More and more people are visiting Iceland for their Christmas holidays and New Year's Eve. What is so special about Christmas in Iceland? In this article, we will introduce how Icelanders celebrate Christmas in the Arctic Circle, where the sunshine is short, and introduce the food and Christmas markets in Iceland.

In Icelandic folklore there are 13 Santas called 'jolasveinar', each with a different character and name.

After Christmas (24 December) they go home one by one until they all leave on 6 January, marking the official end of the Christmas holiday, known as the 13th day (Þrettandinn). According to Icelandic tradition, bonfires are lit all over the country tonight, and many people will burn out the fireworks left over from New Year's Eve.

🎄 Christmas Market

◇ Fleamarket (Kolaportiðflea Market)

Located in the heart of the city by the harbour, it is open every weekend, where you can find all kinds of Icelandic items, including Christmas souvenirs.

In addition to this, there are unique vintage clothing, English books, old postcards and stamps, knick-knacks and antiques, as well as fine locally made jewelry. There are also toys and glasses, and for the mystics, shops selling stones of various mystical powers can satisfy their needs.

◇ Matholl Food Court

Super delicious food, and during Christmas, you can also drink the traditional European mulled wine. According to tradition, it will be transformed into an ice rink every December, with bright lights, no tickets and skates to rent on site. It's a place where all the foodies can find something to love.

◇ Hafnarfjorður Town

A Christmas market is held on the weekends of December, where you can buy Christmas items, enjoy live music, and if you are interested in Icelandic horses, you can also take a tour of the town by Icelandic horse-drawn carriage.

◇ Heðmork Forest

About a 30-minute drive away, you can buy Christmas trees here, as well as handmade decorations at the Christmas market in the forest.

◇ Arbær Museum

In December, a Christmas-themed event was also launched, in the traditional Viking hut, visitors will be led by docent to knit Icelandic sweaters, make Christmas decorations, and have the opportunity to taste Iceland's special Christmas food.

🥩 Christmas food

🍙 The most famous "sara" is a dessert with almond crackers and chocolate cream filling. Of course, Icelanders also make gingerbread cookies, chocolate biscuits, licorice and other kinds of cakes.

🍙 Bacon Hangikjot

The most common Christmas treat, this smoked leg of lamb is very salty and flavorful, can be eaten hot or cold, and is usually served with pancakes, potato sauce, beans and red-leaf cabbage.

🍙 Reindeer meat, pine chicken

For those who love game, Christmas is not perfect without both.

🥢 Icelandic New Year

First of all, New Year's Eve is a fireworks festival, the spectacular scene is wonderful. Icelanders spend a lot of money on fireworks every year, not only because they love to watch fireworks, but also because they support Iceland's search and rescue teams.

Fireworks are set off before New Year's Eve and will last until around January 6. Before New Year's Eve, Icelanders and their families gather around the campfire for a big dinner, and around 10 p.m., everyone watches a satirical comedy show on TV. At midnight, people light up the streets with fireworks and then go to all kinds of parties.

🏷 recommends two places to watch the fireworks:

Pearl Tower and Hargrimes Cathedral are the best places to see the festive fireworks. For Icelanders, fireworks are a spiritual gesture to show their support for Iceland's search and rescue teams, and people start to set off fireworks as the New Year approaches and continue until around January 6.