Carving pumpkins for Hallowe’en is a growing trend in Iceland. RÚV reports that pumpkins are currently sold out in grocery stores around the country.
Though Hallowe’en is not traditionally celebrated in Iceland, more and more locals are partaking in North American traditions to mark the holiday, including carving jack-o’-lanterns. Sævar Óli Ólafsson, chief buyer at Samkaup has notice the trend. “We have doubled our sales [of pumpkins] compared to last year,” he stated.
Icelandic children and adults are increasingly dressing up on October 31, even trick-or-treating in some neighbourhoods. The popularity of American television and movies is likely behind the trend.
