Icelandic National Day
| Icelandic National Day | |
|---|---|
17 June | |
| Next time | 17 June 2024 |
| Frequency | annual |
Icelandic National Day (
foundation of The Republic of Iceland on 17 June 1944. This date also marks the end of Iceland's centuries old ties with Denmark.[1] The date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a major figure of Icelandic culture and the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.[2]
History
 |
The formation of the
1944 plebiscite
.
German
Iceland at Iceland's invitation, after being occupied by Britain in 1940. Although saddened by the results of the plebiscite, King Christian X sent a letter on 17 June 1944 congratulating Icelanders on the establishment of a republic.[citation needed
]
Abolishing the monarchy resulted in little change to the Icelandic constitution, instances of "The King" simply being changed to "The President".[citation needed] Icelanders celebrated the severing of all formal ties with Denmark after centuries of sometimes difficult Danish rule. Iceland's national day was chosen as the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson who pioneered the early independence movement. Sveinn Björnsson became the country's first president.
Celebrations
Today, Icelanders celebrate this holiday on a national scale. The celebration traditionally takes the form of parades through each city, town, and village, usually with a brass band leading the way. Riders on
Skautbúningur, who recites a poem. She represents the fierce spirit of the Icelandic nation and of Icelandic nature. In many ways this recalls the period of romanticism
that reigned when the first steps toward independence were taken. After the public speeches are over, less formal celebrations ensue, usually including a variety of musical performances.
References
- ^ "Icelandic National Day: A Profile in Pictures | Britannica Blog". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-20.
- ^ Today is the Icelandic National Day Archived 2013-06-21 at the Wayback Machine Icelandic Review 6/17/2013