Iceland is celebrating sumardagurinn fyrsti, or the First Day of Summer, April 20th! Icelanders across the country partake in this public holiday with parades, sporting events and organized entertainment.
Traditionally held the first Thursday after April 18th, the Icelandic first day of summer traces back to the Old Norse calendar used by Iceland’s ancestors. The Norse calendar initially divided the year into only two seasons, winter and summer. The first day of summer originally recognized the first day of Harpa (not the famed concert hall in Reykjavik, but the first month of the summer season). Though the weather might not always feel like summer by late April, Icelanders still enjoy the tradition of welcoming in the new season.
How do you plan to celebrate Iceland’s first day of summer? Show us how you kick off the start of the new season by tweeting us a picture @IcelandNatural.
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