Public Holidays in Iceland: Dates & Traditions

Public Holidays in Iceland

All of the days listed below are bank holidays in Iceland, meaning workplaces and schools give their employees or students a day off on these particular days. Most of them have a long history as holidays on the Icelandic calendar, many of them being of Christian origins.

New Year's Day (January 1st)

New Year's Day is a very important bank holiday in Iceland, as it would be cruel to force people to work after going all out celebrating the night before.

Reykjavik is well known for being highly festive when it comes to ringing in the new year, as people shoot a massive amount of fireworks throughout the night, culminating in a climactic midnight as the clock rings 00:00. Parties tend to last until the wee hours and the downtown gets filled with people looking for a good time.

Traditionally, all shops used to be closed on the 1st of January, and the city center of Reykjavik mostly resembled a ghost town. However, an increasing number of restaurants and bars are now open, and the poor souls dragged into work get paid double...Please treat them kindly!

• Learn more: Icelandic Folklore - New Year's Eve & Christmas Customs

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ washing the feet of his twelve disciples before the Last Supper, and it marks the beginning of the Easter season. 

This is also a popular day for young Icelanders to be confirmed into the National Church of Iceland, which is celebrated with their extended family with a large cake and plenty of presents.

The Wednesday preceding Maundy Thursday is treated as a weekend in Reykjavik as bars are open late until 3:00 or 4:30 in the morning since most people do not have work the next day (bars usually close at 1:00 AM on weekdays).

This is a great opportunity to sample the eclectic and exciting nightlife Reykjavík has to offer. Just be sure to have your shopping finished as the shops won't be open until Saturday!

Many swimming pools in Reykjavík are open on Maundy Thursday, and Icelanders love to spend their vacation time soaking in the hot pools and, sometimes, the sunshine.

• Read more: Reykjavik Nightlife Guide: The Best Bars and Clubs in Iceland

Good Friday

Good Friday is a solemn holiday as it observes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is, along with Christmas Day, the strictest day in Iceland as far as the opening of businesses and availability of services.

Traditionally, Good Friday is lawfully delineated as a day for contemplation as dancing, gambling, drinking, or going to the cinema used to be strictly forbidden and, technically, illegal. These laws are observed to the degree that bars close at midnight on Maundy Thursday and do not open again until Good Friday is over, exactly 24 hours later.

In Icelandic, this day is called "Föstudagurinn langi", or "The Long Friday," which may refer to how the day feels long because there's nothing to do.

• Read more: 21 Most Beautiful Churches in Iceland

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus and is a public holiday. In addition to its Christian relevance, it is also a celebration of spring in Iceland, with the most prominent symbol of the holiday being the easter chick.

In the weeks preceding Easter Sunday, you will notice that every shop, corner store, supermarket, and even gas station is selling chocolate eggs of varying sizes. The eggs come in sizes numbered from 2 to 8, with the largest being enough to feed a family for a week.

In past years, the eggs were made from simple milk chocolate, but recently, there have been many different versions, such as ones with licorice bits or crunchy puffs in the chocolate or even salt caramel or marzipan. If that's not enough sweets for you, the chocolate egg is stuffed with candy!

On Easter Sunday morning, parents usually hide their children's eggs somewhere in the house, so they have to go look for them. In addition to copious amounts of candy, each egg also contains an Icelandic proverb, which is a highlight of busting open these chocolate treasure chests. After the children read it out loud, older family members will usually be requested to explain these witticisms as they can be quite cryptic for young minds.

In the afternoon, it's common to celebrate with a home-cooked meal, traditionally a roasted leg of lamb with all the trimmings. In Reykjavik, bars open after midnight and only close in the early hours of the morning. Don't worry, people can sleep in the following day!

• Learn more: Icelandic Candy & Chocolate - A Short and Sweet Overview

Second Day of Easter

The Second Day of Easter, known as Easter Monday in English-speaking countries, is also a public holiday. It's a great day to finish up the rest of the chocolate egg from the day before, though realistically, you should spread it out over at least a week or two so as not to give your body a sugar shock.

Swimming pools are usually open, and some supermarkets will have limited opening hours.

