Laugh Out the Old: Iceland’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Tradition Skip to content

Laugh Out the Old:
Iceland’s New Year’s Eve Comedy Tradition

Words by
Kolbeinn Dalrymple

Photography by
Golli

Icelandic New Year’s Eve parties are notorious for their ill-advised combination of copious quantities of alcohol and ample access to explosives. Yet amidst the pollution and chaos of the night, every party has a distinct, hour-long lull. The reason is the TV comedy special Áramótaskaupið, which has satirised the top news stories of the year with skits and songs since its debut on radio in the 1940s.
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Icelandic New Year’s Eve parties are notorious for their ill-advised combination of copious quantities of alcohol and ample access to explosives. Yet amidst the pollution and chaos of the night, every party has a distinct, hour-long lull. The reason is the TV comedy special Áramótaskaupið, which has satirised the top news stories of the year with skits and songs since its debut on radio in the 1940s.
This content is only visible under subscription. Subscribe here or log in.

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