The Icelandic Christmas is an intriguing mix of folklore and tradition. Like most countries, Iceland celebrates Christmas with an abundance of food and gifts, yet it is laden with Icelandic traditions, which makes it that little bit more special. Here is all you need to know about the festive season in Iceland and how they celebrate Christmas.
How do Icelanders Celebrate Christmas?
When it comes to Christmas, Iceland knows how to do it right! Christmas in Iceland lasts for 26 days (11th December – 6th January), with 13 Santa Clauses, known as Yule Lads. On the first day of Christmas, each home typically sets up a Christmas tree indoors in the living room, with most decorating it on December 11. Presents are laid under the tree for family and friends throughout the 13 days leading up to Christmas Day.
Iceland observes a very different gift-giving tradition from other parts of the world. The most common gift to receive in Iceland is a book! Icelanders’ love of books has earned them a global reputation for being a country of bookaholics. On Christmas Eve, Icelanders exchange books as gifts and then spend the night reading them. Each year, every Icelander receives at least one book under the tree.
Christmas Food in Iceland
It is no mystery that Icelanders love their food, especially meat! Today, smoked meat is considered the nation's favorite and is an essential part of the Christmas feast. Ham, smoked lamb, and ptarmigan (a medium-sized gamebird) are typically served with peas, cabbage, corn, beans, gravy, etc.
Another Christmas favorite is laufabrauð (Leaf Bread). Leaf bread is a thin bread that is cut in a circular shape, with festive designs carved into it with a special gadget. This tradition originates from northern Iceland.
Icelanders also typically drink a spirit called Brennivin, more commonly known as ‘The Black Death’. The drink is made from fermented potato mash and is flavored with caraway. It can be considered Iceland’s signature distilled spirit, which is heavily consumed over the Christmas period.
For dessert, Icelanders favor rice pudding. This delicious Icelandic food is made of rice porridge, whipped cream, and chopped almonds. As a Christmas tradition, sometimes a whole almond is put in the rice pudding, and everyone must guess who has the almond. Whoever gets the almond receives a Christmas gift!
Christmas Traditions and Folklore in Iceland
In Iceland, Christmas traditions are a big part of the festivities, they make Christmas the unbelievable time that it is. The Icelandic Christmas period is a varied combination of traditional folklore and religious beliefs that begin on December 23rd and continue until January 6th, a time where there is no Santa, no reindeer (well, apart from the wild ones), and no milk and cookies. Instead, Iceland has its own unique traditions and folklore that add to the magic of the festive season.
Yule Lads
The Icelandic Yule Lads are all named after characteristics, mostly naughty habits e.g doorslammer or windowpeeker - you get the idea. And as the story goes, you leave a shoe out on the windowsill and they turn up and leave a present inside of it, however, if you’ve not been behaving yourself, then you may only be left with a potato instead - believe us, that’s not what you want!
If you’re well-behaved, the Yule Lads will leave a small item like sweets or a pair of socks. Now, the socks may seem a little disappointing, but if you’re not presented with an item of clothing by the Yule Lads, then it is Icelandic folklore that you’ll be eaten by the Christmas Cat.
Baking
In the days before Christmas, a lot of Icelanders like to spend their time baking delightful treats in preparation for the big day - after all, Christmas is all about food… and family, of course.
Baked goods vary from classic gingerbread cookies to houses as well as other various confectionary treats. One of the most traditional treats in Iceland is ‘Sara’. This is the name of a macaroon-based dessert that is filled with chocolate cream and is then coated with even more chocolate-covered sweets. They’re very sweet and many Icelanders want to brush their teeth after just thinking about them!
Thorlak’s Mass (Þorláksmessa)
Christmas celebrations take place all through December, however, Icelanders begin to celebrate the official start of Christmas on the 23rd, making it an unofficial Christmas Eve.
During Thorlak’s Mass, Reykjavik is usually filled with the hustle and bustle of city life. You have a blend of last-minute shoppers, friends, and families walking the streets, bars are filled with festive drinkers, and overall, the locals all begin to get into the Christmas spirit. This will also be the last chance to eat out for many until after Christmas as places begin to close for Christmas Eve and Day.
Skate
Skate is another December 23rd tradition for many locals, which involves eating a specific fish called Skate (hence, the name). This tradition involves hosting a dinner party where all of the guests will dress in their worst clothes before then getting dressed into their Sunday best to go out in. You may question why, and that would be a completely reasonable response. The reason for the outfit change is that Skate has an extremely potent and overpowering stench. So bad, in fact, it seeps into your clothes and fills the house with a smell you could all do without.
A lot of Icelanders feel that Christmas has not truly started until you have had Skate, so there’s no way around this one if you want to celebrate like a true local!
Christmas Eve (Aðfangadagur)
This day is spent doing all the last-minute things before Christmas, such as baking, wrapping, and delivering presents, welcoming in the family, and getting everything ready for a feast at 18:00.
Alternatively, some people choose to attend Mass at 18:00 instead, where they will then sit down and eat afterward.
Christmas Day/Boxing Day
Following the large family feasts and celebrations on Christmas Eve, Christmas in Iceland is spent seeing extended family or a party, or even just relaxing at home and making the most of the chance to switch off for a day or two.
In addition to spending time with family during these days, it is also tradition to visit cemeteries and place a wreath where loved ones may rest. Because of this, you will often see Icelandic cemeteries beautifully lit up and decorated over the Christmas holidays.
New Year’s Eve
There is an enormous celebration in Iceland to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. It all begins with a family dinner in the evening, before heading out to enjoy a large traditional bonfire, whichever is closest to them. However, as the capital city is Reykjavik, they like to put on a show. So this is celebrated with a massive fire where everyone will gather around.
Following a bonfire, some will then head home to get back in the warmth and enjoy something fun on television to watch. Others choose to brave the weather and enjoy what Iceland has to offer before then heading out to enjoy a large firework display from midnight. Clubs and bars will remain open until the early hours, or there is always an option for a house party. Either way, Icelanders usually find somewhere to party!
After reading this blog, you may want to learn more about the history of Iceland’s culture and any other bizarre things Icelanders like to celebrate. We wouldn’t blame you, they’re an interesting bunch!