wrapping presents, bathing and putting
on nice clothes. Children are often occupied by
the television set, as most stations broadcast a
non-stop programme of cartoons through the
day.
Six o’ clock marks the official start of
Christmas in Iceland (see our guide to
conducting Icelandic Christmas on page 2
for more info on why that is), and this is when
most households sit down to enjoy a pleasant
holiday meal. After dinner, most people
commence opening their presents. They then
hang out and indulge until bedtime.
aðvenTa
(Ath-venta)
Aðventan, or the Advent, is the month leading
up to Christmas. Icelanders celebrate each
Sunday of the Advent (starting on the fourth
Sunday prior to Christmas) by lighting candles
on an Advent Wreath (“Aðventukrans”),
which is usually a four-candle (one for each
Sunday of the Advent) evergreen wreath. The
first Sunday of Advent marks the time most
Icelanders start decorating for the holidays and
preparing in general.
aðvenTuKrans
(Ath-ventou-kraans)
See: Aðventa.
aðvenTuLJós
(Ath-ventou-lyows)
Aðventuljós, or Advent light, is a decorative
object somewhat unique to Iceland. This
seven-armed electric candlestick is found in
at least one window of almost every Icelandic
home throughout the holiday season. See our
Xmas guide for more info.
annar í JóLum
(Aann-arr ee yo!-luwm)
December 26th, the second day of Christmas,
is the designated party day of the holiday
season (New Year’s notwithstanding). The
day itself usually entails heavy lounging and
attending a family Christmas party or two,
but the evening has most of the action, with
bars and clubs opening for business around
midnight. Revellers like to go out at that time,
decked in their fancy holiday attire and re-
connecting with friends and acquaintances
that they haven’t seen for all of three days.
áramóT
(our-a-mowt)
See: Gamlársdagur/Gamlárskvöld.
áramóTaannáLL
(our-a-mowt-a-annoudl)
Icelanders are fond of watching television
on New Year’s Eve, with most of the day’s
programming dedicated to detailing
the fast fading year’s events. Second to
the Áramótaskaup in popularity is the
Áramótaannáll on RÚV, a collage of the year’s
TV news stories with commentary from the
news team. An international version and a
local one run back to back. Check newspapers’
TV listings for more info.
áramóTasKauPIð
(our-a-mowt-a-skoj-pith)
Gathering around the TV on New Year’s Eve
to watch the Áramótaskaup comedy special
on RÚV is an old and honoured Icelandic
tradition—in fact the streets fall completely
silent during its broadcast time of 22:30-
23:30. The show itself is a comedy revue
featuring many of Iceland’s best-loved actors
that parodies the year’s events in sketches and
song. The quality differs from year to year, but
Icelanders love even the especially bad ones
(because then they can complain to each other
about how much it sucked). It is not subtitled,
so the fun is likely lost on non-Icelandic
speakers. It’s worth checking out, though,
you can always make fun of Icelandic TV’s low
production standards.
aTTIre
Icelanders like to dress smart and snazzy over
the holidays. Formal attire is usually expected
in the parties of the 24th and 25th, on other
days go for neat casual outfits.
CHrIsTmas musIC
Iceland doesn’t have a lot of original Xmas
songs, although there are a few to be found.
Mostly the tunes meant to get you into the
holiday spirit are translations of international
Xmas ones (some of them don’t have anything
whatsoever to do with Xmas), so the stuff
blaring from the radio in the knick-knack shop
should sound familiar. There are some popular
local songs, however, the most infamous one
being Sniglabandið’s Jólahjól (“Christmas
bike”). For more on Icelandic Xmas music,
read Dr. Gunni’s column elsewhere in this
pullout.
CHrIsTmas sToCKIngs
See also: Jólasveinar, Santa Claus
The Christmas stockings tradition is
celebrated in Iceland, although it differs
greatly from what you might be used to.
As explained elsewhere, there are thirteen
Yuletide lads in Iceland, and each one comes
down from the mountains on a designated day
before Christmas bearing gifts for children
to be placed in their shoe or stocking left by
an open window. It should be noted that well-
behaved children receive something of value,
whereas ill behaved children usually receive a
rotten potato.
CommerCe
See also: Þorláksmessa
Like elsewhere, Christmas and commerce
have very close ties in Iceland. Stores stay
open until 11 PM on Þorláksmessa, the 23rd
of December, and until noon on the day of
Christmas Eve. This is done in a mutual
agreement between late shoppers and greedy
shop owners who want to make sure that no
Króna is left behind.
