Summary
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 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 | Boxing Day | 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. | |
| 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 | |
| December 23 | St. Thorlac's Mass Day | Þorláksmessa | St Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland |