Iceland Fun Facts

Iceland is SUNNY in the summer! Due to the tilt of the earth's axis, the sun shines almost directly on the upper part of the planet, causing 20 hours of sunlight in summer.


11% of Iceland is covered by glaciers. Vatnajokull is Iceland's largest glacier.


In Iceland, they use the traditional way of their people to create surnames; they take their father's first name and place 'son' or 'dottir' after the name. Women in Iceland keep their maiden names when they get married.


The most popular sport in Iceland is outdoor swimming in geothermally heated pools - in any weather!




March first is Beer Day every year in Iceland. That's right, a whole day dedicated to the world's favorite beverage. This celebrated event began on March 1st, 1989, when a 75-year-long prohibition of beer was lifted. Pubs, restaurants, and clubs all around Reykjavik are especially wild this night.


Two days before Lent is known as Bolludagur or "Buns Day." Homes, restaurants and particular bakeries, overflow with delicately made cream puffs or "buns." These "buns" come in all different shapes and sizes, filled with cream, jam, and sometimes drizzled in chocolate.


Children especially love Buns Day because they get to wake up early and try to catch their parents still in bed. If they do, they "beat" them out of bed with their individually made Bolluvondur or "Bun Wands," which are colorfully decorated with strips of paper and gleaming ribbon. The parents are then obligated to give their children one cream puff for every "blow" received.

Wow! Makes one think twice about "Spare the rod, spoil the child".

Thanks Iceland, it's been swell!

Next we will move on to learn about Sri Lanka!