First Day of Summer (Sumardagurinn fyrsti)

Although the weather can be notoriously bad on the First Day of Summer, Icelanders still celebrate with parades led by brass bands and scouts, outdoor sporting events, and live entertainment all over the country.

There is an old superstition that if the temperature drops below zero the night before Sumardagurinn first, it is a favorable auspice for a fair summer to come. Then it's said that the two seasons "freeze together," which is considered a good omen.

Parents often give their children a summer gift on this day, an Icelandic tradition that is 400 years older than the custom of giving presents on Christmas. The present is usually something the kid can enjoy outside during the summer, such as a basketball, a frisbee, or for the luckiest kids, a trampoline!

• Learn more: Iceland in Summer - The Ultimate Travel Guide

May 1st (May Day)

A protest in Reykjavik on May 1st, 1963.

As in many countries worldwide, May 1st, or May Day, is a day for general protest. In Reykjavik, people take to the streets to demonstrate against misgivings they may have with the current state of affairs, and the procession is led by a brass band down the main shopping street, Laugavegur. 

This May Day tradition largely stems from the Cold War when there was an active community of communist sympathizers within Iceland who adopted the custom from other left-leaning groups in mainland Europe.

The first of these marches, however, took place all the way back in 1932 to protest the number of working hours in a week. Events can take place all over the country. However, the largest demonstration is in Reykjavik.

Ascension Day

Ascension Day commemorates Christ's bodily ascension to heaven, and it occurs 40 days after Easter Sunday. This day always lands on a Thursday somewhere between April 30th and June 4th.

It is one of the oldest Christian holidays in Iceland, and one of the few Catholic holidays that remained on the calendar after Iceland took up Protestantism in 1550. Schools and workplaces are closed, although restaurants and bars will be open in the center of Reykjavik.

Whit Sunday

Whit Sunday is a public holiday that commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit was revealed to the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. It always occurs 10 days after Ascension Day and lands on dates between May 10 and June 13.

The Second Whitsun (Pentecost Monday)

Whit Sunday, as the name indicates, always falls on a Sunday, which is already a non-working day for most people, making it a pretty insignificant public holiday as far as getting a day off work or school. The Second Whitsun (Annar í hvítasunnu), also known as Pentecost Monday in some countries, is a true public holiday, giving people a nice three-day weekend.

Depending on how close to the summer this weekend lands, it is a popular traveling weekend to explore the countryside after being hauled up inside during most of the winter.

Icelandic National Day (June 17th)

During this day, most workplaces are closed, and celebrations are held all over the country. The festivities include concerts and other performances all over town, various entertainment for children such as bouncy castles and climbing walls, food trucks and booths offering all kinds of food, and, of course, a celebratory parade led by the marching band of the Icelandic Scouts.

One of the longest traditions of this day is the announcement and speech of the "Lady of the Mountain" (Fjallkonan), a female personification of Iceland. Every year, in each and every town and city around the country, a woman is chosen as the "Lady of the Mountain" for that year's National Day, wearing a distinctive costume that follows that role.

It is also common for men, and especially women, to wear their national costume (if they have one) in public during this day to honor the nation's past.

• Learn more: A Complete History of Iceland

Commerce Day (Frídagur verslunarmanna)

Commerce Day is a unique Icelandic holiday originally dedicated to the merchants of Iceland, though now it's a public holiday everyone can enjoy.

It originated in 1894 when the merchants of all the major shops in Reykjavik offered to give their employees a day off to have fun. From 1931 on, it was decided that this public holiday would fall on the first Monday of August, giving people a nice three-day weekend in summer.

This bank holiday weekend is called Verslumannahelgi, and many people leave the city to camp in the countryside, relax in a summer house, or join some of the many festivals around the country featuring live music and fireworks. Young Icelanders especially attend en masse equipped with Icelandic lopapeysa jumpers, guitars, and high spirits (and other types of spirits).

Þjóðhátíð festival has been celebrated in the Westman Islands for over 100 years. The photo above is from the early 20th century.

The most famous of these festivals is called Þjóðhátíð, the "National Festival," and it is held on the picturesque Westman Islands. This festival features many of the most prominent musicians and bands in Iceland, with the highlight being a huge sing-along on a large hill featuring classic Icelandic pop and folk songs and a huge bonfire when the last song is over. It's worth it to visit this charming island via Westman Islands tours outside of the time of the festival when it's not full of people.

