Public holidays in Iceland


Public holidays in Iceland are established by the act of the Icelandic parliament. The public holidays are the religious holidays of the Church of Iceland and the first day of summer, May Day, the Icelandic National Day. In addition, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are holidays from 1PM.
There are also twelve official flag days in Iceland, some of which are not public holidays. On a flag day all government buildings fly the flag. Although citizens are not obliged to do it, most people do, if they have a flagpole.

Public holidays

Other days that are celebrated

In addition to the public holidays, other special days are celebrated in Iceland, some of which are official flagdays as well.
DateEnglish nameLocal nameLiteral meaningRemarks
January 6EpiphanyÞrettándinnThe Thirteenth
MoveableHusband's DayBóndadagurFriday between 19 and 25 January
MoveableWoman's DayKonudagurSunday between 18 and 24 February
March 1Beer DayBjórdagurinnCelebrates the legalization of beer in Iceland, March 1, 1989.
MoveableShrove MondayBolludagurBun Day
MoveableShrove TuesdaySprengidagurBursting Day
MoveableAsh WednesdayÖskudagurAsh Day
MoveablePalm SundayPálmasunnudagur
MoveableMothers' DayMæðradagurinnSecond Sunday in May
MoveableFisherman's DaySjómannadagurinnFirst Sunday of June.
Flag day
June 19Women's Rights DayKvenréttindadagurinn
June 24St John's Mass DayJónsmessaJohn's MassSt John the Baptist's Mass Day, also known as Midsummer Night
MoveableFirst Day of WinterFyrsti vetrardagur-
November 16Icelandic Language DayDagur íslenskrar tunguFlag day
December 1Sovereignty DayFullveldisdagurinnIndependence Day
Flag day
December 23St. Thorlac's Mass DayÞorláksmessaSt Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland