An increasing number of Icelanders are joining Americans and Canadians in celebrating Thanksgiving, which is today in the United States.

Turkey is also growing in popularity, according to Jón Magnús Jónsson, the manager of the biggest turkey farm in Iceland. “[Thanksgiving] was almost non-existent ten years ago, at least there was very little of it, but this has changed and people celebrate it as a new festival.”

The popularity of turkey in Iceland has also increased at different times of year such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Easter. Jón Magnús said that people like to prepare special dishes with turkey.

Store manager of Nettó in Kópavogur, Sigrún Elfa Þorleifsdóttir, told mbl.is that sales had been going well. “People were even starting to ask one to two weeks ago when the turkey would arrive in stores. So, people are buying it but I think many are actually buying it for Christmas. For example, one customer bought three whole turkeys today to prepare for their family at Christmas,” she said.

Hotel Nordica put on an authentic American Thanksgiving celebration last weekend. Fulbright scholars were among those in attendance.

ZR