Best Time to Visit Iceland 2024 : Christmas in Iceland
Close your eyes and imagine rustic houses covered in snow with decorative lights and smoke coming out of their chimneys; just beyond you see children skating on a frozen pond and adults queuing for a hot drink at an open-air craft market; at night you go shopping in the centre and meet friends and neighbours on the busy streets.
Now open your eyes. What if we told you that this Christmas fantasy can be real? If you want to daydream, you’ve come to the right place. Teleport yourself there: check out flights to Iceland for Christmas and find out for yourself.
Is Iceland a recommended place to visit at Christmas?
Yes, and a thousand times yes. The above description may seem stereotypical, but it is not a made-up scene from some children’s programme. It is a reality in Iceland. Christmas in Iceland is the ultimate holiday and the most anticipated time of the year.
Schools close for a couple of weeks, there are many public holidays, and many businesses and workers take more time off to spend time with their families. It’s a time of lights and celebration, a distinctive atmosphere that is reflected everywhere you go.
What’s so special about Christmas in Iceland?
Christmas time in Iceland isn’t just about traditions and the festive atmosphere. It also coincides with the winter solstice, when we celebrate, so to speak, a new dawn. But all this darkness has its bright side, literally. We’re talking about candles, decorative lights, fireplaces, wreaths, and much more.
Every home is lit up and the atmosphere is cosy, because in Iceland, with its abundant geothermal heat and green energy, if there’s one thing that’s never lacking, it’s warmth. One of Iceland’s characteristics is its small population and historical isolation that makes this island nation something like a clan. There’s a deep sense of community, and while they embrace diversity, old customs are practically sacred in most homes.
How do they celebrate Christmas in Iceland?
You might be surprised, but Christmas traditions in Iceland are probably very different from your own (wherever you come from). Get ready because you are about to embark on a very unique journey.
Santa Claus in Iceland – the Jólasveinar
At number one on the list of Christmas traditions is the Icelandic version of Santa Claus, a role played by not one, but 13 Santas, as they are called in English, or Jólasveinar. They are peculiar fellows, descendants of trolls who come down from the mountains one by one in the days leading up to Christmas with treats for children who have been good.
They have strange habits and behaviour and are often found guilty of what can only be described as criminal behaviour, such as breaking and entering and stealing property. However, they are much loved, a true symbol of Christmas.
It’s quite hard to explain, so check out our article on the Jólasveinar with illustrations by Brian Pilkington for more details on this peculiar group, their troll parents, and their super scary pet!
What do they eat on Christmas in Iceland?
We’ll get to it now, but an even more interesting question would be, “What do they eat the day before Christmas in Iceland?” There’s no easy way to say this, but on December 23rd every year, most Icelanders will eat fermented fish, specifically skate.
The taste and texture of this dish are quite ‘unique’ so to speak, but it’s the smell that gives skate its distinction in the culinary world. Even in Iceland, famous for its traditional food featuring rotten and fermented dishes.
This is a dish that is not eaten on any other day of the year and most suffer the strong smell that fills their homes during this event. Others take to the garage with a camping stove and a pot to perform the most horrifying of all culinary acts. The smart ones reserve a table at a restaurant months in advance; for many, this is the ultimate festive dinner of the season.
What is eaten on Iceland’s holiest day of Christmas:
Christmas Eve, varies from household to household, but standard preparations include a ham roast with pineapple, fried (or boiled, if you’re old school) puffin with a secret sauce whose recipe is guarded with his life by the oldest family member, or a cut of beef with all the fixings. Many include lobster and scallop as a starter and ris a la mande (their version of rice pudding) for dessert.
New additions include an American-style Thanksgiving turkey with that coveted stuffing and a nut roast for vegan family members who often have to fend off their meat-eating relatives who can’t resist this new, delicious dish on the table. No matter what you have as a main course, there is a 99% chance that laufabrauð (fried bread) will be offered on the side and your glass will be filled with malt and appelsín, a mix of two Icelandic sodas, malt soda and orange soda.
This particular drink is ready to consume during Christmas, but most prefer to make the mixes with their own proportions and many families have, in fact, a designated mixologist who is simply the best at achieving the perfect mix.
Bowls on coffee tables are always filled with Nói Siríus chocolate, available all year round, but rarely consumed by Icelanders from January to November. And yes, at the end of the Christmas period, most Icelanders start complaining of poor digestion, bloating and claiming that next year they will change their lifestyle. Sure, maybe even Þorri…
Christmas traditions in Iceland
A common way to spend the Christmas holidays in Iceland is to alternate the best of both worlds: on the one hand, dressing up to eat with family and friends; on the other, spending the whole day in pajamas watching an epic Hollywood movie marathon or doing a jigsaw puzzle with endless pieces. In fact, it is customary to spend time eating and playing board games after sleeping in and taking intermittent naps.