DanCIng
See also: Jólaboð, jólaball, jólatré
Dancing around the Christmas tree is still
a widespread fad at Christmas dances in
children’s schools around the country, but the
tradition is slowly dying out as a practice in
homes. It involves holding hands around the
tree and walking repeatedly in circles whilst
singing Christmas carols. Hours of fun.
DeCoraTIng
See also: Aðventa, Aðventuljós
Icelanders like to decorate their houses a
lot in time for Christmas, with the start of
Advent usually marking the official ‘OK
time’ for decking the halls. Decorations are
similar to what may be found in the rest of the
Christmas-celebrating world: pine branches,
light sets, Santa-related effigies and various
knick-knacks and doodads. American style
lighting monstrosities are uncommon, but not
unheard of.
DrInKIng
See also: Annar í jólum, Gamlársdagur/
Gamlárskvöld
Heavy drinking is generally not condoned on
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day—although
indulging in a glass of wine or two isn't
frowned upon—as the days’ festivities are
generally reserved for family activities. The
26th, 31st and New Year’s Day are popular for
binge drinking and partying, however, as are
any weekend days that fall between the two
days.
eaTIng ouT
See also: Christmas buffets, commerce
Icelanders generally don’t like to eat out
during the holiday season. If you are visiting,
and you plan on dining at a restaurant during
the holidays (see our special Xmas listings
for details), chances are you’ll be dining with
some fellow tourists. However, attending
special Xmas buffets is a popular activity over
the advent.
famILy
Icelandic Christmas is all about one’s family,
extended and otherwise. Generally speaking,
most Icelanders will be busy spending time
with their families from December 24th until
the eve of the 26th, so don’t expect that hot boy
(or girl) you hook up with on the 23rd to be
available for any immediate follow-up sessions
(you should still try, though).
fLugeLDar
(flug-oeld-arrrrr)
See also: Gamlársdagur/Gamlárskvöld
Flugeldar (“fireworks”) are an essential part
of the Icelandic New Year’s Eve experience, in
fact, the sale and deployment of fireworks is
only legal in Iceland between December 28—
January 6. Like everything else Icelanders are
fond of, they take their fireworks seriously—
most of those who have witnessed the mass
employment of fireworks at New Year’s will
agree that the act is far beyond over-the-top.
But most will also attest that the display is
striking and beautiful. An added bonus is that
most of the places selling them are doing so for
charity, or to fund rescue teams.
Expect small blasts here and there as of
December 27th, culminating in an all-out orgy
of explosions around midnight of New Year’s
Eve.
gamLársDagur/
gamLársKvöLD
(gaaml-ouwrs-daager /
kvoeld)
See also: Fireworks,
drinking, Áramótaskaup,
Áramótaannáll,
Áramótabrenna [Note:
Gamlársdagur refers to
New Year’s Eve’s Day, and
Gamlárskvöld refers to New Year’s Eve itself]
The coming of the New Year is celebrated
pretty heavily in Iceland. Drinks are drunk,
fireworks are lit and vomit is, eventually,
spewed. Although there is no rule, most folks
like to gather for a nice dinner feast with family
and/or friends at the start of the evening (or
late in the afternoon). They hang out, drink
drinks, play board games and watch the TV
recap of the preceding year. Many head out to
their local New Year’s bonfire, a complete list
of which is published in local newspapers on
the days leading up to the 31st.
After watching the Áramótaskaup comedy
revue and lighting some fireworks, most
will head to a rowdier, less family oriented
gathering and stay there ‘til dawn.
A note about the word “áramót”: like
many Icelandic words, it is impressively and
descriptively sensible, and it does not have a
counterpart in the English language. Quite
literally, “áramót” translates as “the meeting
of years”. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
HangIKJöT
(Hownge-kjoet)
See also: Jólamatur
Hangikjöt—literally meaning “hung meat”—
is smoked Icelandic lamb which takes its name
from the old tradition of smoking food in order
to preserve it by hanging it from the rafters
of a smoking shed. Hangikjöt is traditional
Christmas meat, often served with potatoes in
a sweet white sauce and pickled red cabbage.
It’s pretty awesome.
HamBorgarHryggur
(Haam-bouwrger-hreggurrrr)
See also: Dining
A traditional Christmas food eaten on the
24th at six o'clock. It is pork, usually with a
honey glazing and pineapple, cooked in an
oven for a few hours. This is a pretty heavy
meal, resulting in the number of heart
attacks increasing around Xmas when people
who really shouldn’t eat fatty meat gorge
themselves almost to death.
