It's the Season of Waiting

02.11.2007

Did you know that in Iceland, the First Day of Winter is a special day? It's on a Saturday late in October when the leaves have already fallen off the trees, berries have been picked to make jam and farmers are slaughtering their livestock. Probably it is already beginning to snow.

In older days one would try to predict the weather for the upcoming winter by various means. The behaviour of mice and birds had different meanings, as well as the growth of cotton grass, berries and other plants.

Nowadays the residents of Reykjavik City are rather predicting the hours of waiting at the various garage shops during this season. You might wonder why.

As soon as the first snow flake hits the ground, the citizens suddenly realise that the summer is gone, the shorts should be packed into the back of the closet and their car needs the winter tyre. They rush to the nearest garage shop but unfortunately hundreds of others get the same idea at the same time. So get in line! Luckily the auto mechanics are quite used to this mania and bring more working hands as well as extend the opening hours until late in the evening.

After a few days everyone is geared up, in windproof and water-resistant jackets, gloves and hats, smiling behind the wheels of their "winter-proof" cars. Winter has arrived in Reykjavik City!