YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE
Pity our poor neighbors to the south who must endure a festive holiday season with nary a drop of snow on the ground. If your relative close proximity to the equator (yes, Florida and Southern Cali, we’re talking about you) is preventing you from celebrating the holidays the way they’re intended, well, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Up here, in Santa’s backyard, we have plenty of white stuff for you. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what award-winning travel writer Andrew Evans has to say about Christmas Icelandic style:
The Month of Christmas
The best part about Christmas in Iceland is that it lasts for one whole month—I don’t mean the crazy month of shopping that Americans start the day after Thanksgiving, nor the weeks of obligatory holiday parties and stress leading up to that one big day, December 25th. Compared to our culture, Icelandic Christmas is refreshingly anti-commercial. Jól is more of a season—the beginning of winter and a time to slow down 
and remember what really matters. In Iceland, the holidays really are about family, friends and some very fun, thousand-year old traditions.
On the Seventh Day of Christmas, A Rude Boy Slammed My Door
Icelandic Christmas officially begins on December 12th when the thirteen mischievous Christmas lads, or jólasveinar start showing up. The first one comes to harass sheep and doesn’t leave until Christmas day. Others play tricks like stealing food or slamming doors. “Candle beggar” comes on Christmas Day and won’t leave until January 6th. For thirteen days, children leave their shoes in the window in hopes for nightly presents from the lads, but naughty kids get a potato instead.
Eat More Fish, Shop Less
Saint Thorlákur died on December 23rd, 1193. Some eight hundred years later, Icelanders remember their patron saint on that day by eating fish and calling it quits at the mall. Icelandic tradition says that all Christmas shopping ends on St. Thorlákur’s Day. For the next three days, 
all the stores are closed—it’s heaven.
The Day Before Tomorrow
In Iceland, Christmas Eve feels like Christmas Day. That’s when you get to open all your presents and when you eat Christmas dinner. The next two days (Christmas and Boxing Day) are spent at home, celebrating and relaxing. The best part is that Christmas Day feels like a break from Christmas itself.
Cows Talk, People Sing
In a country that already parties hard, New Year’s Eve is the ultimate party. Icelanders build gigantic bonfires and gather in the warmth to eat, drink, and sing. In Reykjavík, the city lights up with a hundred fires and the streets are packed with people—you have to see it to believe it. The midnight sky lights up with stunning fireworks and the party keeps going well into the morning. In Iceland, New Year’s Eve is also a time for magical events—cows can talk and seals take human form. New Year’s Day is when you sleep it all off, though I prefer to go and soak in the Blue Lagoon—(yes, the spa is open even on the first day of the year).
It’s Not Over ’til it’s Over
The holidays only end on January 6th, or the “thirteenth day” of Christmas. Threttándinn is just another night of the same month-long party with more eating, drinking, and having fun. In fact, long winter nights only mean the parties last longer. Winter in Iceland is beautiful—the air is crisp and clean, the mountains are covered in pure white snow, and the Icelanders have such creative ways to keep warm. In a country with so many flavors—the month of Christmas is perhaps the most splendid.
Andrew Evans, winner of the 2008 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Silver Award for Best Guidebook, wrote a detailed, personable guide to Iceland with a focus on natural treasures, including glaciers, lava flows, rugged coastlines, and breathtaking skies. The nightlife of Reykjavik and the country’s viking heritage also receive ample coverage. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, an independent traveler on a budget, or a comfort-seeking tourist, Evans shows you how to do it – ‘Icelander’ style – at this eco-friendly destination.
You can purchase it on Amazon.com here.