For those city folks who don't want to leave their homes this weekend, there's also the Innipúkinn festival (The Homebody Festival), featuring multiple concerts and festivities in Reykjavik.

The ironic thing about this day is that while most people get the day off, people working in shops, to whom the day is supposed to be dedicated, usually have to work because it's such a big travel weekend.

• Read more: Top Things to Do in the Westman Islands

Christmas Eve (December 24th)

As in other Nordic countries, Christmas Eve is the high point of the Christmas season in Iceland, when families open presents and enjoy a festive dinner. The official public holiday starts after noon, and public transportation in Reykjavík stops at around 4 PM. Nearly everything is guaranteed to be closed after this time, including shops and restaurants.

If Icelanders are working in the morning, they will hurry home to prepare for the evening's festivities. Christmas Eve is somewhat of a formal affair, and people will wash and dress up for the occasion. The interior and exterior of peoples' homes will have been extensively decorated, and Icelandic Christmas songs will fill the air.

Christmas Eve is generally celebrated at home, and it officially begins at 18:00, marked by the tolling of the bells of Hallgrimskirkja church. This fanfare is relayed on the radio, and families gather to listen in anticipation of the coming Yuletide. Once everyone has wished each other a Merry Christmas (Gleðileg Jól), they will sit down for Christmas dinner.

The last of the Yule Lads arrives in town on December 24th, the infamous Candle Snatcher

Traditional Christmas dishes include ptarmigan (rjúpa), smoked pork (hamborgarhryggur), and sometimes reindeer, accompanied by pickled red cabbage, green peas, caramelized potatoes, and other sides. This is washed down with a non-alcoholic Christmas drink called Christmas Ale (jólaöl), which is a mixture of an Icelandic orange soda (Appelsín) and a syrupy malted beverage (straight-forwardly called 'Malt').

Once dinner is finished, it's time to open the presents. This is when the children of the house take the main stage, as most of the presents under the Christmas tree are for them.

All children receive at least one piece of clothing, as there is a light-hearted superstition that children who don't get clothes for Christmas will be eaten by the fearsome Christmas Cat (Jólakötturinn)!

The Christmas Cat is the feline companion of the feared trolless Grýla, who likes nothing better than to feast on naughty children after cooking them in a large cauldron. She is much feared by Icelandic children and is an effective bargaining tool to encourage them to behave.

Grýla is the mother to the 13 Yule Lads, mischievous characters who come down from the mountains at Christmas to give good children presents and shun the naughty with rotten potatoes. During the 13 days up until and including Christmas Eve, these rambunctious brothers give children presents in their shoe on the window sill. Serving a similar role to ol' Santa Claus, except there are 13 of them!

Once all the presents are open, families relax and play games or read books while the children play with their new toys.

• Read more: Christmas in Iceland - Your Ultimate Guide

Christmas Day (December 25th)

The whole of Christmas Day is a bank holiday, and Icelanders usually spend it with family, playing games or watching films. Some will use this day to indulge in festivities with extended family, attend large buffets at a relative's house, or host one themselves. If you're planning to visit Iceland during this time, check out the selection of Christmas packages in Iceland that are available and make it a holiday you won't forget.

You can expect supermarkets and shops to be closed, but more bars and restaurants will be open than the night before. However, it is recommended that you book tables in advance.

After plenty of family time, many choose to go out partying at night as the bars are open late and people don't have work the next day.

• Check out: Best Restaurants in Iceland Open During Christmas & New Year's

Second Day of Christmas (December 26th)

The Second Day of Christmas (Annar í jólum) is also a public holiday, and it is savored in a very similar fashion to Christmas Day. Supermarkets will still be closed, but restaurants and bars in the center of Reykjavík will mostly function as normal.

The reason it's called the "Second Day" of Christmas is that in Iceland, Christmas, or "jól," lasts for 13 total days! It is said that the Yule Lads return back to the mountains, one by one, on each day following Christmas Eve. The last Yule Lad leaves on the 6th of January, making it the 13th and last day of Christmas, simply called "The Thirteenth" (Þrettándinn).

