Marking the Final Peaceful Day of Christmas Celebrations
In Iceland, the Sixth of January, known locally as Þrettándinn or the Twelfth Night, marks the unofficial end of Christmas celebrations. On this day, the town of Reykjavik hosted a bonfire at Ægissíða, attracting a large crowd.
Sveinn Bjarki, a teacher leading a singing group, commented that the bonfire was unusually large. The festivities began at Melaskóli elementary school at 18 PM, with Sveinn leading a mass singing group that marched with torches towards Ægissíða, accompanied by the police. Upon arrival, the Icelandic Yule lads met with the group, and the torches were thrown onto the stake.
The weather was calm but cold, which Sveinn believed contributed to the good turnout. A sizable group of tourists also joined the locals in the area for this festivity. Many people enjoyed eating waffles while celebrating the last day of Christmas. The bonfire and fireworks were organized by the parents' association of local elementary schools.
While the Twelfth Night bonfire in the western part of Reykjavik is an annual event, it is not widely recognized as a major Icelandic tradition. Instead, large bonfires and fireworks displays are central to the New Year’s Eve celebrations, with a well-known spirit of togetherness as people count down to the New Year. In this context, bonfires are highly organized events, with designated spots in various neighborhoods across the city.
Elsewhere in the country, bonfires were also held in Akranes, Mosfellsbær, and Djúpivogur, among others. In the western part of town, the singer Friðrik Dór Jónsson performed at a separate bonfire event.
The calm but cold weather enticed a large crowd to gather at the Twelfth Night bonfire in Reykjavik, making it an ideal setting for outdoor-living and lifestyle enthusiasts. As the home-and-garden fires lit up the night, the local schools' parents' association, tourists, and locals savored waffles while celebrating the magical atmosphere, creating a unique blend of home-and-garden festivities and outdoor-living merriment.
