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 1 PM.[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

[edit]

Date  | English name  | Local name  | Comment

|
|
|

1 January  | 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 Sunday | 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

1 May  | 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
17 June  | 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
24 December  | Christmas Eve | Aðfangadagur  | Holiday from 13:00
25 December  | Christmas Day | Jóladagur  | Flag day
26 December  | Second Day of Christmas | Annar í jólum  | Literal meaning: Second Day of Christmas
31 December  | New Year's Eve | Gamlársdagur  | Literal meaning: Old Year's Day.

Holiday from 13:00

## Other days that are celebrated

[edit]

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 | Mother's Day | Mæðradagurinn  |  | Second Sunday in May
Moveable | Fisherman's Day  | Sjómannadagurinn  |  | First Sunday in 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  | 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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "88/1971: Lög um 40 stunda vinnuviku". Alþingi. Retrieved 1 June 2016.

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