In Iceland, there are thirteen Yule Lads. The last one, Kertasníkir (Candle Stealer), returns to the mountains on Twelfth Night, January 6. This marks the formal end of Christmas in Iceland, celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. Twelfth Night used to be a major holiday in Iceland until 1770, when the Danish king removed it as a public holiday, along with Whit Monday and the third day of Easter. The king thought Icelanders had too many holidays.
January 6 remains significant in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the date of Jesus’ birth, but in the Western Church, it was agreed in 567 CE that Jesus’ birth would be celebrated on the night of December 24-25, with his baptism commemorated on January 6, thirteen days after Christmas.
Icelandic Times / Land & Saga visited picturesque seaside street Ægissída in Reykjavík’s western district to experience singing, torch-lit bonfires, and fireworks.
Reykjavik 06/01/2025 – A7R IV, A7C R – FE 1.8/135mm, FE 1.4/24mm GM
Images & Text: Páll Stefánsson
