Holidays Archives - All Things Iceland

Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Iceland Obsessed Friend

Jewells Chambers — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:34:33 +0000

If you’re searching for the perfect Christmas gift for that Iceland-obsessed friend in your life, I’ve got you covered. As someone who lives in Iceland and shares all things Icelandic year-round, I’ve rounded up a curated list of meaningful, cozy, and delicious gifts that will make any Iceland lover light up this holiday season.

Here are some wonderful Iceland-inspired ideas (links included):

1. A Traditional Icelandic Sweater (Lopapeysa)

Nothing says “I love Iceland” quite like a beautifully hand-knit lopapeysa. Made from Icelandic wool, it’s warm, breathable, and naturally water-resistant. Plus, each pattern carries a piece of Icelandic heritage—making it a functional and sentimental gift.

2. Jólaöl – Icelandic Christmas Ale

This seasonal favorite ale is only available around the holidays and has a comforting malt-forward flavor that Icelanders adore. It’s a festive, fun, and very Icelandic way to toast the season.

3. Icelandic Chocolate

Iceland’s chocolate makers craft incredibly smooth and flavorful treats, often using local ingredients. Whether it’s classic milk chocolate or artisanal small-batch bars, this gift never fails to impress sweet-toothed Iceland enthusiasts.

4. Iceland Christmas-Themed Mugs

Perfect for cozy winter mornings, these mugs let your Iceland-loving friend enjoy their coffee or tea with a little nod to their favorite country. They’re great for holiday decorating too!

5. Icelandic Coffee Blends

Coffee culture is strong in Iceland, and local roasters create rich, aromatic blends inspired by the island’s landscapes and traditions. It’s a thoughtful gift for anyone who starts their day with a warm cup in hand.

6. Icelandic Beer & Spirits

From craft beers to unique Icelandic spirits like Brennivín, these beverages offer a fun taste of Iceland’s brewing and distilling traditions. It’s a great way to share a little Icelandic cheer from afar.

7. A Book by an Icelandic Author

Iceland punches far above its weight in literature! Whether your friend loves mysteries, folklore, poetry, or Icelandic sagas, gifting a book from a local author is a beautiful way to connect them to Iceland’s storytelling roots.

8. Outerwear from an Icelandic Brand

Icelanders know how to stay warm, dry, and stylish in unpredictable weather. Jackets, hats, and other outerwear from local brands, like 66 North, make incredible gifts—practical, high-quality, and authentically Icelandic.

9. A Music Record from a Local Icelandic Artist

Music is a huge part of Icelandic culture, and gifting a vinyl record or album from a local artist is a beautiful way to share the country’s creative spirit. Whether it’s ethereal vocals, indie rock, contemporary pop, or traditional Icelandic sounds, this gift connects your friend to Iceland through artistry and emotion.

Random Fact of the Episode

It’s my first Christmas as a mom and I’m so excited!

Icelandic Word of the Episode

Today’s Icelandic word is: “Jólagjöf” (yo-la-gyöv) — which means “Christmas gift.” You’ll hear Icelanders using this word everywhere in December. So now, when you’re picking out that perfect jólagjöf for your Iceland-obsessed friend, you can throw in a little Icelandic too.

I hope this episode sparks some great ideas for thoughtful, meaningful Christmas gifts inspired by Iceland. If you want links to any of the items I mentioned, check the show notes for this episode at allthingsiceland.com/iceland-christmas-gift-ideas

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who also loves Iceland. And of course, you can follow me on social media @allthingsiceland for more Icelandic content, tips, and inspiration.

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Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega.

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Iceland Inspired Gifts – 20% Off Everything for a Limited Time

Jewells Chambers — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:56:51 +0000

To celebrate the relaunch of the All Things Iceland online store, I am doing a 20% site-wide sale. This sale is only valid through Wednesday, November 27th at 11:59 PM EST or while supplies last.

Below are some examples of Iceland inspired gifts that you can get for yourself or a loved one this holiday season.