New Year's Eve (December 31st)

Reykjavik has to be one of the best places in the world to celebrate New Year's Eve. Anyone can light fireworks, and many do, resulting in one of the most magnificent and breathtaking informal fireworks displays you could ever hope to see.

Just like Christmas Eve, the afternoon of the 31st is a bank holiday, and public transport in Reykjavik usually runs until 4 PM. Shops will be closed, and you will have to make dinner reservations if you plan on eating out.

Icelanders will enjoy a lavish multi-course meal with family before heading out to feel the warm glow of a bonfire. New Year's Bonfires (Áramótabrennur) are lit all over the country and, following an age-old tradition of burning away the old year to welcome the new. It's an opportunity to share in festivities with neighbors and friends while keeping warm by the fire.

Photo by Börkur Sigurbjörnsson.

You can hear the rumble and squeals of fireworks throughout the evening, but silence descends promptly at 10:30 as the Áramótaskaupið begins, a comedy sketch show is broadcasted on the national broadcasting station that pokes fun at the year's events. This 50-minute satire has been running since 1966, and over 90% of the Icelandic population dutifully tune in every year.

As soon as Áramótaskaup finishes, the real fireworks show begins, reaching a feverish high point at midnight. If you're not shooting up fireworks, it's a good idea to try to get to higher ground to marvel at this awesome display.

Shortly after midnight, most bars open their doors, and some people go downtown for a good time, while some go to house parties around town lasting until the wee hours.

• Learn more: New Year's Eve in Iceland

Traditional Holidays in Iceland

While there are many different holidays celebrated in Iceland, not all of them give you a day off work or school. Every holiday mentioned in the previous list is a public holiday, meaning by law, employers and schools are required to give their employees or students a day off on that day.

However, the following holidays, while still celebrated, are not considered bank holidays in Iceland, and people are generally not given a day off during these days. But that doesn't stop people from celebrating these unique holidays!

Þrettándinn (January 6th)

The first traditional holiday of the year is Þrettándinn, or "The Thirteenth." This day marks the end of the Christmas holiday season in Iceland and, according to folklore, is the day when the last Yule Lad leaves town and returns back to the mountains, where they live with their troll parents and children-eating cat.

The last Yule Lad to return home is Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar), who comes to town on Christmas Eve and usually gives children their most impressive gift of all the Yule Lads. This celebration in Iceland has evolved from the Three Kings Day celebrated in some Catholic countries, commemorating the three wise men who gifted baby Jesus with presents. However, the religious connotation is totally gone, and the celebration is all about elves, trolls, and the Yule Lads.

This day is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks as a strange parade of trolls, elves, and other strange creatures walk around town, scaring children and adults alike as they return back home to the highlands, leaving the human settlements until next Christmas.

• Learn more: Folklore in Iceland - The Complete Guide

Men's Day (Bóndadagur)

Bóndadagur marks the first day of Þorri, one of the lunar months in the Old Norse calendar, and is a day for people to celebrate the most important men in their lives. It always lands somewhere between January 19th and the 25th.

This usually means wives give their husbands a present and a nice meal, but it's not strictly a romantic holiday, as children will also celebrate their father on this day and give him a modest present, or just a simple hug.

This day is sometimes directly translated as "Farmer's Day" but the word "bóndi" is an old word and used to simply mean "head of the household" (related to the English word husband), but it usually refers to farmers these days. It also marks the beginning of the Þorri season, when Icelanders honor their ancestors by enjoying traditional Icelandic food of various kinds at dinner parties or company banquets, called Þorrablót.

It's the time of year when you start seeing items like ram's testicles, sheepshead's paté, blood sausage, and fermented shark appear on shelves of supermarkets around the country.

Þorri lasts for about a month, or until the first day of the next lunar month on the Old Norse calendar, Góa.

• Learn more: Icelandic Food - The Ultimate Guide to Iceland Food Culture

Cream Bun Day (Bolludagur)

Traditionally, this day precedes the Christian tradition of Lent, usually observed within Catholicism, which Iceland belonged to until 1550 when it turned Protestant. During Lent, people used to fast for 40 days, the number of days Jesus spent fasting in the desert while enduring the temptation by Satan.

