By walking in my house, I can’t help but notice some of the many Icelandic memories that I brought back to previous trips. The Icelandic pillow cover on my sofa, the tasty volcanic salt in my kitchen, the magnificent wool sweater hanging in my closet and the hat and comfortable gloves keeping me warm in winter. If you know someone who is also obsessed with Iceland as much as I do, order one of these Icelandic gifts to bring home a small piece of the land of fire and ice for the holidays.
Icelandic Christmas traditions
In this holiday season, why not also kiss some Icelandic Christmas traditions?
- Advent lights – From four Sundays before Christmas, the Icelanders light the Advent lights, either a crown or a candelabra.
- Yule guys gifts – During the 13 days before Christmas, the Icelandic Yule guys, who live in the mountains, slip into town and leave a small gift instead of children left near an open window. Instead of coal, “naughty” children get potatoes.
- Jolabokaflod – Translated by “Christmas Book Flood”, this tradition began during the Second World War, when the Icelanders offer books of books and curls up the day before Christmas with a book and hot chocolate to read.
- Do Laufabrauð – At Christmas, Icelanders make Laufabrauð, which is a fried wheat bread decorated with Leaflike patterns, and come together to cut bread in unique conceptions. The bread is served during Christmas dinner or ate as a snack.
- Drinking malt og calls – Traditional Christmas drinks from Iceland are a mixture of malt beer and calls (orange soda) produced locally.
- New Year of Joy – Icelanders ring in the new year with joy fires and they meet with the family and friends of “Brennur”, while children play with magic candles and celebrate the new year.
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Saltverk gift box
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During my trip to the West Fjords, we stopped in this sea salt plant to see the harvest in action. Saltverk offers many different flavors of classic laminated sea salt with volcanic salt, with arctic thyme sea salt, smoked birch salt, algae salt and liquorice salt. I even sent them to other lovers of Iceland as gifts.
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Silica and mineral mask duo
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While the Blue Lagoon can be a little too expensive, its beauty products are unique and an excellent way to bring a little of Iceland home. Masks are a classic gift, especially silica mud, lava scrub, seaweed and mineral masks.
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Arctic Skyn Iceland repair cream for the face and body
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If Blue Lagoon products are out of your price range, Skyn Island also has a wide range of care products. This artistic repair cream is perfect hydration for cold winters.
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Tulipop miss maddy deluxe 10 “plush
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Children, pre -adolescents and adolescents will all love the feeling that is the Icelandic tulipop brand. There are books, plush animals, clothing and gift items. Choose your favorite character and start shopping!
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Icewear Brynja Icelandic wool sweater
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Keep your beloved warm this winter with an authentic Icelandic wool sweater, aka a lopapeysa. These hand tricus sweaters are the classic Icelandic gift. The traditional design uses a semicircle through the shoulders and they come in all colors and patterns. Icewear is one of the most popular brands offering a traditional lopapeysa.
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Aurora Cardigan Wrap, Icelandic wool, Gjoska design
One of my favorite memories of Iceland is the sweater I bought in Gjóska in Reykjavik. These artistic conceptions are inspired by the natural landscapes of Iceland – the Northern Lights, lava, foam and glaciers.
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Winter equipment at 66 ° North
If you need equipment in cold weather, 66 ° north is the place to buy coats, jackets, hats, gloves and a fleece. Every winter, I depend on a hat and a gloves that I bought during my first trip to Iceland.
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Lettlopi – Lopi Lite – 100% Icelandic wool
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When you travel to Icelandic and see all the sheep, it will not be surprising to learn that Icelandic woolen and wool products are great export. If you knit, you can buy Icelandic wool in many gift shops, but you may want to stop in the hand association of Iceland for sweaters, wool, covers and knitting patterns. Of course, if you are not in Iceland, you can always find it online too!
