Bring in the New Year like Icelanders

11/12/2007

Instead of just watching a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, each family in Iceland traditionally sets off fireworks. In Iceland’s capital Reykjavik crackers will be going up to bring in 2008.

Iceland’s New Year’s Eve doesn’t end at midnight as it usually does in other countries. When the clock strikes 12 the night is just beginning.

The traditional celebrations include bonfires and folk singing in each community and younger partiers head to popular clubs until the hours of the early morning.

Airline Icelandair’s Gudmundur Gudmundsson says: “New Year’s Eve is a huge occasion in Iceland, a giant celebration. People congregate around bonfires and sing traditional Icelandic songs and there are spectacular firework displays. It is quite possible that you may spot some trolls or elves among the revellers too!”

Iceland is proving to be a popular destination for stars for New Year’s Eve celebrations. Kiefer Sutherland has spent his last two holiday seasons in Iceland and was recently quoted expressing his love of the way the country celebrates New Year.

“Icelanders go crazy on New Year’s Eve; I have never seen anything like it, every family has their own fireworks,” said Sutherland.