Icelandic National Day

Icelandic National Day is a national holiday that commemorates the founding of the Republic of Iceland on June 17, 1944. Iceland's centuries-old links with Denmark come to an end on this date.

Icelanders now observe this holiday on a nationwide level. Parades through each city, town, or hamlet, usually led by a brass band, are a traditional part of the celebration. On Icelandic National Day riders on Icelandic horses frequently precede the brass band, which is followed by a flag-bearing group from the Icelandic scout organization.

After the parade, speeches are delivered in the open, including one by Fjallkonan (the mountain woman), who recites a poem while dressed in Skautbningur. She is a symbol of the Icelandic nation's and nature's ferocious spirit. In many ways, this harkens back to the romantic era that dominated when the country's initial moves toward independence were taken.

Date: June 17th