Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Home
  2. Bing Gallery
  3. United Kingdom
  4. 2022
  5. April 21
  6. Sheep graze along a road, Iceland
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Sheep graze along a road, Iceland

April 21, 2022

Sheep graze along a road, Iceland

© Matthew Kuhns/Tandem Stills + Motio

What are Icelanders celebrating?. First day of summer

After very long winter nights, the First Day of Summer is greeted with much celebration in Iceland. It falls on the first Thursday after 18 April, and launches Harpa, the first summer month of the old Norse calendar. The year was split into just two seasons back then - summer and winter - which explains why Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, the First Day of Summer, falls in chilly April. If you put out a dish of water the night before Sumardagurinn Fyrsti and it freezes, it is said that you’ll have a good summer. While still cold, it heralds the arrival of those famously long days with little darkness.

How do Icelanders celebrate? With parades, marching bands and outdoor games with family and friends. There’s a tradition of giving summer gifts (sumargjafir), often connected to outdoor activities - maybe a bike or a football, or new clothes - to encourage children to play outside after the long, cold winter. And people crank up the barbecue and gather for 'summer' food, even though the average temperature in April is around 3C. Icelandic crepes with thick cream and jam inside will warm you up or tough it out with hardy Icelanders who make ice cream a First Day of Summer must-have.

grass sky outdoor landscape painting mountain cloud nature overlooking lush highland

Related Images

Mount Hamilton, San Francisco Bay Area, California, United StatesMount Hamilton, San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, ChileTorres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
Rainbow over Wasson Peak, Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United StatesRainbow over Wasson Peak, Saguaro National Park, Arizona, United States
Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United StatesSuperbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Giant's Tomb in autumn, Bouillon, BelgiumGiant's Tomb in autumn, Bouillon, Belgium
Wadden Sea coast, near Moddergat, Friesland, NetherlandsWadden Sea coast, near Moddergat, Friesland, Netherlands
American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USAAmerican bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Gujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu prefecture, JapanGujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu prefecture, Japan

Today on Bing

Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, United States

Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, United States

Apr 21, 2025
London Marathon in London on April 23, 2017

London Marathon in London on April 23, 2017

Apr 21, 2024
Meldon Hill, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Meldon Hill, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Apr 21, 2023
The north coast of Madeira, Portugal

The north coast of Madeira, Portugal

Apr 21, 2021
The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

The Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

Apr 21, 2020
A rabbit in the grass for Easter

A rabbit in the grass for Easter

Apr 21, 2019

Related Tags

outdoor highland landscape nature sky mountain cloud lush grass plant clouds hillside field distance tree water day sunrise lake overlooking
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.