Iceland review - 2004, Qupperneq 85

REYKJAVÍK – PURE ENERGY / 83
25 December
Jóladagur – Christmas Day
A public holiday, December 25th is reserved by
many Icelandic families for the purpose of visiting
friends and relatives and sitting down to more
meals of festive fare.
26 December
Annar í jólum – The Second Day of Christmas
A day very much like the preceding day. Again,
people take the officially recognised holiday to
visit friends and relatives. In the evening, many
dress up in their ‘best Christmas clothes’ and head
out for the bars and nightclubs.
31 December
Gamlárskvöld – New Year’s Eve
The new year is rung in by an enormous fireworks
display that explodes into a crescendo of colour
beneath the Arctic sky.
1 January
New Year’s Day
We all need this day off to recover from the pre-
vious night’s festivities, especially here in Iceland,
when the night doesn’t end until the day.
6 January
Threttándinn – The Thirteenth Day of Christmas
(Twelfth Night)
Threttándinn marks the end of the Christmas fes-
tivities in Iceland with fireworks, songs and bon-
fires.
February
We are all Marlene Dietrich
The Iceland Dance Company performs a new
piece by Erna Ólafsdóttir and Emil Hrvatin at The
City Theatre.
17 – 20 February
Winter Lights Festival
The Winter Lights Festival stimulates and revives
city life in midwinter and is meant to be enjoyed
by all. The whole city comes alive during the fes-
tival, both the centre, with all its cultural institu-
tions, and the many parks and sport centres in
other parts of the capital.
16 – 20 February
Food & Fun Festival
An annual food festival featuring well-known, vis-
iting chefs competing alongside Iceland’s finest
culinary masters. The festival is also a chance for
restaurants to strut their stuff. A delight for the
taste buds.
7 March
Bolludagur – Bun Day
Three days in a row of celebrating begin with
Bolludagur, which derives its name from the cus-
tom of eating cream-filled buns.
8 March
Sprengidagur – Bursting Day
Sprengidagur refers to the eating of meat dishes
up to the point of bursting, a custom rooted in
religious doctrine.
9 March
Öskudagur – Ash Wednesday
Öskudagur is observed with traditional Ash
Wednesday celebrations, but also with a uniquely
Icelandic tradition where kids take part in
parades, dress up and seek out candy.
24 March
Skírdagur – Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday marks the start of Easter holidays
for Icelanders, who enjoy a five-day weekend that
sees businesses, banks, all government institutions
and most shops close down.
25 March
Föstudagurinn langi – Good Friday
Icelanders follow regular Good Friday traditions.
28 March
Annar í páskum – The day after Easter
The last day of Easter celebrations. Most shops
remain closed, as do government institutions, banks
and local businesses.
April
Dimmisjóndagar – ‘Dead’ Week
High school students preparing to take their grad-
uating exams celebrate by dressing up in funky
outfits and wacky costumes, taking to the streets
of Reykjavík.
21 April
Sumardagurinn fyrsti – The First Day of Summer
A public holiday in Iceland since the earliest of
records, the First Day of Summer celebrations and
parades often take place in winter-like weather.
21 April
Travellers Day
A new event held on the first day of summer
according to the old Icelandic calendar. Reykjavík
tourist attractions, museums, galleries, churches,
swimming pools and hotels open their doors and
invite guests to enjoy the best of Reykjavík.
1 May
Verkalýdsdagurinn – Labour Day
A public holiday for workers and labourers across
Iceland.
May / June
Reykjavík Arts Festival
Throughout its 34-year history, the Reykjavík Arts
Festival has been held biannually, but the Minister
of Culture and Education along with the Mayor
of Reykjavík have now announced that the
Festival is to be held annually, starting in 2004.
The Festival promotes Icelandic, Scandinavian and
international culture through art. The pro-
gramme offers a variety of exhibitions, concerts,
theatre, dance and opera performances.
5 May
Uppstigningardagur – Ascension Day
A public holiday commemorating Christ’s ascen-
sion up to heaven.
15 - 16 May
Hvítasunnuhelgin – Whitsun Weekend
Monday is a public holiday, and during the prior
weekend, the horse club Fákur
stages a competition.
4 – 5 June
Hátíd Hafsins – Festival of the Sea
Based on the old Icelandic tradition of Seamen’s
Day, the festival runs the first weekend of June
and honours those that make their living from the
sea. However, the festival has been modernised as
of late. It now includes numerous cultural activi-
ties, parades, arts and crafts activities for kids,
food fairs and sailing competitions, and new resi-
dents of Iceland are given the opportunity to
share their unique cultures.
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