During Christmas, Iceland (the Reykjavík area in particular) is a wonderland of unique traditions and festive activities, beginning with the ‘Icelandic Christmas Buffet’. The Christmas season in Iceland is rich with culinary traditions, and it’s a perfect way to immerse yourself in Icelandic culture: the local buffet is a must-try. It’s not just about delicacies like hangikjöt (smoked lamb) and laufabrauð (leaf bread), but also about sharing these traditional dishes in a festive atmosphere. Further, vegan Christmas buffets are ever more common, as in Plantan Kaffihús, a vegan cafe in the city, or ‘mixed’, like at Hotel Borg.
The Yule Lads are a unique and quirky part of Icelandic Christmas folklore: searching for their projections on downtown buildings turns the city into a playful and magical scavenger hunt. It’s a fun, family-friendly activity and prizes are given away on Reykjavík city’s website (Visitreykjavik.is) for those who participate in the scavenger hunt. Ice skating in the heart of Reykjavík, at Ingólfstorg Square, surrounded by the city’s festive lights and lively atmosphere, with the Icelandic santas, or Yule Lads, hanging out on the ice and playing with the kids, is a picturesque way to enjoy the Icelandic winter. Careful for potential falls, though: the ice-skating rink is rather bumpy.
Places like the ‘Hand Knitting Association of Iceland‘, ‘Kirsuberjatréð shop‘, and ‘Rammagerðin store‘ are treasure troves of authentic Icelandic goods and craftsmanship, from traditional sweaters to handcrafted items. The area of Laugardalur in Reykjavík transforms their botanic garden and surrounding park into a lovely Christmas Village with tons of lights, a functioning Merry Go Round, the Christmas cat, gingerbread cookie decorating, and family puzzles at the restaurant. (Open times: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours until 8 pm on Fridays to Sundays until Christmas). Christmas at the ‘Árbær Open Air Museum‘ showcases how Icelanders celebrated Christmas before modern times: one can see how traditional leaf bread (laufabrauð) is made, dancing and singing around the Christmas tree, wool being spun, and even taste traditional Icelandic hangiköt (smoked lamb). This museum is amazing all year round, but it is extra special during the Christmas season. (Open times: Sunday, 10 December, and 17 December from 13:00-16:00.)
Read more on All Things Iceland
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