New Year's Eve is one of the great traditions in Iceland. It is almost as "holy" as Christmas Eve.
New Year's Eve in Iceland starts at 6.00 pm with the mass at Reykjavík's Cathedral with many people attending. Those who cannot attend the mass itself are listening to it on the radio while having a big family dinner or preparing the dinner.
After dinner, families with children usually go together to attend a big fire in the neighbourhood. People without children also like to go to meet friends, neighbours and acquaintances. In Reykjavik there are several such fires and in every town in Iceland you can be sure to find at least one. People bring fireworks with them and and sometimes there is singing.
After visiting such a fire, people return to their homes and continue the festivities either with family or friends. At midnight most families have their own private fireworks show at home in the garden or in front of their houses and the sky over Reykjavík and every town in Iceland seems to be on fire. A spectacular show!
If there are any fireworks left, they are used on the 6th of January which is the last day of Christmas in Iceland. After that most Christmas decorations disappear.
Photo: New Year's Eve - people attending a fire.
