^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Iceland - Flag Days

Island

Official flag days of Iceland:

Birthday of the President of Iceland
New Year's Day (1 January)
Good Friday (Friday before Easter, half mast)
Easter Day
First Day of Summer (a Thursday during the period 19 to 25 April) [See note.]
Labour Day (1 May)
Whit Sunday (seven weeks after Easter)
Sailors' day (the first Sunday in June)
National Day (Republic, 1944 - Jón Sigurðsson 17 June 1811)
First of December (Proclamation of Independence in 1918)
Christmas Day (25 December)

Courtesy of the Government of Iceland

Note: the "first day of summer":
"A Thursday during the period 19 to 25 April" is probably derived from the traditional Scandinavian calendar, in which "summer day" is 14 April and "winter day" 14 October. The 6 months between those dates make up the summer season (halvår), the remaining 6 the winter season (halvår). Midsummer day is then 14 July. This calendar conforms to climate, not planetary movement. So the length of days and nights are not relevant. But mean temperatures will probably correspond quite well to the seasonal calendar. Many events of daily life in Norway used to be scheduled according to this calendar, e.g. employment contracts and property sales or leases. April 14 is also known as "spring (re)moving day". The old Scandinavian calendar sticks had a summer and a winter side, beginning with 14 April and October respectively. You may see some examples on http://www.arild-hauge.com/runekalender.htm.
Lars Roede, 16 July 2002