Sumardagurinn fyrsti 2023

The first day of summer - official holiday in Iceland

And, are you starting to get into the summer spirit, like me here in the sun on the beach at Eyrabakki? (Still nicely dressed warmly with my new hand-knitted lopapeysa.)

In Iceland there is only winter and summer

The Old Icelandic calendar recognizes only two seasons: winter and summer. The calendar divides the year into six winter months and six summer months. The seventh month of the year, the first summer month ( Harpa ), always begins on the first Thursday after April 18 - so this year, April 20, 2023.

How summer freezes together and winter freezes together - whether summer and winter freeze together will show what the next summer will be like

According to tradition, one could hope for a good summer with a rich harvest when "summer and winter froze together", that is, when there was frost on the first summer night.

Therefore, it was customary to place a bowl of water outside the door on the night before the first day of summer to see if there had been any frost. According to tradition, the thickness of the layer of ice on the water indicated how thick the layer of cream on the milk would become over the summer.

Looking at the weather forecast for our area here in the south, I don't think there's going to be a thick layer of cream on top of the milk this summer. The forecast for Thursday is for dry and bright weather with little wind, temperatures ranging from 8° to 14°, a beautiful day. Temperatures are also expected to reach at least 3° at night. So, I'm afraid there won't be any "freezing together" this year!

The first day of summer - celebrations through the ages

Even earlier, at least in some parts of Iceland, it was customary to celebrate the first day of summer with a sacrificial feast; one such festival is mentioned, for example, in the Egilssaga. Later, the day was celebrated for a long time as a religious festival with a large mass in the church. From the mid-18th century onwards, general summer celebrations on this day are recorded in Iceland, with plenty of good food and drink. By the mid-19th century, this first day of summer had become the most important holiday after Christmas, with large celebrations, and Icelandic children received "summer gifts" ( sumargjafir ) on this occasion.

By a law of December 24, 1971, the first day of summer was declared a public holiday in Iceland.

Nowadays it is mainly a big family celebration

Nowadays it is customary for the Scouts to hold a big celebration on the first day of summer and sometimes also a parade (although the photo here of the Scouts is from the parade through Reykjavík on National Day 2022).

In the capital area, for example, there's a big family festival at the Árbærsafn Museum. This year, the festival begins at 1 p.m. with a small parade and marching band around the museum. Following this, there will be various workshops for children, horseback riding, and various competitions, as well as fresh lummur, those small, thick Icelandic pancakes, for everyone in the old farmhouse. The festival is scheduled to last until 4 p.m.

Árbærssafn Local History Museum, Reykjavík

Here in Selfoss there has always been a big family festival in the village in recent years, with a bouncy castle etc. for the children (the photo here is from the family festival in summer 2022).

Let’s see what we’re doing on this holiday this year!

[Translated from here.]