Icelandic National Day

What the day marks

The holiday remembers 17 June 1944, when Iceland became a republic. Until then the country was tied to Denmark through a shared monarchy, and the new republic ended that arrangement. The date was not picked at random: it is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, the nineteenth-century leader of the independence movement and a central figure in Icelandic culture. Because the republic was declared on his birthday, the celebration joins a modern political event to an older national hero. The day is a public holiday in Iceland.

Origins and history

The 1918 Act of Union with Denmark allowed the arrangement to be reviewed in 1943. That review could not happen because Denmark was under German occupation. A referendum on ending the monarchy still went ahead in Iceland in 1944 and passed by a large majority. By then the United States had taken over Iceland's defence at Iceland's request, after British forces occupied the island in 1940. King Christian X, though unhappy with the result, wrote on 17 June 1944 to congratulate Icelanders on their republic. Sveinn Björnsson became the first president, and the constitution changed very little, with references to the king replaced by references to the president.

How it is kept

Celebrations happen across the whole country, in cities, towns and villages alike. A parade is the centre of the day, and a brass band usually leads it. Ahead of the band ride people on Icelandic horses, and behind it comes a flag-carrying group from the Icelandic scout movement. When the parade ends, speeches are given outdoors. One speaker is Fjallkonan, the woman of the mountain, dressed in Skautbúningur, who recites a poem. Later the mood turns informal, with a range of musical performances.

The woman of the mountain

Fjallkonan, which means the woman of the mountain, appears during the public speeches dressed in Skautbúningur and recites a poem. Icelanders see her as a symbol of the nation and of the country's nature. Her appearance recalls the romantic mood of the years when the first steps towards independence were taken. The poem comes during the open-air speeches that follow the parade. The mix of politics, poetry and costume gives the day its ceremonial character.

How Icelandic National Day is kept

The day is a public holiday, and celebrations take place across the country, in cities, towns and villages. A parade forms the centre of events, usually led by a brass band. Riders on Icelandic horses go ahead of the band, and a group carrying flags from the Icelandic scout movement follows it. After the parade, speeches are made outdoors, including a poem recited by Fjallkonan in Skautbúningur. When the formal part ends, people turn to concerts and other informal gatherings.

When and where

It falls on 17 June every year, the same date each time, so no calculation is needed. The date was fixed because it is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson and because the republic was declared on that day in 1944.

It is kept all over Iceland, in the capital and in small communities alike, since the parades go through each city, town and village. The best known images of the celebration come from Reykjavík, where the national day procession has been photographed.

What Icelandic National Day means

The day carries two meanings at once. It marks the moment Iceland became a republic and the end of its formal ties with Denmark, a change many Icelanders welcomed after a long period of Danish rule that had at times been hard. It also honours Jón Sigurðsson, whose birthday gave the republic its date. Fjallkonan adds a cultural layer, standing for the nation and for Icelandic nature, and linking the modern holiday to the romantic era of the independence movement.

Questions people ask about Icelandic National Day

See also

KvæðiLong narrative ballads sung during traditional chain dances in the Faroe IslandsAdvent calendarA daily countdown to Christmas using doors, images, or small gifts.RisalamandeA chilled Danish Christmas rice dessert with cream, chopped almonds and cherry sauceFastelavnA pre-Lenten carnival in Northern Europe where children dress up, sing for treats, and break candy-filled barrels.

Good reading and sources

• Icelandic National Day on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.