Icelandic Traditions Advent Calendar

To kick off Christmas, Icelanders gather in Reykjavik to see the annual lighting of the Oslo Christmas Tree. Families gather in Austurvöllur Square to see the beautiful tree light up the area. The Oslo Christmas tree is a yearly donation from the city of Oslo, Norway to the city of Reykjavik as a token of friendship. 

Ljósin (lights) help Icelanders signify the start of the Christmas season. Advent lights are lit around the end of November and are staples in most Icelandic homes. Icelanders have two main types of Advent lights: the Advent wreath, which has four candles, and the triangle-shaped, seven-candle electric candelabra, which is placed on windowsills to shine out into the winter darkness.

Óskalisti is an Icelandic wishlist. Just like in North America, Icelanders keep a list of all of the gifts they’d like to receive for Christmas in order to help friends and family with their holiday shopping!

Jólakötturinn, or yule cat, is an animal from Icelandic folklore. It is said the yule cat walks around the snowy countryside during Christmas time and eats people who did not get any new clothes to wear before Christmas. Yikes!

Laufabrauð, also known as Leaf Bread, is a popular Icelandic snack during the holidays! Families gather to bake the bread as a great way to spend quality time together. These deep fried wafers are a great holiday dessert and are always decorated with beautiful carvings.

Starting today, 13 days before Christmas, kids take one of their best shoes and leave it near an open window before they go to sleep. Then, the Icelandic Yule Lads start coming to town, one per night. Come morning, good children will have a gift in their shoe from the Yule Lad. Bad children will only receive a potato. Find out which Yule Lad you are by taking our quiz!

If you visit Iceland during the Christmas season, you will hear many Icelanders discussing whether it will be a white Christmas or a red Christmas (Rauð Jól). A red Christmas is the Icelandic way of saying there will be no snow on Christmas Day.

Elda means “to cook” in Icelandic. Each Christmas, Icelanders cook a variety of traditional recipes to celebrate the holiday season. Popular recipes include Icelandic Dark Rye Bread (Dökkt Rúgbrauð), Venison Terrine (Dádýrakæfa) and Creamy Langoustine Soup (Humarsúpa). Try out some of these delicious recipes here. (Photo Credit: Ingalls Photography/Ariana Lindquist)

During the holiday season, Icelanders take part in making a non-alcoholic blend of malt extracts and orange soda known as “Christmas Ale.” This was started long ago by poor locals as a way to make Christmas even more special! (Photo Credit: mbl.is/Sigurður Bogi Sævarsson)

Iceland’s capital city has so many holiday activities to enjoy! From the Laugardalur Christmas Valley to the Holmsheidi Christmas Tree Forest where visitors can cut down their own tree, Icelanders love to visit Reykjavik during this time of year to celebrate Christmas and spend time together.

As we approach Christmas Eve, Icelanders prepare to gather around the radio to tune into the national radio station, or Útvarp, to listen to Christmas greetings from all over the world and hear the church bells officially ring in Christmas Day.

Aðfangadagur, also known as Christmas Eve, is celebrated on December 24. Icelanders spend the day with family eating delicious Icelandic foods like Leaf Bread (Laufabrauð). At bedtime, everyone must receive at least one book to take to bed along with some chocolates. Merry Christmas!