Icelandic Christmas Traditions

Aðventa

Hangikjöt 

Hangikjöt is traditional Icelandic Christmas food. The name and curing method originate in Iceland’s Viking age settlement era when meat was preserved by hanging it in a smokehouse. Hangikjöt, which means “hung meat” in Icelandic, is savory smoked lamb. It can be served raw as an appetizer, sliced or tartare. Most of it is cooked and served with potatoes in bechamel sauce (Icelanders love good sauce), green peas, pickled red cabbage or beetroot, and the traditional Icelandic Christmas bread, laufabrauð. With dinner, we drink Jólaöl, created by mixing an elusive ratio of Malt and Appelsín orange soda. Although you can now buy this drink premixed, it’s way more fun to mix it yourself, according to taste.

Laufabrauð 

Laufabrauð is another tradition, Icelandic “leaf bread.” There is a tradition in making this deep-fried bread. In December, families all around Iceland get together to make the thin cakes sliced and carved with sometimes intricate patterns—think paper snowflakes—and deep-fried in sunflower oil or, more traditionally, lamb fat.

Jólakökur 

Another thing that is a tradition to make is jólasmákökur, translated to Christmas cookies. They are an essential part of the Icelandic holiday experience. Most households bake cookies in the weeks following Christmas, making an average of three to five different types. They are consumed at Christmas gatherings or while lounging about. Some classic types include Piparkökur (“ginger snaps”), Mömmukökur (ginger snap-type cookies sandwiched around white frosting), súkkulaðibitakökur (chocolate chip cookies), and hálfmánar (rhubarb preserves wrapped in dough), although the varieties are endless.

Jólasveinar 

The Icelandic Yule Lads are entirely different from the regular Santa clauses. We have thirteen of our own, all bearing a name that describes their features or characteristics. They are descended from trolls and were originally bogeymen who scared children. On 12th December, the Yule Lads come to town one by one on the thirteen days before Christmas, bearing gifts for children to be placed in their shoes or stocking left by an open window. It should be noted that well-behaved children receive something of value, whereas ill-behaved children usually receive a rotten potato.

Þorláksmessa is on the 23rd of December, the day before Christmas Eve. It’s celebrating one of only two Icelandic saints, St. Þorlákur. Icelanders eat fermented skate, often enjoyed with copious amounts of Icelandic Brennivín. Also, putting up the Christmas tree is a tradition in most Icelandic families on this day.

Aðfangadagur 

Gamlársdagur 

Áramótabrenna

Flugeldar 

The New Year’s Eve traditions are not many, but one of them is gathering around the TV on New Year’s Eve to watch the Áramótaskaup comedy special on RÚV. It is an old and honored Icelandic tradition—in fact, everything is silent during its broadcast time of 22:30-23:30. The show itself is a comedy revue featuring many of Iceland’s best-loved actors, which aims to parody the year’s events in sketches and song. The quality differs from year to year.

Áramótabrenna, or bonfires, is another tradition where Icelanders set bonfires at various locations around the country, celebrating, holding sparkles, smiling, and watching big bonfires. This is usually before the Áramótaskaup and on Þrettándinn.

Flugeldar or fireworks are essential to the Icelandic New Year’s Eve experience. Icelanders take their fireworks seriously—most of those who have witnessed the mass employment of fireworks at New Year’s will agree that the act is far beyond over-the-top. But most will also attest that the display can be striking and beautiful. A bonus is that most places sell them for charity or to fund rescue teams.

Þrettándinn