Public holidays in Iceland

Public holidays in Iceland are established by the act of the Icelandic parliament.[1] The public holidays are the religious holidays of the Church of Iceland and the first day of summer, May Day, the Icelandic National Day. In addition, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are holidays from 1PM.[1]

There are also twelve official flag days in Iceland, some of which are not public holidays. On a flag day all government buildings fly the flag. Although citizens are not obliged to do it, most people do, if they have a flagpole.

Public holidays
Date English name Local name Comment
January 1 New Year's Day Nýársdagur Flag day
Moveable Maundy Thursday Skírdagur Literal meaning: Christening day
Moveable Good Friday Föstudagurinn langi Flag day (flown at half-mast)

Literal meaning: Long Friday.

Moveable Easter Day Páskadagur Flag day
Moveable Easter Monday Annar í páskum Literal meaning: Second day of Easter
Moveable First day of summer Sumardagurinn fyrsti Flag day

Thursday between 19 and 25 April

May 1 May Day Verkalýðsdagurinn Flag day

Literal meaning: Labour Day

Moveable Ascension Day Uppstigningardagur
Moveable Whit Sunday Hvítasunnudagur Flag day
Moveable Whit Monday Annar í hvítasunnu Literal meaning: Second in White Sunday
June 17 Icelandic National Day Þjóðhátíðardagurinn Flag day

Commemorates the foundation of the republic. Typically referred to as "17. júní".

Moveable Commerce Day Frídagur verslunarmanna First Monday in August. The long weekend is usually the largest domestic travel weekend
December 24 Christmas Eve Aðfangadagur Holiday from 13:00
December 25 Christmas Day Jóladagur Flag day
December 26 Boxing Day Annar í jólum Literal meaning: Second day of Christmas
December 31 New Year's Eve Gamlársdagur Literal meaning: Old Year's Day.

Holiday from 13:00

Other days that are celebrated

In addition to the public holidays, other special days are celebrated in Iceland, some of which are official flagdays as well.

Date English name Local name Literal meaning Remarks
January 6 Epiphany Þrettándinn The Thirteenth
Moveable Husband's Day Bóndadagur Friday between 19 and 25 January
Moveable Woman's Day Konudagur Sunday between 18 and 24 February
March 1 Beer Day Bjórdagurinn Celebrates the legalization of beer in Iceland, March 1, 1989.
Moveable Shrove Monday Bolludagur Bun Day
Moveable Shrove Tuesday Sprengidagur Bursting Day
Moveable Ash Wednesday Öskudagur Ash Day
Moveable Palm Sunday Pálmasunnudagur
Moveable Mothers' Day Mæðradagurinn Second Sunday in May
Moveable Fisherman's Day Sjómannadagurinn First Sunday of June.

Flag day

June 19 Women's Rights Day Kvenréttindadagurinn
June 24 St John's Mass Day Jónsmessa John's Mass St John the Baptist's Mass Day, also known as Midsummer Night
Moveable First Day of Winter Fyrsti vetrardagur
November 16 Icelandic Language Day Dagur íslenskrar tungu Flag day
December 1 Sovereignty Day Fullveldisdagurinn Independence Day

Flag day

December 23 St. Thorlac's Mass Day Þorláksmessa St Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland
gollark: It's at [REDACTED].
gollark: Also a redundant internet connection and redundant redundant internet connection.
gollark: Don't worry, my bunker has an internet connection.
gollark: What, an airtight *and* self-sufficient bunker? Your house isn't that.
gollark: How to protect yourself from COVID-19:Isolate yourself in an airtight, self-sufficient bunker for ten years.

References
  1. "88/1971: Lög um 40 stunda vinnuviku". Alþingi. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.