Public holidays in Iceland are established by the act of the Icelandic parliament. The public holidays are the religious holidays of the Church of Iceland and the First Day of Summer, May Day, the Icelandic National Day. In addition, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are holidays from 1 PM.
There are also twelve official flag days in Iceland, some of which are not public holidays. On a flag day all government buildings fly the flag. Although citizens are not obliged to do it, most people do, if they have a flagpole.
Public holidays DateEnglish nameLocal nameComment1 JanuaryNew Year's DayNýársdagurFlag dayMoveableMaundy ThursdaySkírdagurLiteral meaning: Christening dayMoveableGood FridayFöstudagurinn langiFlag day (flown at half-mast) Literal meaning: Long Friday.MoveableEaster SundayPáskadagurFlag dayMoveableEaster MondayAnnar í páskumLiteral meaning: Second day of EasterMoveableFirst Day of SummerSumardagurinn fyrstiFlag day Thursday between 19 and 25 April1 MayMay DayVerkalýðsdagurinnFlag day Literal meaning: Labour DayMoveableAscension DayUppstigningardagurMoveableWhit SundayHvítasunnudagurFlag dayMoveableWhit MondayAnnar í hvítasunnuLiteral meaning: Second in White Sunday17 June National DayÞjóðhátíðardagurinnFlag day Commemorates the foundation of the republic. Typically referred to as "17. júní".MoveableCommerce DayFrídagur verslunarmannaFirst Monday in August. The long weekend is usually the largest domestic travel weekend24 DecemberChristmas EveAðfangadagurHoliday from 13:0025 DecemberChristmas DayJóladagurFlag day26 DecemberSecond Day of ChristmasAnnar í jólumLiteral meaning: Second Day of Christmas31 December New Year's EveGamlársdagurLiteral meaning: Old Year's Day. Holiday from 13:00
Other days that are celebrated In addition to the public holidays, other special days are celebrated in Iceland, some of which are official flagdays as well.
Date English name Local name Literal meaning Remarks6 January Epiphany Þrettándinn The Thirteenth Moveable Husband's Day BóndadagurFriday between 19 and 25 January Moveable Woman's Day KonudagurSunday between 18 and 24 February1 March Beer Day BjórdagurinnCelebrates the legalization of beer in Iceland, 1 March 1989. Moveable Shrove Monday Bolludagur Bun Day Moveable Shrove Tuesday Sprengidagur Bursting Day Moveable Ash Wednesday Öskudagur Ash Day Moveable Palm Sunday Pálmasunnudagur Moveable Mother's Day MæðradagurinnSecond Sunday in May Moveable Fisherman's Day SjómannadagurinnFirst Sunday in June. Flag day19 June Women's Rights Day Kvenréttindadagurinn24 June St John's Mass Day Jonsmessa John's Mass St John the Baptist's Mass Day, also known as Midsummer Night Moveable Father's Day FeðradagurinnSecond Sunday in November16 November Language Day Dagur íslenskrar tunguFlag day1 December Sovereignty Day Fullveldisdagurinn Independence DayFlag day23 December St. Thorlac's Mass Day ÞorláksmessaSt Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland
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