Public Holidays and Festivals in Iceland

With many public holidays, Iceland, boasts having the second most public holidays in the world, after Italy, which has 16. But Icelanders enjoy many more special days and some are more peculiar then others.

January

January 1, New Year's Day - A public holiday in Iceland. Almost everything is closed.
Bóndadagur (Husband's day) - Men are traditional given some gifts or made a special dinner on this day.

February

Thorrablót - Food & drink festivities held in the old winter month of "Þorri". People gather to sing songs, drink and eat traditional Icelandic food.
Bolludagur (Bun Day). A simple excuse to eat pastries and lots of them. Bakeries overflow with delicately made cream puffs or buns.
Sprengidagur (Bursting Day). On Shrove Tuesday, salted meat and peas are traditionally eaten until you burst.
Öskudagur (Ash Wednesday). Children spend the morning singing and collecting sweets from stores and businesses - essentially trick or treating, as this part of the day has become known as Iceland's answer to Halloween.
Winter Festival - An annual 3-day event that brightens up the dark hours.
Food & Fun Festival - Annual week-long festival featuring well-known foreign chefs visiting Iceland.

March - April

Konudagur (Women's Day). Women are traditionally given flowers or chocolates on this day.
Easter - Maundy Thursday marks the start of the Easter holiday for Icelanders, who enjoy a 5-day weekend where businesses, banks, government institutions and most shops are closed. Easter in Iceland is all about the chocolate eggs (no Easter Bunny here), that kids all ages eat in tons. In Iceland, a little note with a saying is put into each egg.
First Day of Summer - The first Thursday after April 18, a public holiday. Celebrated in every village with parades and brass bands playing usually in heavy wind and rain. Sporting events and other organized entertainment.

May

May 1, Labour Day - A public holiday in Iceland.
Ascension Day - Six weeks after Maundy Thursday, a public holiday in Iceland.
Reykjavik Art Festival - An annual 2-week festival promoting Icelandic, Scandinavian and international culture. A variety of exhibitions, concerts, theatre, dance and opera performances.
Whit Monday - Monday following Whit Sunday, seven weeks after Easter, a public holiday in Iceland.

June

1st weekend, Festival of the Sea - Annual event based on an old Icelandic tradition to honour those who make their living from the sea. Includes numerous cultural activities, parades, arts and crafts activities for kids, food fairs, rowing races and sailing competitions.
June 17, Icelandic Republic Day - A public holiday in Iceland, when Icelanders celebrate independence. In year 1944 Iceland became a republic. The 17th of June was chosen as the official holiday as this is the birthday of Jon Sigurdsson (1811-1879), who Icelanders regard as their independence hero.
June 21, Summer Solstice - The longest day of the year. On this day the sun rises at 02:54 and doesn't set until 24:04!

August

1st weekend, Summer Bank Holiday - First Monday in August, a public holiday in Iceland. A holiday commemorating the traditional shopkeeper's summer break. Celebrated wildly by those young at heart, with music and camping festivals all around the country.
2nd weekend, Gay Pride - Thousands of people gather in a large, international parade to march through the streets of the city. Includes an outdoor concert with Icelandic and international artists, along with dances and other activities.
3rd weekend, Reykjavik Marathon. This international event involves thousands of participants from Iceland and abroad, who run the various types of Marathon.
3rd weekend, Reykjavik Cultural Night - The celebration takes place in the city centre with the participation of many artists, cultural institutions, shops and cafés. The evening ends with a big fireworks display down by the harbour.

September - 0ctober

Reykjavik Film Festival - Icelandic and international films are screened with emphasis on artistic films.
Reykjavik Jazz Festival - National and internationally recognised artists play in different venues across the city.

October - November

Iceland Airwaves - A 4-day musical event bringing bands from all over the world to Reykjavik to play in small venues all around the capital.

December

December 1, Independence Day - On this day 1918, Iceland was officially declared an independent nation. A school holiday in Iceland.
December 21, Winter Solstice - The shortest day of the year. The sun rises at 11:22, grazes the horizon and sets at 15:30.
December 23, Þorláksmessa - This day pays tribute to one of the few indigenous saints of Iceland, St. Þorlákur. Christmas preparations reach highpoint and shops are open until 11 p.m.
December 24, Christmas Eve - A public holiday in Iceland, after-noon only. At 6 pm the church bells toll to mark the beginning of Christmas. Many people go to church and a Christmas mass is broadcast live on radio. After having Christmas dinner, Icelanders sit down to open their presents.
December 25, Christmas Day - A public holiday. Almost everything is closed.
December 26, Boxing Day. A public holiday.
December 31, New Year's Eve - A public holiday in Iceland, after-noon only. Icelanders say goodbye to the old year with an enormous fireworks display which illuminates the whole city around midnight.

Source: Iceland.is