Iceland (Lonely Planet, 7th Edition) - Fran Parnell [5]
Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft – 17th-century runes, riddles and the gruesome ‘necropants’ show that Westfjords weirdness is not a modern phenomenon.
Quirky Gifts – fish-skin handbags, bowls made from radishes and boxes made from pigs’ bladders…
Víti Crater – skinny-dipping in this water-filled volcanic crater is a favourite Icelandic activity on highland trips.
Singed sheep’s head Click here – sample the Icelandic delicacy of svíð in traditional eateries.
Icelandic Phallological Museum – an oddball museum, this place flashes a collection of 300+ penises at its visitors.
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Events Calendar
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JANUARY–MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
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True to their Viking roots, Icelanders love to party in raucous style. The country’s main events tend to be based in Reykjavík, but all kinds of small, enthusiastic, and very often slightly unhinged celebrations are held countrywide.
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JANUARY–MARCH
ÞORRABLÓT 18 Jan-16 Feb
The Viking midwinter feast is marked nationwide with stomach-churning treats such as hákarl (putrid shark meat) and svið (singed sheep’s head).
BOLLUDAGUR Mon before Shrove Tuesday
In preparation for Lent, Bun Day sees children encouraged to beat their elders with coloured sticks in order to extract vast numbers of bollur (cream buns) from them.
SPRENGIDAGUR Shrove Tuesday
Bursting Day is another pre-Lenten celebration. The aim is to stuff yourself with saltkjöt og baunir (salted meat and split peas) until you burst.
ÖSKUDAGUR Ash Wednesday
Another excuse for children to menace adults, this time by collecting money for goodies and tying small sacks of ash on their backs.
WINTER LIGHTS mid- or late Feb
Reykjavík hosts a celebration of light and darkness to celebrate the end of winter, with cultural events, a mini food festival and illuminated buildings (www.vetrarhatid.is).
BEER DAY 1 Mar
Beer was illegal in Iceland for 75 years. On 1 March Icelanders celebrate the marvellous day in 1989 when the prohibition was overturned.
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APRIL
ORKUGANGAN Mar or Apr
This popular cross-country skiing event sees participants race the 60km between Krafla and Húsavík in northern Iceland.
SUMARDAGURINN FYRSTI 1st Thu after 18 Apr
Icelanders celebrate the first day of summer with carnival-type celebrations and street parades, particularly in Reykjavík.
EASTER
The usual Easter-egg hunts, followed by smoked lamb for dinner.
SKÍÐAVIKAN & ALDREI FÓR ÉG SUÐUR around Easter
Snow permitting, Skiing Week (www.skidavikan.is) takes place at Ísafjörður in the Westfjords around Easter. The week ends with the free two-day music festival Aldrei Fór Ég Suður (‘I Never Went South’; www.aldrei.is).
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MAY
FOSSAVATN SKI MARATHON early May
Ísafjörður in the Westfjords hosts this 50km cross-country ski marathon (www.fossavatn.com).
LISTAHÁTIÐ Í REYKJAVÍK mid-May
Reykjavík Arts Festival, Iceland’s premier cultural festival, showcases two weeks of local and international theatre performances, film, dance, music and visual art. See www.listahatid.is/en for the program.
MÝVATN MARATHON late May
The annual Mývatn Marathon follows a circuit around the region’s lovely lake Click here.
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JUNE
SJÓMANNADAGURINN 1st Sun in Jun
Fishing is still a vital part of the Icelandic soul, and Sailors’ Day is the biggest festival of the year in fishing villages. The Seamen’s Union sponsors a party in each coastal town, with drinking, rowing and swimming contests, tugs-of-war and mock sea rescues.
HAFNARFJÖRÐUR VIKING FESTIVAL mid-Jun
The peace is shattered as Viking hordes invade this tiny seaside town near Reykjavík for a six-day festival.
INDEPENDENCE DAY 17 Jun
The country’s largest festival commemorates the founding of the Republic of Iceland in 1944 with parades and general merriness. Tradition has it that the sun isn’t supposed to shine. And it usually