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Watch an audio slideshow of how traditional Icelandic rhubarb stew is made. Rhubarb is one of the few vegetables that grows effortlessly in Iceland and for that reason it used to be a highly-valued addition to the traditional diet of fish and lamb.
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January 6 is known as Þrettándinn or ‘The Thirteenth’ in Iceland. According to the Icelandic calendar, it marks the 13th and last day of Christmas—the first being Christmas Day—and also the day when the last of the 13 Yule Lad brothers, who come down from the mountains 13 days before Christmas, returns to his cave.
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A bonfire on New Year's Eve. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.
Bonfires and firework shows will be held in many locations around Iceland today.
In Reykjavík, the bonfire will be preceded by a torch parade leaving from Guðríðarkirkja church at 19:30 and from the sports club Fram in Úlfarsárdalur at 19:15.
The bonfire will be lit at 8 pm. Yule Lads will drop by and the celebration will conclude with a fireworks show sponsored by Fram.
A bonfire will also take place in Ásvellir in Hafnarfjörður, a neighboring town of the capital. The evening’s program begins at 5 pm, followed by a large fireworks display at 6 pm.
The purpose of the bonfires and the fireworks is to metaphorically ‘burn up Christmas’ and mark the end of the festive season and bid the holidays farewell.
Many save some of the fireworks they bought before New Year’s Eve for Þrettándinn to say their own private explosive goodbye to Christmas.
According to legend, the last day of Christmas is just as magical as the last day of the year. On this day supernatural beings, like elves and trolls, emerge from their hidden habitats and try to lure humans into their world.
Cows are also known to acquire supernatural powers on Þrettándinn and speak in human tongue. But beware; those who try to listen to their discussions in the cowshed will lose their minds!
Other folk stories tell the tales of seals shedding their skin and walking on dry land on this magical night.
In other countries, Christians pay homage to the Wise Men on January 6.
Click here to watch an audio slideshow from a Last Day of Christmas bonfire.
ESA
Sales of Icelandic vegetables are at a record high according to managing director of The Marketing Association of Horticultural Producers (Sölufélag garðyrkjumanna) Gunnlaugur Karlsson.
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Four tourists were rescued from a piece of floating ice in Fjallsárlón glacial lagoon, East Iceland, yesterday afternoon. Fjallsárlón is just west of the popular Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.
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Today is the Second Day of Whitsun, or Pentecost, a Christian holiday and bank holiday in Iceland. Although Whitsun is a religious holiday, many people skip mass and use the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities with their friends and families.
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Iceland finished in 17th place in the final of this year's Eurovision Song Contest yesterday.
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The 2013 April-May issue of Iceland Review & Atlantica has been released. Packed with informative and entertaining stories, highlights include an interview with outgoing Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and the people who know her best, a photo essay of ice caves in Europe’s largest glacier and a colorful feature on life in the West Fjords.
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REVIEWS
The 11th Reykjavík Shorts & Docs. Catch it while it lasts!
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Artist couple Nína Ivanova and Ómar Smári Kristinsson explain why they decided to settle in the West Fjords’ capital.
Reykjavík Queer Choir’s annual spring concert takes place on Friday, May 24.
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