Bolludagur, Sprengidagur, and Öskudagur: Iceland’s Quirky February Celebrations
February in Iceland is anything but boring. Just when the winter darkness feels like it’s never-ending, three cheerful and very local holidays arrive to brighten things up: Bolludagur (Bun Day), Sprengidagur (Bursting Day), and Öskudagur (Ash Wednesday). These back-to-back celebrations are full of tradition, food, fun and some surprising customs you might not expect.
Let’s take a look at what each day is about and how you can join in!
Bolludagur – Bun Day
Date: Always falls on a Monday, seven weeks before Easter.
Bolludagur is all about cream-filled buns. Icelanders go wild for these delicious pastries topped with chocolate glaze and packed with whipped cream and jam or custard. But there’s more to it than just dessert.
In a fun twist, children make colorful paddles (bolluvendir) at school, and on Bolludagur morning, they sneak up on their parents, tap them with the paddle, and shout “Bolla! Bolla! Bolla!” For each tap, they earn a bun. It’s playful, sweet, and very Icelandic.
How to celebrate:
Go to a local bakery or supermarket and try a few types of bollur!
Try making your own at home many online recipes are beginner-friendly.
If you’re living with Icelanders, don’t be surprised if you get “bopped” with a bun stick.
Sprengidagur – Bursting Day
Date: The day after Bolludagur (Tuesday)
Sprengidagur is Iceland’s version of Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. The name literally means “Explosion Day” or “Bursting Day,” because the tradition is to eat until you’re full really full. Traditionally, the meal is salted meat and split-pea soup (saltkjöt og baunir), a hearty dish to prepare for Lent.
How to celebrate:
Visit a local canteen, café, or even a university dining hall, many places serve the traditional dish.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, ask for baunasúpa (bean soup) without the meat, many spots now offer it.
Share a meal with friends and enjoy this cozy tradition.
Öskudagur – Ash Wednesday
Date: The day after Sprengidagur (Wednesday)
This is the Icelandic version of Ash Wednesday, but with a twist. Instead of a religious ceremony, children dress up in costumes and go door to door in businesses (not homes), singing songs in exchange for candy. Think of it as Iceland’s version of Halloween, but in February and during the day.
In older times, girls would secretly pin small bags of ash onto people’s backs without them noticing (hence the name “ash day”), but today it’s more about fun and candy.
How to celebrate:
If you have Icelandic friends with kids, ask if you can tag along to see the tradition in action.
Enjoy seeing Reykjavík or other towns filled with kids in creative costumes, singing their hearts out.
Learn a simple Icelandic song lyric or two—you might even sing along.
These three days are a great window into Icelandic culture, where food, family, and quirky traditions come together in the middle of winter. If you’re in Iceland in February, take the opportunity to try the buns, share a bowl of soup, and enjoy the festive energy that takes over the country for a few sweet days.
Which one of the three would you most like to experience? Or have you already tried them all? Let us know in the forum!
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Íris Líf, OLS Community Manager – Icelandic
February in Iceland is anything but boring. Just when the winter darkness feels like it’s never-ending, three cheerful and very local holidays arrive to brighten things up: Bolludagur (Bun Day), Sprengidagur (Bursting Day), and Öskudagur (Ash Wednesday). These back-to-back celebrations are full of tradition, food, fun and some surprising customs you might not expect.
Let’s take a look at what each day is about and how you can join in!
Bolludagur – Bun Day
Date: Always falls on a Monday, seven weeks before Easter.
Bolludagur is all about cream-filled buns. Icelanders go wild for these delicious pastries topped with chocolate glaze and packed with whipped cream and jam or custard. But there’s more to it than just dessert.
In a fun twist, children make colorful paddles (bolluvendir) at school, and on Bolludagur morning, they sneak up on their parents, tap them with the paddle, and shout “Bolla! Bolla! Bolla!” For each tap, they earn a bun. It’s playful, sweet, and very Icelandic.
How to celebrate:
Go to a local bakery or supermarket and try a few types of bollur!
Try making your own at home many online recipes are beginner-friendly.
If you’re living with Icelanders, don’t be surprised if you get “bopped” with a bun stick.
Sprengidagur – Bursting Day
Date: The day after Bolludagur (Tuesday)
Sprengidagur is Iceland’s version of Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday. The name literally means “Explosion Day” or “Bursting Day,” because the tradition is to eat until you’re full really full. Traditionally, the meal is salted meat and split-pea soup (saltkjöt og baunir), a hearty dish to prepare for Lent.
How to celebrate:
Visit a local canteen, café, or even a university dining hall, many places serve the traditional dish.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, ask for baunasúpa (bean soup) without the meat, many spots now offer it.
Share a meal with friends and enjoy this cozy tradition.
Öskudagur – Ash Wednesday
Date: The day after Sprengidagur (Wednesday)
This is the Icelandic version of Ash Wednesday, but with a twist. Instead of a religious ceremony, children dress up in costumes and go door to door in businesses (not homes), singing songs in exchange for candy. Think of it as Iceland’s version of Halloween, but in February and during the day.
In older times, girls would secretly pin small bags of ash onto people’s backs without them noticing (hence the name “ash day”), but today it’s more about fun and candy.
How to celebrate:
If you have Icelandic friends with kids, ask if you can tag along to see the tradition in action.
Enjoy seeing Reykjavík or other towns filled with kids in creative costumes, singing their hearts out.
Learn a simple Icelandic song lyric or two—you might even sing along.
These three days are a great window into Icelandic culture, where food, family, and quirky traditions come together in the middle of winter. If you’re in Iceland in February, take the opportunity to try the buns, share a bowl of soup, and enjoy the festive energy that takes over the country for a few sweet days.
Which one of the three would you most like to experience? Or have you already tried them all? Let us know in the forum!
--
Íris Líf, OLS Community Manager – Icelandic