While the religious connotations of this day are totally gone at this point, the tradition still remains to stuff yourself with food and treats. Most Catholic countries do this just on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, but Icelanders do a double whammy by stuffing themselves for two days.

Bolludagur, or "Cream Bun Day," always lands on a Monday 7 weeks before Easter, and is characterized by, as the name indicates, BUNS!

In the few days preceding this Monday, bakeries all over the country start baking cream buns, traditionally filled with cream and jam, though many different kinds of buns are available as well.

Another tradition that follows this day, which is mostly gone today, is that children would decorate sticks with colored paper and other things and sneak upon their parents and spank them while yelling, "Bolla, bolla, bolla!"

This strange tradition may be based on the Catholic liturgical part of the service of Lent, when the priest uses a wand to sprinkle holy water on the congregation...but who knows?!

• Read more: The Best Bakeries in Reykjavik

Bursting Day (Sprengidagur)

Sprengidagur, or "Bursting Day," immediately follows Cream Bun Day and always falls on a Tuesday 7 weeks before Easter, so it can be anywhere between February 3rd and March 9th, depending on when Easter is.

This day follows a similar tradition to the preceding day: to stuff yourself as much as you can before Lent, but on this day, it's all about salted meat and pea soup!

The tradition of eating meat on this day may have originated from Mardi Gras, which in French means "Fat Tuesday" and involves the consumption of rich, fatty foods such as meat in preparation for Lent.

In Iceland, this takes the form of a hearty pea soup with potatoes, carrots, and rutabaga, served with salted lamb meat, either on a separate disk or included in the soup itself. As both the soup and meat are quite salty, they are usually consumed with a large glass of cold water, as this food will make you extra thirsty.

During this day, people will often sing a short melody relating to the pea soup, singing "Saltkjöt og baunir, túkall!" which roughly translates to "Salted meat and peas, two krónas!" This short ditty had been so ingrained in the nation's memory that its origins had been mostly forgotten until it resurfaced in 2010. Then, it was discovered that it had first been recorded on a 1954 comedy album, "Baldur og Konni," by Icelandic ventriloquist Baldur Georg. Amazing!

Ash Wednesday (Öskudagur)

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, a Catholic tradition where observants fast for 40 days. This day always falls on a Wednesday (duh) somewhere between February 4th and March 10th. While Iceland hasn't been Catholic since 1550, there still remains a certain legacy of some Catholic traditions, and Ash Wednesday is one of them... though it's pretty far from being Christian at this point.

A unique Icelandic tradition following this day involves children hanging a small sack of ash (seen above) onto adults, unbeknownst to them. This tradition, which started in the 18th century, is (sadly) mostly gone these days and is certainly a strange take on the tradition of marking a cross on people's foreheads with ash, which still remains in Catholicism.

However, on this day, children dress up in costumes and go to stores and shops to sing for the shopkeepers, who then give them candy in return. As Halloween has become more prominent in Iceland in recent years, this gives Icelandic children two days a year to stuff their bags with candy!

Women's Day (Konudagur)

A newspaper ad by Hótel Borg for Women's Day (Konudagur), 1971.

Konudagur is the feminine bookend of the Þorri season, which started with Bóndadagur a month before. Konudagur, or "Women's Day," always lands somewhere between February 18th and the 25th.

Similarly to Men's Day, this is a day to celebrate the most important women in your life. Whether it's your wife, girlfriend, mother, sister or daughter. Husbands usually give their women flowers and a present and either cook a great meal at home or take them out to dinner.

This day marks the first day of the lunar month of Góa in the Old Norse calendar and, therefore, the end of the Þorri season.

• Check out: The Most Romantic Places in Iceland

Fishermen's Day (Sjómannadagur)

Fishermen's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of June to honor the many great fishermen in Iceland, of both past and present, who brave the open sea to haul in fish to feed the nation... or export them overseas.

For all of Iceland's history, it has been a fishing nation, and without that precious natural resource surrounding it, it would simply have been impossible to survive in Iceland during the many hardships it has endured.

