Icelandic scouts walk down Suðurgata from Austurvöllur towards Jón Sigurðsson’s gravestone in Hólavellir cemetery
National Day of Iceland 17 June Photographer Páll Stefánsson went to downtown Reykjavík to capture the day’s atmosphere.
I
celand became a republic on 17th June 1944, the birthday of Iceland’s biggest independence hero Jón Sigurðsson (1811-1879). People were happy in downtown Reykjavík; three days before the holiday, the Government gave permission for up to 300 people to come together. Despite relatively cold weather (10° C / 50° F), there was no rain, making the day better. There wasn’t much fanfare, and to make sure people wouldn’t congregate in too large numbers, brass bands, circus people and other entertainers spread through the city centre. -PHOTOS PÁLL STEFÁNSSON
10
President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir walk from Alþingi to Austurvöllur during the day’s celebrations.
www.icelandictimes.com
