all about the rotating daylight hours in iceland
Winter and Summer Solstice in Iceland
For centuries the Icelanders have celebrated the arrival of the summer and winter solstice with bonfires and a feast: each one boasting multiple traditions, folklore, and legends. In winter, there are days with only 3 hours of sunlight, and during the summer there are days with 24 hours of daylight.
Summer Solstice in Iceland
The summer solstice is observed between June 21st and June 23rd when the sun stays visible for 24 hours a day. If you spend your night outside, you can see the sun settle on the horizon, and then it appears to abort and starts climbing once again. At the end of that period, on June 24th, Icelanders celebrate Jónsmessa in Iceland, which means St. Johns Mass after John the Baptist. It signifies the end of the lambing season and the approaching long nights.
The Icelanders who believe in the Huldufólk (Hidden people, elves, and trolls) know these beings are up to mischief on this day, and cows can talk, seals turn into humans, and you must roll naked in the grass. It is no laughing matter!
There are also more modern traditions cropping up, such as the Arctic Open (a midnight golf tournament) and the Suzuki Midnight Run.
The neverending days
This photo was taken just after midnight in early July. During the peak of the summer solstice period, the night won’t ever get this “dark.”
The days are long (neverending), and it can be disorientating to fall asleep with the sun visible in the sky, but also it means that keeping to your home countries time-zone during your trip is entirely possible. Many take advantage of this constant daylight to entirely skip the jetlag and wander during the night hours! We can attest to the dreamy ambiance this can offer throughout your journey. If you choose this method of travel, a sleeping mask is a definite must-have, as you’ll be napping during the brightest hours of the day. The camper’s way of travel is especially susceptible to the brightness, or the lack of control of said brightness in your sleeping quarters. (Sleep masks are available at CampEasy)
Icelandic celebrations in summer
Icelanders have a few celebrations and festivals in June, including the Secret Solstice festival- probably the most (internationally) famous music festival of the summer. Locally, the National Festival ‘Þjóðhátíð’ is by far the most known and attended, although, that’s later in the summer. Iceland’s National Day of Independence is marked by a national holiday with parades on June 17th, and Icelanders come out in large crowds to celebrate.
24-hour sunlight is convenient for those participating in the Rúntur, AKA, the pub-crawl in downtown Reykjavik. Crowds of people enjoying the midnight sun go from pub-to-pub and can head home in the early hours, though it still feels like midday. Summertime is also perfect for those wishing to visit the Icelandic Highlands, as the mountain roads (F-Roads) begin to open in early June.
Check out the Secret Solstice “Aftermovie” from 2019.
Winter Solstice in Iceland
Icelanders celebrate Winter solstice, the darkest part of winter when the sun does not rise at all. With the skies lighting up for about 4 hours, and only 2 hours in the North of Iceland. During these dark months, it is not pitch-black, but the day consists of twilight for most of the (short) day.
The half-way point of winter signifies the longer days ahead. In Viking times, Icelanders celebrated with a feast called ‘Jól,’ which means ‘Christmas’ in Icelandic. Although, what they called Christmas bears little resemblance to the modern festivities we know today. Followers of the pagan religion Ásatrúarfélagið still celebrate with a feast and ceremony called Jólablót.
Iceland has 13 Santa’s called the Yule Lads- who come down from the mountains one-by-one, and you can spot them hiding downtown, projected onto buildings. It is the Yule Lads, not Santa Claus, who bring Icelandic children their Christmas gifts, or a potato if they have been naughty! And the Christmas cat comes to eat them if they are unlucky.
The time of seclusion
The winter solstice is an excellent time to experience the northern lights, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy live music at the Christmas Markets in downtown Reykjavik (Jólaportið) and take advantage of low tourist numbers and explore Iceland during winter in relative isolation.
Many of the main attractions in Iceland are significantly less visited during winter. Many choose this time of year to experience a lot of what Iceland offers due to the calmer atmosphere and fewer tourists. The snow-covered mountains, beaches, and scenery are a beautiful sight to behold during these twilight times. The sunsets during this season are a magnificent fiery orange and pink and linger for a long time. Prices in Iceland are also significantly lower in the off-peak winter season.
Many of the main attractions in Iceland are significantly less visited during winter. Many choose this time of year to experience a lot of what Iceland offers due to the calmer atmosphere and fewer tourists.
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