In Reykjavík there are a few parades, playgrounds for kids with bouncy castles and games to play, pop-up stalls selling cotton candy, helium balloons and hot dogs as well as music, circus and dance entertainments on stages across the centre of town.Unfortunately, there seems to be a tradition that it rains on Iceland's independence day. She served for 16 years, until 1996 and is to date still one of the most popular and celebrated persons in Iceland.I'm not certain if they have continued with this approach, but if they have, it saddens me.On this day in 1944, a celebration took place at Þingvellir, where Iceland's Althing was formed in 930.During Independence Day there are some celebrations happening around the country. Another unfortunate thing that happened in 2017, for the first time in Icelandic history, is that the police decided to be visibly armed during the Independence Day celebrations. I am one of those that's not happy with this decision, as I'd like to be able to walk the streets of Reykjavík without ever needing to see a firearm. There are parades, poem recitals and music all throughout Iceland. The festivities vary from year to year and from village to village. She dresses in the national costume and leads the parade, before reading a poem by the statue of Jón Sigurðsson at Austurvöllur square, where the parade ends. And according to the weather forecast, this year will be no different, so make sure you dress according to the weather.On a lighter note, I hope everyone coming to Iceland for Independence Day will have a great time, and if you really want to fit in with the locals then you should learn the chorus to the above song, as you're sure to hear someone sing it out on the streets. The date of Iceland's independence, 17th of June, was chosen as it was the birthdate of Jón Sigurðsson, who fought hard for Iceland to gain independence, although he was not around when it finally came.
17th of June is Iceland's independence day. Both measures were approved with more than 98% in favour and a voter turnout of 98.4%.Although he would have preferred a different outcome in the referendum, King Christian X of Denmark sent a letter on June 17th 1944 congratulating Icelanders on forming their Republic.Iceland was proclaimed an independent republic on June 17th 1944.Sign up to receive a weekly email update on forthcoming public holidays around the world in your inbox every Sunday.Iceland actually gained independence from Denmark much earlier, on December 1st 1918 with the signing of the Act of Union with Denmark. So happy birthday to Jón!As a supervisor from the Icelandic police said in an interview some years ago: “If regular officers in Iceland start carrying guns, it’s only a matter of time before we see a gunfight in Reykjavík.”Each year one woman is selected to be the 'Lady of the Mountain', that serves as the female incarnation of Iceland, a national symbol of sorts. Due to the German occupation of Denmark in 1943, a vote on the revision to the Act was delayed until after the Second World War finished.The June 17th date was already a significant date in Iceland's history as it is the birthday of Jón Sigurdsson who was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement which led to the 1918 Act of Union. Colourful ceremonies are followed by parades, street theatre, sideshows and outdoor dancing in the midnight sun all over Iceland.The day has been a legal public holiday since 1971, though it had been a tradition for most employers to give their workers a day off since 1945. Three facts about Independence DayThis holiday is always celebrated on June 17th.