This day was first officially celebrated in 1938, but fishermen have always been celebrated in Iceland for their bravery, as it was all too common for them to drown at sea before the invention of radar and other modern sea navigation tools, as it was cold, windy and often, totally dark.

During this day, there are festivities at the docks and harbors around the country, and it's probably the only holiday in this article that's celebrated more outside of Reykjavik than within it. As Reykjavik is not really a hub of fishing anymore, while towns and villages around the country that still rely more heavily on the fishing industry for employment will celebrate this day more than the city folks in Reykjavik.

Jónsmessunótt (Midsummer's Night, June 23rd)

This is the night preceding Jónsmessa (St. John's Day), which observes John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus Christ in the Bible.

However, this is also the time of midsummer, a celebration of the solstice. While the midsummer festivals are much more prominent in Scandinavia than in Iceland, this day has a lot of Icelandic folklore surrounding it. A great way to explore the country during this time is with the many available midnight sun tours in Iceland.

One of the old wives' tales about Jónsmessa is that the dew during this night can heal all kinds of ailments of the skin, so people might roll around in the dewy grass totally naked to enjoy its benefits to the fullest, while some make do by just walking around barefoot in the grass.

Similarly, some herbs are said to have special healing powers if picked during this night, such as pinguicula vulgaris, known as lyfjagras in Iceland, literally translating to "healing grass." Similar tales of healing stones also exist, as they were considered especially magical during this night.

Some folkloric tales during this night involve the farm animals gaining the ability to speak for just this one night of the year.

The following day is Jónsmessa itself (June 24th), which isn't celebrated in any significant way... it's all about the night before!

• Learn more: The Complete Guide to the Midnight Sun in Iceland

Dog Days (Hundadagar)

A recreation of the flag supposedly used by Jørgen during his reign in Iceland. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons.

The Dog Days is originally an astronomical concept, following the rise of the star system Sirius (known as the "Dog Star"), which occurs during the middle of the summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The period is between July 13th and August 23rd.

In Iceland, however, this period is associated with the Danish adventurer Jørgen Jørgensen, who declared Iceland to be independent from the Danish crown on June 25th, 1809, and titled himself the "Protector" of Iceland and promised to reinstate Althing so Icelanders could govern themselves.

This bloodless revolution came to an end a month later, on August 22nd, when he was captured by British authorities, from whom he was on parole, and he was taken to England and put in prison for breaking his parole while a prisoner-of-war.

He was released two years later and lived an adventurous life, including witnessing the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and eventually being transported to Australia in 1825 after a death sentence was commuted.

While the Danish royal family was not happy with this rambunctious swashbuckler usurping power in Iceland, and Icelanders at the time weren't very supportive (or even aware, in many cases) of this random guy cutting off relations with the Danish crown, the sheer audacity and bravery of his actions are remembered fondly by Icelanders today.

Day of Icelandic Nature (September 16th)

The Day of Icelandic Nature is the youngest of the holidays in this article, first being celebrated in 2010.

As the name indicates, it's a day to observe and celebrate the beautiful and unique nature of Iceland, which can be explored on various nature tours in Iceland. The day was chosen as it is the birthday of Icelandic comedian, musician, entertainer, and, in later years, naturist Ómar Ragnarsson.

Ómar began his career as one of the most popular entertainers in Iceland, but in his later years, he was one of the most prominent figures in educating Icelanders about Icelandic nature and how to preserve it.

Every year, an Icelander who has brought attention to or helped preserve its nature is recognized by the Icelandic government with a special award on this day.

• Learn more: Nature in Iceland

President's Flag Day (Forsetafánadagur)

The official flag of the president of Iceland. It features Iceland's coat of arms in the center of the cross.

Iceland has strict laws regarding which days people are allowed to raise the Icelandic flag on their flag poles. One of these days is the birthday of the reigning President of Iceland.

Therefore, the date of this day changes depending on who the president is. As of right now, the President of Iceland is Halla Tómasdóttir, whose birthday is on October 11th, making it a flag day in Iceland.

• Learn more: The Icelandic Flag - Everything You Need to Know

Icelandic Language Day (November 16th)

Icelandic Language Day, or Dagur íslenkrar tungu, (literally "Day of the Icelandic tongue") is celebrated every year on November 16th.

