Public holidays in Iceland
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Public holidays in Iceland are established by the act of the Icelandic parliament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.althingi.is/lagas/126a/1971088.html|title=88/1971: Lög um 40 stunda vinnuviku|website=Alþingi|access-date=2016-06-01}} 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
| class="wikitable"
!Date !English name !Local name !Comment |
| 1 January
|Nýársdagur |
| Moveable
|Skírdagur |Literal meaning: Christening day |
| Moveable
|Föstudagurinn langi |Flag day (flown at half-mast) Literal meaning: Long Friday. |
| Moveable
|Páskadagur |
| Moveable
|Annar í páskum |Literal meaning: Second day of Easter |
| Moveable
|Sumardagurinn fyrsti Thursday between 19 and 25 April |
| 1 May
|Verkalýðsdagurinn Literal meaning: Labour Day |
| Moveable
|Uppstigningardagur |
| Moveable
|Hvítasunnudagur |
| Moveable
|Annar í hvítasunnu |Literal meaning: Second in White Sunday |
| 17 June
|Þjóðhátíðardagurinn Commemorates the foundation of the republic. Typically referred to as "17. júní". |
| Moveable
|Frídagur verslunarmanna |First Monday in August. The long weekend is usually the largest domestic travel weekend |
| 24 December
|Aðfangadagur |Holiday from 13:00 |
| 25 December
|Jóladagur |
| 26 December
|Annar í jólum |Literal meaning: Second Day of Christmas |
| 31 December
|Gamlársdagur |Literal 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.
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! English name ! Local name ! Literal meaning ! Remarks |
|---|
| January 6
| Epiphany | The Thirteenth |
| Moveable
| Husband's Day | Bóndadagur | Friday between 19 and 25 January |
| Moveable
| Woman's Day | Konudagur | Sunday between 18 and 24 February |
| March 1
| Beer Day | Bjórdagurinn | |Celebrates the legalization of beer in Iceland, March 1, 1989. |
| Moveable
| Bolludagur | Bun Day |
| Moveable
| Sprengidagur | Bursting Day |
| Moveable
| Ash Day |
| Moveable
| Pálmasunnudagur |
| Moveable
| Mæðradagurinn | Second Sunday in May |
| Moveable
| Fisherman's Day | Sjómannadagurinn | First Sunday in June. |
| June 19
| Women's Rights Day | Kvenréttindadagurinn |
| June 24
| John's Mass | St John the Baptist's Mass Day, also known as Midsummer Night |
| Moveable
| First Day of Winter | Fyrsti vetrardagur |
| Moveable
| Feðradagurinn | Second Sunday in November |
| November 16
| Dagur íslenskrar tungu | Flag day |
| December 1
| Sovereignty Day | Fullveldisdagurinn | Independence Day |
| December 23
| St Thorlac is Patron Saint of Iceland |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Iceland topics}}
{{Public holidays in Europe}}