Today, June 17, Icelanders celebrate their National Day (AKA “Þjóðhátíðardagur”) by parading through their towns, buying helium filled balloons and gorging on cotton candy and hot dogs. We are also hearing reports that a multitude of children are having their faces painted to honour Iceland’s famous spirit of independence, and that the ‘cat’ and ‘Harry Potter’ styles are the most popular ones thus far.
Downtown Reykjavík play host to a variety of fairground style amusement stalls, rides and contraptions; as well as performances by some of Iceland’s most beloved popular music groups and singers.
Iceland’s National Day has been celebrated annually on June 17 since 1944, when on that day the Republic of Iceland was formed after Icelanders sneakily severed their ties with Denmark while the latter were busy being occupied by Nazis. It was decided that the Republic should be formally founded on June 17 to honour Iceland’s “independence hero”, Jón Sigurðsson, who you may learn more about by clicking his name right here in this article.
Now, it’s time to party down! Let’s start by listening to Iceland’s national anthem, ‘Lofsöngur’ (“Song of Praise”, also known as ‘Ó Guð vors lands’ (“O, God Of Our Country”)
Did that get you moving? Next up, Iceland’s greatest ever band, Ríó Tríó, play the legendary and majestic tune ‘Hæ hó jibbí jei’ (“Hi ho jippee yay!”).
And to end this, let’s hear DJ Musician‘s take on that same song.
Hæ hó jibbí jei by djmusician
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, Y’ALL!
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