Hello, dear reader, how good to have you back. I know I haven’t published for more than a month, because I have been super busy with things to read and much more to write for my studies at the University. I have actually written for La Ísland, but the publishing process is more laborious. Patience, I'll finish updating you soon. Now that I'm on holiday, I have time and am taking advantage of the thirteen days until Christmas. So instead of making an advent calendar from the first of December, or only texts on certain days, I have decided to write a collection of texts with a Christmas theme. One a day, for the next thirteen days. Like the thirteen Jólasveinar.
Let's call it "Christmas a LA ÍSLANDesa" (trust me, in Spanish it works better)
As part of this introduction, let me tell you about the December festivities in Iceland, making a brief overview of the main days within the celebrations around Christmas.
December 23rd: Þorláksmessa
December 23rd in Iceland is a day full of activities. Known as Þorláksmessa in honor of Bishop Þorlákur Þórhallsson, it means “The mass of Þorlákur”. This bishop was canonized and is considered the Patron Saint of Iceland. In addition to the mass that is celebrated on this day, people often go for the last minute Christmas shopping. I hope you visualize it because, despite being a small island, this day is HELL if it occurs to you to go buy something at the mall. Furthermore, during this day Icelanders traditionally decorate their Christmas tree. And I want to be emphatic, traditionally, of course there are those who have been embracing the Christmas spirit since November (I am looking at you, Municipality of Kópavogur). As if all this were not enough, in the so-called Vestfirðir (or Western Fjords) it is common to eat skata (skate) fermented in ammonia. It is a… gastronomic peculiarity, more than the taste… the smell is penetrating. But let's not rush, the time will come to talk about it. Finally, another of the traditional activities on this day is to visit the cemetery. Queues of cars crowd together to visit the graves of their loved ones. They usually put candles and pay respect to those who are no longer here.
December 24th: Aðfangadagur
The main day, like Christmas Eve for us in Mexico, or the day when dinner and gifts are given is December 24 and is called Aðfangadagur or literally “Preparation Day”. The term is thought to have its origin from Greek. I will not go into much detail, but it is a day that is typically celebrated with the family and is the main celebration within the holiday calendar (of course before New Years). It is also the day when the last of the Jólasveinar arrives and with him, the most representative gift for children.
December 25th: Jóladagur
Literally “Christmas Day”, on this day you usually don't do much, it is a day of reheated food and family laziness. Some people usually go with the other side of their family with whom they did not celebrate Christmas with and some tend to have lamb for dinner.
December 26th: Annar í Jólum
I know that technically we would not have to talk about this day, but I find it peculiar that there is a day on the calendar that specifically says "The day after Christmas." And yes, this is an extension of the 25th: lazy and more reheated food.
This is how the days are marked in December on the Icelandic calendar, but let's not forget that starting today, the thirteen Santa Clauses are also part of the celebrations that surround the Christmas spirit… By the way, Stekkjarstaur or “Stiffy legs”/ “Sheep-Cote Clod” arrived today.
