At this time of year, people in Iceland are celebrating the start of the first summer month (Harpa) of the old Icelandic calendar. The year was split into just two seasons back then – summer and winter – so although it is still a bit chilly in April, it marks the lengthening of days and the end of the harsh winter. According to folklore, on the night before summer begins, if you put a dish of water outside and it freezes, you’ll have a good summer.
Icelanders celebrate the start of summer by taking part in flag-waving local parades, listening to marching bands and enjoying outdoor games and sports with family and friends. There’s a tradition of giving summer gifts (‘sumargjafir’), and those are often connected to outdoor activities – maybe a bike or a football, or new clothes to encourage children to play together in the fresh air after the long, cold winter.
Iceland (Icelandic: Ísland; ()) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, with a population of 356,991 and an area of 103,000 km 2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík.Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population.
Calling code: +354