The First Day of Summer

In Iceland, we kick off summer with a bang! It's called "Sumardagurinn fyrsti", which is a national holiday and you could say an official summer launch party. The first day of Summer happens every year on the first Thursday after April 18th, which means that The first day of Summer is always somewhere between April 19th and 25th. Late April in Reykjavík can still be chilly but the people of Iceland are optimists. This day is about celebrating longer days and waving goodbye to winter's icy grip with parades, parties, and all sorts of fun stuff happening all over Reykjavík. And get this: according to our folklore, if it freezes right before the big day, it's a sign of a fantastic summer ahead! So, we put out bowls filled with water overnight, crossing our fingers for a frosty surprise.