This festival originated in 1995 when it was decided in the Icelandic parliament that the Icelandic language should be celebrated once a year with a special day. The date was chosen as it is the birthday of Icelandic poet and writer Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807-1845), who promoted Icelandic nationalism with his poetry in the tradition of Romanticism.

He is credited with coining many unique Icelandic words that are still used to this day, choosing to create new words rather than adapting words and terms from foreign languages. This tradition of neologism remains to this day in Iceland, though it can be hard to break through in the times of the internet.

The 10,000 króna banknote features Jónas Hallgrímsson.

Some of the words created by Jónas include the Icelandic words for gravity, geology, speed of light, metallurgy, parrot, orphan, penguin, electricity, sea level, solar system, mammal, shorts, black hole, eclipse, circulatory system... and many many more.

In addition to Icelandic Language Day being celebrated on Jónas Hallgrímsson's birthday, he's also been honored with a prominent statue in Hljomskalagardur park in Reykjavik and by being featured on the Icelandic 10,000 króna banknote (seen above).

On this day, especially in schools around the country, adults and children are taught about the importance of preserving the Icelandic language and its 1000-year legacy.

Every year, an award is given by the Icelandic Ministry of Education to an Icelander who has contributed greatly to Icelandic by enriching the language, either through arts, education, or other means.

• Learn more: Icelandic Proverbs & Sayings

Sovereignty Day (December 1st)

People celebrating the sovereignty of Iceland on December 1st, 1918, in Reykjavik.

This day celebrates the sovereignty of Iceland, which was accomplished on December 1st, 1918. This was an agreement between Iceland and Denmark, a result of decades of Iceland's fight for independence, as Denmark formally recognized Iceland as a sovereign nation and as a separate kingdom from the Kingdom of Denmark, simply called the Kingdom of Iceland... though the same Danish King ruled both Kingdoms.

In practice, this was a much bigger step towards Icelanders ruling their own affairs than the declaration of independence on June 17th of 1944, which is celebrated every year, much more than this particular day.

By the time Iceland became an independent country, Icelanders had already been autonomous and ruled their own affairs, with only national defense and foreign policy being dictated by Denmark.

The volcanic eruption of Katla put a damper on the celebration in 1918.

On this day in 1918, the current flag officially became the flag of Iceland, with its red cross with white borders on a blue field. While this was a momentous day in 1918, celebrations were quite minor. The reason why is that the winter of 1918 was especially cold, with recorded temperatures as low as -36°F (-38°C). On top of that, the Katla volcano had erupted in October of that year, with layers of ash still remaining in the sky... and the Spanish flu had also reached Iceland at the time, making many people sick around the country.

Maybe it's because of the especially harsh circumstances of this day in 1918 that a tradition of celebrating it never quite took a foothold in Iceland.

In 2018, there were celebrations around the country for the 100-year anniversary of Icelandic sovereignty and the Icelandic flag. That year, a bill was introduced in parliament to declare December 1st a public holiday, so it may finally be properly celebrated in Iceland... but sadly, it did not reach the necessary majority of votes in the legislature to become law.

• Learn more: Volcanic Eruptions in Iceland: A Complete Timeline

Yule Lads Arrive (December 13th)

While this is not strictly a "holiday"... it is a very important day for Icelandic children... and adults who are children at heart. December 13th is the day children put one shoe in the window as the first Yule Lad comes to town and leaves them a little present during the night.

The first Yule Lad is a rambunctious fellow by the name of Stekkjastaur (Sheepcote Clod) whose main characteristic is that he tries to steal the milk of poor unsuspecting sheep, but he has two peg legs, making it a very hard and clumsy activity.

One by one, these troll brothers arrive from the mountains to human settlements around Iceland to give children presents every night until Christmas Eve. So, while December 13th is not celebrated as a holiday on its own, it is awaited with anticipation by a huge part of the Icelandic population and is the time when the Christmas season really goes into full force!

• Learn more: The Icelandic Yule Lads and Gryla - Iceland's Christmas Trolls

Are you considering visiting during one of these public holidays? What are your experiences of festivities in Iceland? Did you find this article useful? Make sure to leave your thoughts and queries in the Facebook comments box below.