FEBRUARY 28 Bolludagur is the first in the row of three peculiar holidays that together constitute Icelandic Carnival. The name roughly translates to “Cream Puff Day” in English. It is always on a Monday, six weeks before Easter, so the actual date changes every year. Bakers from Denmark or Norway introduced the custom to Icelanders in the middle of the 19th century. They are responsible for bringing the delicious Bolludagsbolla to Iceland. Bolla is the Icelandic word for all sorts of round pastries, sweet or savoury. The Bolludagsbolla is a glorious choux pastry bun traditionally filled with jam and whipped cream and topped with a chocolate glaze.
EVENTS
BO L LU DAG U R
CI RCU L EI GH T ALL THROUGH FEBRUARY
WI N TER L I GH T S FE STI VA L FEBRUARY 3-6
KO NU DAGU R (WO M EN’S DAY ) FEBRUARY 20 Konudagur is a special day in honour of women. It’s sort of like Valentine’s Day, except that this day is only for women. There’s a separate day for men in January, Bóndadagur. Konudagur is linked to the old Norse calendar and it’s the first day of the month Góa. On this day, men (and everyone) treat the women in their lives. A common thing to do is to go out for dinner, or to give girlfriends/ wives nice gifts.
N O RTH ERN L I GH T S RU N 2 02 2 FEBRUARY 5 The Northern Lights Run is a run through downtown Reykjavík, during which runners will see the city in a new colourful light. Ditch your inhibitions and go all out in the illuminated streets of Reykjavík. All participants get their very own illuminating merchandise, making them a part of the entire show from start to finish. Participants will get a “swag bag” with illuminated goodies such as glasses, bracelets, and a finger light. And if you’re lucky, the northern lights will make an appearance, lighting up the sky!
C OV I D -19 D ISCL A IM ER The government of Iceland, The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, and The Directorate of Health are constantly monitoring the COVID-19 status in Iceland and are implementing regulations and restrictions in response to its development. Visit www.covid.is for the most up-to-date information.
Find more information on www.whatson.is
The Winter Lights Festival is an annual event aimed to stimulate city life in the middle of winter. The festival celebrates wintertime as well as the return of more daylight after a long period of darkness. On the programme, there’s a mix of art, sports, and culture and offers a variety of events for locals and visitors. All events are free of charge. The major museums, thermal pools, and the Reykjavík Ski Resort all join hands to put up fun and interesting events. And every year, beautiful light installations are placed around the city.
Circuleight features designs and real-time interactive visuals inspired by eight elements: lava, basalt, glacier, water, flora, algae, microorganism, and volcanic gas. Throughout the installation, audiences are fully immersed into this world through original music by Icelandic composer, singer and songwriter Högni Egilsson. Högni’s music combined with the interactive technology enables audiences to experience this installation in an unforgettable way.
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