11/26/2025 | 11:00 AM
How do you celebrate Christmas on the edge of the Arctic region, in a season with less than five hours of daylight? The answer is simple: wander through twinkling streets, warm cafes, and glowing neighborhoods, and embrace the coziness of the season.
Icelanders proudly embrace the season, lavishly decorating their houses and gardens with plenty of colorful lights. These dazzling displays are usually kept running well into the new year and lift the spirits of the people through the coldest, darkest weeks of the winter season.
But an Icelandic Christmas involves so much more than just this. It’s a festive blend of food, folklore, and family traditions that gives Christmas a character all of its own.
Read on to learn all about how people celebrate Christmas in Iceland and what you can expect if you’re visiting at this time of year.
Many Christmas holiday traditions in Iceland will be familiar to North American and European travelers, from the Christmas trees that brighten up homes, to family feasts and the singing of yuletide carols. But dig a little deeper and you’ll quickly discover customs that set Iceland apart.
For one thing, you won’t find Santa Claus in Iceland. Instead, Iceland has 13 Santas, known as the Yule Lads. It’s a whole troupe of Icelandic Santa Clauses, each with their own quirks and stories.
Another distinct tradition in Iceland is that they celebrate on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day itself. Festivities begin at 6pm on December 24, a custom rooted in old Norse and Christian timekeeping where the new day was believed to start at sundown.
The national radio announces the official beginning of Christmas when the clock strikes six on the evening of December 24, at which point everyone wishes their loved ones a Merry Christmas (or in Icelandic: Gleðileg jól).
Today, Christmas Eve celebrations are at the heart of the holiday season, allowing families to gather for dinner, exchange gifts, light candles, read books, and enjoy a slow, cozy evening together.
From the ogress Grýla and her filthy husband Leppalúði, to their cheeky sons, the Yule Lads of Iceland – all these folklore characters come alive in December. Historically, the 13 Yule Lads, or jólasveinarnir in Icelandic, were mischievous troublemakers who slammed doors, stole candles, or swiped leftovers from unsuspecting households. These naughty characters are each named after their favorite mischievous prank to pull on unsuspecting citizens; one steals sausages, another slams doors, and another licks pots for leftovers.
Originally, they were sinister spirits, used to scare children into good behavior, but as time has gone on and homes have become more modern, these creatures have become tamer and friendlier. Each one descends down from the mountain during the 13 nights before Christmas. Instead of stealing and wreaking havoc, the Yule Lads are far more generous than menacing and are now in the habit of leaving goodies in children’s shoes. However, if you’ve been naughty, you’ll still just get a rotten potato.
If you truly want to get into the Icelandic holiday spirit, it’s possible to visit Dimmuborgir in the Mývatn region of North Iceland, the home of Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads, and meet the characters of this folklore in a fun visit.
Alongside the Yule Lads, the Yule Cat is one of Iceland’s most memorable Christmas legends: a giant, prowling creature who loves the taste of humans, and is said to stalk the snowy countryside during the holidays. According to tradition, the Yule Cat appears at Christmastime to check who has received new clothes for the season, a tale once used to encourage families to finish their wool work before the winter.
It’s said that anyone who doesn’t receive new clothing before Christmas Eve will be eaten by the Icelandic Yule Cat. Today, the story is more playful than frightening, but it still remains an essential part of Icelandic folklore and is the reason behind the tradition of gifting new clothes for Christmas to ward him off.
You can get up close and personal with Iceland’s Christmas cat every year as a giant sculpture covered in festive lights is displayed in Lækjartorg in downtown Reykjavík.
One of Iceland’s most heartwarming Christmas traditions is the Jólabókaflóð, or 'Christmas book flood'. It began in the mid-20th century, when paper was one of the few non-rationed items, and so the gift of great stories was one of the highlights of the Christmas season. It was so beloved that this literary tradition still exists today.
Nowadays, people give books to their loved ones on Christmas Eve, spending the night getting lost in their new stories with a hot chocolate and other festive treats. It’s a cozy celebration that reflects the country’s deep literary roots.
Traditional Icelandic Christmas food consists of comforting winter dishes that are usually longstanding cultural traditions.
To get into the festive spirit, families gather to feast on rich roasts, smoked meats, homemade breads, and homemade cookies in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
On December 23, families will also celebrate Þorláksmessa, a day that honors the 12th-century saint Þorlákur helgi. To mark this day, people eat fermented skate, a very potent but iconic dish.
It's easy for travelers to sample traditional Christmas dishes – many restaurants (especially those at larger hotels) offer jólahlaðborð events, or Christmas buffets, beginning in late November. These involve tables groaning under the weight of cold dishes (smoked salmon, herring, pate, smoked lamb), meats (pork, lamb, turkey, possibly duck), side dishes, and cheeses and desserts. There will usually be vegetarian and vegan options provided, too. The jólabrunch (also called the jólabröns) is a similar offering, but usually less extensive.
Here are some of the most popular festive dishes:
Smoked lamb (hangikjöt): The star of many Icelandic Christmas gatherings, it’s boiled like a ham and served cold alongside potatoes in bechamel sauce. It's also popular sliced on flatbread.
