Today, St. Thorláks Mass, there will be many happenings in the Reykjavík city center with performances by choirs, bands, accordion players, Yule Lads, magicians and more. Many Icelanders head downtown to finish their Christmas shopping on December 23.
Austurvöllur square. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
Three choirs conducted by Margrét Pálmadóttir, Cantabile, the Reykjavík Girl Choir and Vox Feminae, will sing from 4 pm to 6:30 pm on Ingólfstorg and Laekjartorg squares, Bankastraeti, Laugavegur, Skólavördustígur and the Christmas Village, Morgunbladid reports.
Troubadour Svavar Knútur will perform in the same locations from 4 pm onwards, while accordion player Ástvaldur Traustason will entertain passersby on Skólavördustígur between 2 and 4 pm.
The ogress Grýla and some of her sons, including the Yule Lad Door Slammer, will welcome visitors to the Christmas Village beginning at 4:30 pm.
In the evening there will be a series of concerts at the village: pop band Retro Stefson will be the first to play at 8 pm, followed by classical singers Jóhann Fridgeir, Gardar Thor Cortes and Gissur Páll performing carols.
The program ends at 11 pm, the same time that most stores close.