HeITT sÚKKuLaðI
(hate sooqou-laethi)
Indulging in a cup of freshly made heitt
súkkulaði (“hot chocolate”) is an essential
part of the Icelandic holiday experience.
The classic recipe is thus: melt one plate of
‘Suðusúkkulaði’ (available everywhere one
might buy chocolate) in a double boiler with
1–2 cups of water. In a separate container, heat
one litre of milk to the boiling point. Slowly stir
melted chocolate into boiling milk. Enjoy.
JóLaBaLL
(yo!-la-boll)
See also: Jólaboð
The jólaball, or Christmas dance, is a
longstanding tradition where children are
herded by their parents or schools to hang
out, eat cake and candy and dance around
a decorated tree while singing some classic
Christmas tunes. More often than not, one or
more of the Yule lads will make an appearance
and disburse small gifts of candies.
JóLaBoð
(yo!-la-boeth)
The Icelandic Xmas party—jólaboð—is
traditionally a family gathering that involves
copious amounts of eating Christmas fare
such as hangikjöt and cookies, drinking coffee
and chocolate, talking about the weather and
engaging in the latest board games (although
Trivial Pursuit is always a classic).
JóLaDagaTaL
(yo!-la-dae-ga-tael)
The jóladagatal (“Christmas calendar”) is used
to count down the days from December 1st
until the 24th and is a must for children of all
ages—some adults like to indulge as well. The
most common variety has a differently shaped
piece of chocolate for each day, although some
of the crappier ones just have dumb, holiday
related pictures. Some families like to craft
their own, wrapping small gifts for each day.
JóLaDagur
(yo!-la-daguer)
See also: Jólaboð
Jóladagur—Christmas Day—is the big day
for family gatherings and Christmas parties.
Many like to sleep in and relax before putting
on formal attire and heading out to a friend’s
house to indulge in some hangikjöt or hot
chocolate. Everything is closed. A very relaxed
day, for most.
JóLagLögg
(yo!-la-gludge)
See also: Jólahlaðborð, drinking
A hot beverage consisting of red wine, vodka,
and spices. Often served with raisins. The word
can also just mean a party of friends around
Christmas time who get together under the
pretext that they will drink Jólaglögg, when all
they really want to do is drink anything with
alcohol in it. You know, because of the dark.
JóLaHLaðBorð
(yo!-la-hlaeth-boerth)
See also: Christmas dining, eating out,
Hamborgarhryggur
A fairly new tradition in Iceland, connected
to the number of restaurants increasing in
later years. A Jólahlaðborð is a Christmas
buffet that people attend in groups, usually co-
workers go together for a night of eating, but
mostly drinking. Many a marriage has been
put to a serious strain after a drunken night
at a Jólahlaðborð. Something about Christmas
brings out the adulterers in some people.
JóLaKorT
(yo!-la-kowrt)
Many Icelanders choose to parlay greetings
to their friends and loved ones over the
holidays via the mailing of Christmas cards, or
jólakort. They will most often feature a generic
Christmassy motif and some standard well
wishes, although some use the opportunities
to send along pictures of the family.
JóLaKöTTurInn
(yo!-la-koett-ur-enn)
To avoid, as the saying goes, “going to the
Christmas cat,” children are required to
receive at least one piece of new clothing in
time for Christmas each year. Otherwise, the
cat will eat them.
JóLamaTur
(yo!-la-maw-tuer)
See also: Christmas buffets, rjúpur, kæst
skata, hangikjöt, jólaöl, jólasmákökur
Like in most other places, nourishing oneself
over the holidays is all about indulgence. When
it comes to jólamatur (“Christmas food”): the
richer, sweeter, fattier and saltier, the better.
JóLaöL
(yo!-la-oel)
See also: Christmas dining
The ultimate Christmas drink, Jólaöl (or:
“Christmas ale”) is created by mixing an
elusive ratio of Malt and Appelsín orange
soda. Although you can now buy this drink
premixed, but it’s just as fun to mix it yourself,
according to taste. Note that it contains no
alcohol. Which is nice for a change).
Xmas | Dictionary
8The reykjavík grapevine Xmas special spectacular 2009
Issue 18
The A-Ö of the Icelandic holiday seasonThe Encyclopaedia of Icelandic Holidays
By Haukur s magnússon Illustrations by Inga maria BrynjarsdottirWith additional reporting from Paul F Nikolov, Sveinn Birkir Björnsson, Páll Hilmarsson and Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir