LIFESTYLE - EDITORIAL

Iceland National Day: Google Celebrates the National Day of Iceland

Every year on the 17th of June, all the streets of Iceland are covered in blue, white and red, Jón Sigurðsson is remembered, and the National Day of Iceland is celebrated.

Monday, June 17, 2019

Iceland National Day: Google Celebrates the National Day of Iceland - Image Credit: Google Doodle

LIFESTYLE - EDITORIAL

by Meryem Aksoy

In Iceland, which was a Danish colony for 400 years, the independence movement began under the leadership of Jón Sigurðsson in the 1800s. Jón Sigurðsson, a philologist, historian, and statesman, was born on June 17, 1811.

The Icelandic National Day is celebrated nationally every year to commemorate June 17, 1944, when the Republic of Iceland was formally established. June 17 was chosen because of honoring Jón Sigurðsson.

Iceland National Day is celebrated with ceremonies led by marching bands and scouts across the country. Balloons, Icelandic flags, cotton candies, and accordion music are also present at every moment of the celebration.

Official ceremonies begin with the reading of the Icelandic national anthem "Lofsöngur," and poems read by Fjallkonan wearing the Icelandic national dress Skautbúningur. Fjallkonan, described as "the lady of the mountain", is a national figure that emphasizes the importance of women in Icelandic culture.

The 17th of June, when official ceremonies will take place from 10:00 to 19:00, should be marked in the calendar of travelers who want to experience Icelandic culture closely.