Holidays and festivals are among the most important aspects of Icelandic culture. They mirror not only Icelands character but also that of its people. Icelanders await and prepare for these lavish celebrations with reverence and anticipation.

An Age-Old Custom
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In Iceland, as in any other country, a combination of nature, folklore, religious beliefs, socioeconomic factors, and history influences every celebration. However, it is the tenacious adherence of Icelanders to their ancient customswhich date back to Icelands pre-Christian, heathen historythat best characterizes their festivals such as 'Torrablot' (Thorrablot).

A Feast of Traditional Viking Food
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One of the most awaited Icelandic event is Torrablot, The Blessing of Torri, which commences on the first day of Torri, the fourth month of Icelandic Winter. In standard calendar, it always begins on a Friday between the 19th and the 25th of January and ends on a Saturday between the 18th and the 24th of February. The highlight of this month-long annual festivity is the consumption of traditional Viking food. These delicacies include 'svie' (boiled lambs head), 'hkarl' (putrefied Greenlandic shark meat), 'skyr' (yogurt made with 'rennet' [a dried extract made from the stomach lining of hoofed mammals such as cattle, sheep, and goats]), 'flatkokur' (flat, thin rye breads eaten with butter), 'hardfiskur' (dried fish, eaten with butter), 'lifrarpylsa' (pudding made out of lambs liver), and 'brennivn' (an alcoholic beverage distilled from potatoes and flavored with the seeds of caraway herb).

The diet and eating habits of the Icelandic people, like those of many other nationalities, have largely changed in the passing of time, so it is unsurprising to know that many Icelanders now eat food prepared in the old fashion only during festivals.

In a Nutshell
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'Viking' is any of a seafaring Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of northern and western Europe from the eighth through the tenth century.

Tracing the Origin
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Many Icelandic historians say that the earliest extant reference to the word Torrablot can be found in the late-fourteenth-century Old Icelandic collection of manuscript Flateyjarbk, (the Flatey book). According to the book, a certain King Torri held a festive offering every late Winter to ask the deities to spare his kingdom from the harshness of the freezing season. Thus, many people believe that Icelandic Winters fourth month, 'Torri' (Thorri)when the season is at its mildestwas named after the said king, who started the festival in the first place. Through the passing of time, Icelanders eventually came to regard the king as an Icelandic Winter god. To other people, however, Torrablot means Feast of Thoran ancient feast originally celebrated back during Icelands pagan times in honor of the Norse god Thor.

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Celebrating in the Modern Day
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Whatever its real origin, Torrablot to this day remains to be a standard part of the Icelandic social calendar, and it has even been adopted by many neighboring countries like Denmark, Greenland, Norway, and Sweden.

As festivities take place in Winter, most of the food served are preserved in some waydried, pickled in whey, putrefied, salted, or smoked. And amidst this food galore are children playing traditional games, dancing, singing Old Icelandic songs, and heavy drinking (especially that 'brennivn' and other alcoholic beverages are, in Winter, ideal for warming the body and stirring the spirits).

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References:
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High Days and Holidays in Iceland. [http://www.randburg.com/is/mm/high.html] 06/06/04.

[http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-759291-iceland_eating-I] 06/06/04.

[http://www.vnlnd.net/author/FB01A400.htm] 06/07/04.

The Icelandic Society of Greater New York. Why Do We Celebrate Torrablt. [http://www.icelandicsocietyny.com/thorri_whycelebrate.htm] 06/06/04.

'The Troth Official Homepage.' Rites and Ways of the Troth.
[http://www.thetroth.com/ourfaith/rites.html] 06/08/04.

Torrablt.[http://www.icelandichorse.is/thorrab.html] 06/08/04.