Laufabrauð (literally 'leaf bread'): This decorative, thin and crunchy flatbread (pictured) is cut into intricate patterns and fried until crisp. The creation of this dish brings families together in the lead-up to Christmas, and it’s a must-have on any Icelandic Christmas table. It's also available in supermarkets.
Roasted or glazed pork (hamborgarhryggur): It’s a traditional favorite in many households, especially on Christmas Eve, and stems from Danish traditions (the name is not connected to hamburger! It likely derives from Hamburg in northern Germany).
Ptarmigan(rjúpa): This is a type of grouse that changes its feather color from brown to white in winter and is a traditional dish. It’s a protected bird now and has a limited number that can be hunted per year.
Hearty sides: A dinner with all the trimmings usually consists of pickled red cabbage, caramelized potatoes, and green peas and assorted veg – and surprisingly, a creamy version of Waldorf salad.
Vegetarian Christmas dishes in Iceland: The are becoming increasingly common, featuring root vegetables, grains, and winter spices.
Christmas feasts are usually washed down with the national favorite Christmas drink: Malt og appelsín. This is a mix of locally produced Maltextrakt (a sweet malt drink) and Appelsín (an orange-flavored soda). Breweries also release seasonal Christmas beers (jólabjór) from about November, and these are very popular.
For something sweet, these are some of the go-to desserts and cookies:
Piparkökur: These are deliciously spiced ginger cookies that are often cut into festive shapes and decorated with icing.
Sarah Bernhardt cookies: Named after the French stage actress, these almond macaroon-based cookie bottoms are topped with a rich chocolate cream and dipped in chocolate.
Skúffukaka: A soft chocolate sheet cake topped with coconut icing, served at many holiday gatherings.
Rice pudding (möndlugrautur): Almond rice pudding served on Christmas Eve, traditionally hiding one whole almond in the pot for luck. Everyone then guesses who managed to scoop it up.
These sweet delicacies are consumed by Icelanders throughout the festive season, shared with family and friends in the warmth of their homes, alongside numerous other layer cakes and cookie options.
December in Iceland brings frosty days, glowing nights, and a fun, festive atmosphere that can’t be beaten. Before you set off for an Iceland Christmas vacation, it helps to know what conditions to expect, what to pack, and what to do so you can make the most of your trip.
Iceland at Christmas is cold, crisp, and beautifully atmospheric. Expect temperatures around freezing (28°F to 39°F), which can feel much colder on windy days. Alongside the frosty weather, there’s limited daylight, roughly only 4-5 hours per day, with long twilight periods. But that just means that the Christmas lights glow even brighter.
Wondering what to pack for your Christmas getaway? Warm layers, waterproof outerwear, winter boots with good grip, thermal accessories, and, as always in Iceland, a swimsuit to defrost in the geothermal pools.
Reykjavík hosts some of the best of Iceland’s Christmas markets throughout December, offering handmade crafts, traditional food, Icelandic Christmas ornaments, and festive drinks. Expect warm lights, buzzing stalls, and seasonal music. These markets are perfect for picking up unique gifts and enjoying the atmosphere of an authentic Icelandic Christmas.
Good places in and around the capital where you can get into the festive spirit include the petite ice-skating rink that's set up every year at Ingólfstorg in downtown Reykjavík. There's a small market in the surrounding area. Nearby is the 'Oslo Christmas tree' on Austurvöllur square, gifted annually to Reykjavík by Oslo.
The Árbær open-air museum has a popular program of events in December and is a wonderful way to learn about Icelandic Christmas traditions.
Photo: The Oslo Christmas tree at Austurvöllur, Reykjavik. Photo credit: Visit Reykjavík/Ragnar Th.
Hafnarfjörður, just a short drive from Reykjavík, brands itself as 'Jólabærinn' (the Christmas town) and hosts a sweet Christmas market on weekends in the lead-up to Christmas. It's held in the center of town and is called Jólaþorpið (the Christmas village). This is the largest market in the capital region. Nearby is an enchanting park called Hellisgerði, well worth a stroll to admire the twinkling lights and festive scene.
Loads of Christmas events and resources are online, and a great place to start is Visit Reykjavík or the website for the town of Hafnarfjörður.
New Year’s Eve is one of Iceland’s biggest celebrations and the locals go all-out to say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new.
Neighborhood bonfires lead into an unforgettable night of fireworks to start the New Year off with a bang above lively street celebrations in Reykjavík.
With its glowing villages, folklore-filled traditions, and festive warmth that cuts through the Arctic darkness, Iceland offers a holiday season unlike anywhere else. Whether you come for the Yule Lads, the cozy winter feasts, or the truly unique traditions, it’s a celebration full of atmosphere and Icelandic charm.
If you're feeling inspired, you can explore even more seasonal moments like the Reykjavík Christmas walking tour or simply experience the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer during the holidays. And if it’s natural wonders you’re after, Christmas is also a good time to look for the northern lights. Head out on your own search or opt for a northern lights tour for a chance to see something truly spectacular.
So, are you ready to plan your festive getaway? Browse flights to Reykjavík and discover more of Iceland’s winter travel inspiration to start shaping your Christmas adventure.