Public holidays in Iceland

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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]

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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

DateEnglish nameLocal nameComment
1 January New Year's Day Nýársdagur Flag day
Moveable Maundy Thursday SkírdagurLiteral 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 páskumLiteral 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 hvítasunnuLiteral 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 DayFrídagur verslunarmannaFirst Monday in August. The long weekend is usually the largest domestic travel weekend
24 December Christmas Eve AðfangadagurHoliday from 13:00
25 December Christmas Day Jóladagur Flag day
26 December Second Day of Christmas Annar í jólumLiteral meaning: Second Day of Christmas
31 December New Year's Eve GamlársdagurLiteral 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.

DateEnglish nameLocal nameLiteral meaningRemarks
January 6 Epiphany Þrettándinn The Thirteenth
Moveable Husband's DayBóndadagurFriday between 19 and 25 January
Moveable Woman's DayKonudagurSunday between 18 and 24 February
March 1 Beer Day BjórdagurinnCelebrates the legalization of beer in Iceland, March 1, 1989.
Moveable Shrove Monday BolludagurBun Day
Moveable Shrove Tuesday SprengidagurBursting Day
Moveable Ash Wednesday Öskudagur Ash Day
Moveable Palm Sunday Pálmasunnudagur
Moveable Mother's Day MæðradagurinnSecond Sunday in May
Moveable Fisherman's DaySjómannadagurinnFirst Sunday in June.

Flag day

June 19Women's Rights DayKvenréttindadagurinn
June 24 St John's Mass Day JonsmessaJohn's MassSt John the Baptist's Mass Day, also known as Midsummer Night
Moveable Father's Day FeðradagurinnSecond Sunday in November
November 16 Language Day Dagur íslenskrar tungu Flag day
December 1Sovereignty DayFullveldisdagurinnIndependence Day Flag day
December 23 St. Thorlac's Mass Day Þorláksmessa St Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland

References

  1. 1 2 "88/1971: Lög um 40 stunda vinnuviku". Alþingi. Retrieved 1 June 2016.