Today is Bóndadagur, or Husband’s Day, when wives and girlfriends in Iceland pamper their men. Bóndadagur also marks the beginning of the old Icelandic month of Thorri, during which the Thórrablót mid-winter feasts are held across the country.
Typical Thorri food. Photo By Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.
In many households, Bóndadagur is celebrated with eating the traditional Thorri food, dried fish, smoked lamb, putrefied shark and soured blood and liver pudding along with other soured meat products, including ram testicles. The delicacies are often washed down with a shot or two of brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.
People can purchase Thorri food in supermarkets or order it at restaurants and diners, such as Múlakaffi in Reykjavík. Jóhann Stefánsson at Múlakaffi told Morgunbladid that he expects a record number of orders this year.
“People rediscover their roots in times of crisis. […] People bring the Thorri food to their summer houses, work places or stables. Thorrablót can be celebrated anywhere. It is a unique Icelandic feast,” Stefánsson said.
Click here to watch an audio slideshow of the food traditionally eaten at Thorrablót.