Iceland Inspired Gifts for the Holidays

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The post Iceland Inspired Gifts – 20% Off Everything for a Limited Time appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Easter in Iceland: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

Jewells Chambers — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 12:28:47 +0000

Easter in Iceland is a time that many Icelanders look forward to because they get a long holiday, and they get to indulge in even more chocolate, sugary drinks, and delicious food. Here is what you should know before visiting during this holiday.

Religion in Iceland

For most people around the world that celebrate Easter, this holiday is very religious. While more than 260,000 Icelanders are registered as Lutheran, most of them are not religious nor is Easter in Iceland centered around religious activities.

Keep in mind that there are about 377,000 people that live in the country. One of the reasons many Icelanders are registered as Lutheran, is that it used to be that as soon as a person was born in the country, they were automatically registered to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland.

Weather to Expect & Clothes to Pack

It’s important to understand that Spring in Iceland is about the days getting longer and not about blooming flowers or even the weather being that much warmer. I suggest packing clothing that is appropriate for winter. If you need help with what to pack, you can download my free Ultimate Packing Checklist. It has individual lists for summer and winter.

Seeing the Northern Lights Around Easter in Iceland

It is possible to see the Northern Lights during March and April. However, as the days continue to get longer and brighter, the possibility of seeing them diminishes greatly. It helps to check the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s page about the level of Aurora activity here. Even during the darkest days of winter, it’s not guaranteed that you will see them. It helps to keep that in mind, so you can manage your expectations

Easter Traditions in Iceland

There is a 5-day weekend, which is quite nice. We get off on Maundy Thursday until Easter Monday. Most Icelanders take this time to go north for as nice skiing holiday or even go abroad.
One of the biggest parts of Easter here is buying giant Icelandic chocolate eggs that are hollow on the inside so they can be stuffed with candy and an Icelandic proverb.
Páskaöl or Easter drink is essentially malt and orange soda (appelsín) mixed. Icelanders consume a lot of this over the holiday. It’s non-alcoholic but filled with a lot of sugar.
Easter dinner is normally lamb, green peas, picked red cabbage, caramelized sugar potatoes, corn, salad, and mushroom gravy. Some people add or take away some things but what I mentioned is pretty much what most Icelanders eat. Of course, there is some type of dessert. Because I‘m plant-based, I eat a vegan wellington in place of the lamb and a vegan chocolate egg
The growth of microbreweries in Iceland continues to expand. Páskabjór (Easter beer) is very popular for this holiday, so I highly recommend trying a variety of beers, if you drink alcohol. Please note that you have to go to the government owned alcohol stores to buy alcohol in Iceland, if you are not getting it at a bar or restaurant. These stores are closed every weekend and every national holiday. So, they are closed on the Thursday and Friday before Easter, as well as the Monday after Easter.

You can purchase the food I mentioned and chocolate eggs in Iceland in any of the major grocery stores, such as Krónan, Bónus, Hagkaup, and Nettó, but alcohol has to be purchased at a vínbúðin.

Important things to keep in mind as a visitor

Due to the long holiday, many stores are either closed or have limited hours. I highly recommend checking websites of places to see what their hours will be during Easter.

Easter mug on the All Things Iceland merch shop

If you would like an adorable Icelandic Easter themed gift for you or a loved on this season, check out the Easter mug on the All Things Iceland Merch shop.

Festivals Happening during Easter in Iceland

Aldrei fór ég suður – This annual festival is held in Ísafjörður in the Westfjords during Easter weekend. The Icelandic artist Mugison, who I interviewed years ago, is the one that founded this music festival. It is helpful to keep in mind that winter in the Westfjords can be intense. Flights might get cancelled and/or the weather might not be the greatest for driving.
Reykjavík Blues Festival

Icelandic word of the episode

Gleðilega Páska – Happy Easter

Föstudagurinn langi – The Long Friday

Random fact of the episode

In the podcast episode, I share how having fun on Long Friday in Iceland was pretty much illegal. A law was changed in 2019, so that is not the case any longer but it’s fascinating to know that people were not allowed to sing, dance, drink or doing anything fun on that day.

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