Marking the concluding day of the yuletide season, Christmas comes to an end.
**Twelfth Night (Þrettándinn) Celebrations Light Up Iceland**
The Twelfth Night, known as Þrettándinn in Icelandic and the Thirteenth in the English-speaking world, marked the end of the Christmas season on January 6. This significant celebration is traditionally commemorated with bonfires, known as bónus or bónusbruni, across the country.
The bonfires symbolize the light and warmth of the new year, serving as a means to purify and cleanse the community from the past year's impurities. People gather around these bonfires to socialize, share food, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Music, singing, and fireworks are common elements of the celebrations, contributing to the lively atmosphere.
One of the most notable Twelfth Night celebrations took place in the western part of Reykjavík, where a large bonfire was held at Ægissíða. The bonfire was unusually large, according to Sveinn Bjarki, a teacher who led a group singing at the event. The weather was calm but cold, making it perfect for the festivities.
The festival started at Melaskóli elementary school, where Sveinn led a mass singing group that marched with torches down to Ægissíða. A fairly large group of tourists also joined the locals in the area for this festivity.
Attendees at the bonfire in the western part of Reykjavík could enjoy baked waffles, with many people enjoying eating waffles while celebrating the last day of Christmas. The Icelandic Yule lads also made an appearance at Ægissíða, meeting with the group and the torches being thrown at the stake during the bonfire.
While the Twelfth Night celebrations are widespread across Iceland, they are particularly notable in larger towns and cities such as Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Vestmannaeyjar. These events are typically announced in local news and social media platforms, allowing both locals and tourists to participate.
The celebrations are deeply rooted in Icelandic folk tradition and are an integral part of the country's cultural heritage. They serve as a way to welcome the coming year and bid farewell to the winter darkness, symbolizing hope and renewal.
As the Twelfth Night celebrations come to a close, Icelanders look forward to the new year with anticipation, ready to embrace the light and warmth that the bonfires symbolize.
During the Twelfth Night celebrations in Reykjavik, the large bonfire at Ægissíða became a hub for outdoor-living, where attendees dined on baked waffles, shared stories, and enjoyed the festive atmosphere, all amidst the cold but calm weather. This event, deeply ingrained in Iceland's home-and-garden and lifestyle traditions, provided a chance for locals and tourists to join together and partake in the communal purification ritual, symbolizing hope and renewal as the winter darkness yields to the light and warmth of the new year.