There is a time to relax, socialize and fill the free spaces with all kinds of entertainment. However, in Iceland there is one activity that tops them all: reading. Icelanders are a literary people and books are a big part of the national psyche. This dates back to the Viking era when the first sagas were written in Iceland; and it is a very palpable fact in modern Iceland, especially at Christmas.
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This tiny nation of just 370,000 people publishes, on average, almost 2,000 books a year, and a large majority of them are published in what is affectionately called “The Christmas Book Flood.” During that period, which runs from early November through Christmas, stores are filled with newly printed books from both veteran and new authors, and everyone talks about what they are reading.
A must-have question on every Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve table is, “Did you get any books this year?” followed by heated discussions about good and bad books.
What are some fun facts about Christmas in Iceland?
Hanukkah lights are everywhere
When you walk through the streets of Iceland before Christmas, you quickly notice something: almost every window seems to have a Hanukkah light. However, Iceland’s Jewish population is a minority. In fact, these are Scandinavian Advent lights, and most homes in Iceland have them.
These are one of the few Christmas decorations that it would be a mistake to unpack before December 1, mainly because they are still strongly connected to the four Sundays of Advent. The Hanukkah-like lights in the windows, however, are not the same as the Advent wreaths in the living room. These wreaths each have four candles, one for the four Sundays of Advent, and are lit on their designated days, accompanied by a hymn in more traditional homes.
Shoes on the Windowsill
Every child’s bedroom in Iceland has a single shoe on the windowsill from December 11th until Christmas Eve. The shoe is actually the recipient of a small gift from one of the Jólasveinar who start arriving one by one on the evening of December 12th. Well-behaved children receive a small souvenir or toy, a sweet treat, or a coupon for some fun activity. Naughty children may wake up with a potato in their shoe – a real lesson in manners, and an experience most will only need to experience once in their lifetime. Absolutely no one wants to find a potato in their shoe!
Buy new clothes or the Christmas Cat will eat you
A common question or phrase in December in Iceland is related to the Christmas Cat, and whether or not he might eat you. It sounds something like: “I just bought a new coat for Christmas so the Christmas Cat doesn’t get me.” Or: “You won’t let the Christmas Cat get you this year, will you?”
These phrases refer to the Christmas Cat, the fearsome pet of the Jólasveinar family who comes down from the mountains to eat people who are not wearing the right clothes. It’s an old fable about dressing well and not leaving the house without a coat or showing up to church in your Sunday best.
Although this version is not very popular with children, for obvious reasons, it is still a strong linguistic reference and justification for splurging on a nice outfit. New socks are often added to Christmas gifts based on this folklore, and honestly, we all think it’s pretty mind-blowing!
Radio practically presides over Christmas in Iceland
Few traditions are as sacred and revered as the work that Public Radio does in Iceland on December 23 and 24. On December 23, Christmas greetings are read live on the radio. People from all walks of life, across the country, send their greetings to friends and family to be read live, and with a growing population, one day is no longer enough, so greetings begin on December 22nd.
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On Christmas Eve, December 24th, everyone turns on the radio no later than 5:30pm to wait for the bells to ring at 6pm, when you can formally say “Merry Christmas” to your loved ones. The bells are preceded by a long silence, 15 minutes to be exact, considered the most popular time for radio.
This is somewhat problematic because if you have been busy in the kitchen with preparations and are not paying attention, you can never be 100% sure that the radio is actually on and tuned to the right station.
What to do at Christmas in Iceland?
Christmas in Iceland, and specifically in Reykjavik, is a very lively and lively time. Of course, there is an element of stress present to get it all done, but also to soak it all in while you can. “Everything” is the endless events that many consider a vital part of the festivities in the days leading up to Christmas.
There are big Christmas concerts, Christmas tree lighting, Christmas plays, art exhibitions, open-air Christmas markets, Christmas buffets and late-night shopping. The city is bustling with activity and a lively crowd fills the streets. Spend these days with the locals, enjoy the festive atmosphere and soak up the beauty of the lights.
Just find a dark place if you think the Northern Lights might appear. And finally, just let things flow and let Iceland cast its spell on you with its perfect mix of natural wonders and colourful city life.
Final thoughts…
If you are wondering if Iceland is a recommended place for your Christmas holiday, you can rest assured that you will have a wonderful experience, full of beauty and charm. After all, this is a land of ancient magic, home to elves, trolls, and the 13 Jólasveinar.
