Travel and culture 133
celebrations
The First Day of Summer
According to the old Nordic calendar, the first day of
summer is always the first Thursday after 18 April.
The day is a celebration in Iceland and a national
holiday. There is an old belief that if it freezes on the
night of the First Day of Summer the summer will be
good. It is an old tradition to give summer gifts. Today
it is mostly children who receive them from their
parents or grandparents.
Festival of the Sea
The first Sunday of June every year is a national holiday
for sailors. The tradition comes from the old days when
sailors didn’t have much holiday and often worked for
Christmas and Easter. There are celebrations around
the country, often near the sea and around the harbour.
Games are often played in connection with the sea,
for example rowing competitions. It is also a day to
remember sailors who have passed away.
independence
:
sjálfstæði
authority
: yfirráð
wand
: vöndur
tradition: hefð
needle
: nál
sneak
: lauma
feast
: veisla
• Can you think of any other
Icelandic celebrations?
• What are they?
