It’s no secret that Iceland is magical during winter… After all, between the Northern Lights dancing, snow falling, ice caves sparkling, and holiday traditions, it’s not a hard choice! But did you know as Icelanders we have very specific traditions we participate in? We would love to share with you some today… Maybe you’ll in find your way to celebrating your holidays in Iceland and participate in a few yourself!
Are you ready to learn the number one way we celebrate holidays in Iceland or specifically Christmas? Gleðileg Jól means Merry Christmas in Icelandic. You pronounce it by saying, “Gleh-dith-leg Joul.” Try it!
Unlike Santa Claus, Iceland has 13 mischievous yet endearing Yule Lads who visit children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas Eve. …Furthermore, can you believe that their mother is a TROLL too?! Each night, kids leave their shoes by the window, hoping for treats… But beware, a rotten potato might appear if they’ve been naughty!
The Yule Cat is a mythical feline that lurks in the countryside. The story says that it is said to devour those who haven’t received new clothes before Christmas. Truly a perfect excuse to treat yourself to a cozy Icelandic sweater! Maybe even an opportunity to share the tradition with your kids too to help them behave!
Christmas in Iceland is incomplete without traditional treats like laufabrauð (crispy “leaf bread” with intricate patterns), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), and a warm cup of Malt and Appelsín, a beloved soft drink blend. More often than not, folks gather together to decorate leaf bread making it a multi generation event!
Next, as Icelanders, we LOVE to celebrate the holidays in Iceland season with our skies lit up! In fact, this is the only time of the year you can buy fireworks to support your local SAR (search and rescue) squads and light them off until we “burn off Christmas” on January 6th (Þrettándinn). But if you for some reason miss the fireworks display, we will keep our fingers crossed for you to experience the Northern Lights!
Adventure Begins Where the Pavement Ends,
The Gravel Travel Team
Gravel Travel is a family-run tour operator and travel agency, proudly authorized by the Icelandic Tourist Board.
