First Day of Summer

This article is about the Iceland holiday. For the day on which summer begins, see Season § Reckoning.
First Day of Summer
Official name sumardagurinn fyrsti
Observed by Iceland
Date first Thursday after 18 April
2015 date 23 April
2016 date 21 April
2017 date 20 April
2018 date 19 April
Frequency annual

The First Day of Summer (sumardagurinn fyrsti) is an annual public holiday in Iceland held on the first Thursday after 18 April. In former times, the Icelanders used the Old Norse calendar which divided the year into only two seasons, winter and summer. Although the climate in late April cannot be considered to be summer-like, after the long winter, Icelanders still celebrate this first day of "summer" with parades, sporting events and organized entertainment, held in various places around Iceland.[1]

See also

References

  1. "Public Holidays in Iceland". Icelandic Tourist Board. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
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