Your Friend In Reykjavik Blog

Stories and Inspiration from Your Friend In Reykjavik

December 30, 2022

Haustmánuður – The Sheep Round-Up Month

Haustmánuður, or Autumn Month, was the last month of the Old Icelandic Calendar. It was the time when farmers did their sheep round-up, and the slaughter season began....

December 30, 2022

Tvímánuður – Second to Last Summer Month in Iceland

Tvímánuður is the second to last summer month in Iceland, according to the Old Icelandic Calendar. Þingvellir in the beginning of September. Nordic and Northern European people used...

December 29, 2022

Old Icelandic Calendar: Heyannir

Heyannir, or Hay Work, was the 10th month of the year, according to the Old Icelandic Calendar. It was also the 4th summer month. The month’s name describes...

December 29, 2022

The Midsummer month Sólmánuður

The midsummer month Sólmánuður, or Sun Month, began, as the name would suggest, during midsummer. Nordic and Northern European people used the Norse calendar until Christianity took over....

December 23, 2022

The Raven at Skíðastaðir

One section of Jón Árnason’s Icelandic Legends deals with divine punishment. Those stories are treated somewhat differently and have a more serious content than the other stories about...

December 22, 2022

The Watchman in Reykjavik

Vaktari, or watchman, was a job initially created between 1770 and 1780 in Reykjavík. It was at the initiative of representatives of the New Enterprises company (Innréttingarnar). It...

December 21, 2022

Icelandic Gingersnaps – Piparkökur

Most people know gingersnaps, biscuits flavored with ginger and other spices, such as cinnamon, molasses, and clove. The Northern European version, or Icelandic gingersnaps, piparkökur (pepper cookies), is...

The Northern Lights in Iceland during winter

December 20, 2022

Myths and Legends of the Northern Lights

Visitors flock to Iceland from all over the world with long lists of things to see and do. For some people, trips to the Land of Fire and...

December 16, 2022

Food Halls in Reykjavik

So, Food Halls in Reykjavik. We’ve told you that Icelanders are a bit of a fad nation. If something becomes cool, everyone must have it. And one of...

December 16, 2022

The Best Seafood Restaurants in Reykjavik

There are a few seafood restaurants in Reykjavik, but oddly there are not that many which focus solely on seafood. But that’s good for those in a group...

December 14, 2022

The Best Steak Restaurants in Reykjavik

It will never be said enough but eating food is the second most important thing you will ever do on any travel (after breathing). Since it is so...

December 9, 2022

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve

Iceland has many folktales about Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Many deals with elves that, for some reason, use that time to be out and about. Some...