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Vodka Reyka
You can also take Icelandic alcohol from your local store or order it as a gift. Vodka Reyka is popular with the inhabitants, as well as wild gin, which uses natural plants, mixed with pure spring water to burst a gin not filtered with flavor.
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Einstok Arctic Pale
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Nammi.is
If you prefer beer to minds, I’m a fan of Einstök and Gull. You can even buy an Icelandic Christmas beer!
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Viking jewelry
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The Viking inheritance of Iceland is strong, so what better gift than a Viking style ring, a bracelet or a necklace with old runes.
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Hand -made frigg lava bracelet in Iceland
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www.etsy.com
While the big bands of Iceland are covered with lava fields, you should really disturb nature. If you want to bring a little lava home, it is better to do it with one of these special lava bracelets.
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Personalized Watering Country Card in Personalized Iceland
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If you know someone who cannot stop delirious in Iceland, get him a travel card in Iceland personalized with optional travel dates, a collage of photos and locations visited by a path in the order you have visited them. It would also make a great way to surprise someone with a next trip!
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Icelandic books
Iceland has one of the highest literacy rates in the world with 99%, and more books are published and read per person than anywhere else in the world. This long history of literacy comes from long dark winter nights where people isolation has led to a strong tradition of narration, including the old sagas of heroes and vikings, local mythology and stories of monsters and trolls.
In the weeks preceding Christmas, hundreds of new books are published and the Icelanders participate in what is called Flood Flood. On Christmas Eve, everyone must receive at least one book to bed with chocolates.
Butterflies in November
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This black comedy takes care of friends, lovers, maternity and self -discovery and won the Tómas Guðmundsson literary prize in Iceland.
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The coffin of time
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This time travel novel has won the Icelandic literary prize
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101 Reykjavík (Icelandic edition)
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This novel captures the night culture of Reykjavik and there was also a film based on the novel of the same name.
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Funeral rites
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Tells the story of a woman accused of murder in 1829 Iceland
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Icelandic memories
If you are looking for Icelandic memories that you can only buy in Iceland, here are some ideas. You will find the best Reykjavik gift shops in one of the main shopping streets, in particular Laugavegur, Bankastæti and Skólavörðustígur. If you lack time, there are also very good gift stores at Keflavik airport, including an outpost of 66 North and Blue Lagoon.
Remember that if you shop in Iceland, everything that is greater than a certain amount will qualify you to receive your value added tax (VAT). Ask for the VAT refund form and fill out them before arriving at the airport. Then, before checking your luggage, stop at the VAT refund center to submit your forms. They may also need to see the items you have bought, so keep them easily available.
- Viking memories – Whether you are visiting the Viking museum or having an interest in the history of Viking, it is fun to explore the history of Viking from Iceland. Many gift shops in Reykjavik or to the museum offer fun swords, helmets, figurines, shirts, books and more. Perfect for children who like the simulation game! My daughter is fascinated by the Runes and we had a Rune Viking necklace, and you can find them in many local stores.
- Troll memories – If you read one of the books on Icelandic folk legends, you can see the role that playing trolls in Icelandic culture. Some are so modest that they are future.
- T-shirts -Maybe Icelandic fashion is not your thing and t-shirts are more your style. There are many funny quality shirts sold in Icelandic gift shops – not like some of the cheese stores found in typical tourist centers.
- Omnom chocolate – Gourmets should also pick up local Icelandic foods, frozen fish with a fermented shark or with a plinat sauce for your Icelandic hot dogs. If you are looking for something a little simpler, Omnom chocolate is one of the most famous chocolate bars in Iceland, with many interesting options.
Are you traveling to Iceland?
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Tamara Gruber is the founder and publisher of We3Travel. Former director of marketing and travel advisor, Tamara is a award -winning and expert travel writer recognized in family trips. Tamara is a member of Satw, Natja, Ifwtwa and Adventure Travel Trade Association, and headquarters to the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimeTofly.com and the co-host of the Mavens Travel Podcast Podcast.
