In June this far up north the summer time nights are vibrant and the day is countless. And on the longest day of the yr, the twenty first of June, the solar units at midnight after which virtually instantly rises once more.
Prime picture: Summer season Solstice at Viðey island
Photographing the sundown from Laugarnestangi at 23:54
We Icelanders keep up late on this present day and attempt to watch the midnight sundown.
In 2023 we who reside in Reykjavík have been in luck as after a really lengthy interval of rain and gloomy climate the twenty first of June was heat and sunny all day lengthy.
Solely within the night, it began getting cloudy, however the clouds appeared like cotton balls and solely added to the fantastic thing about the sundown.
Summer season Solstice 2023:
At Summer season Solstice the noon solar stops rising by every day. It begins getting decrease within the sky and the times get shorter.
The reversal occurs on what is known as the Solstice minute, within the morning of the twenty first of June. After which it regularly will get darker till on the twenty first of December we solely get a few hours of sunshine.
So we cherish these vibrant nights after the lengthy winter darkness. And we, who reside right here, by no means get used to this, it’s simply one thing that we attempt to adapt to.
And I can let you know that it’s a lot simpler to adapt to stunning vibrant nights than the countless winter darkness.
Summer season Solstice at Skarfaklettur in Reykjavík
We do not do a lot to rejoice Summer season Solstice right here in Iceland aside from staying awake and having fun with this brightest day and evening of the yr, however since 1985 there was a Summer season Solstice stroll in Reykjavík.
It wasn’t till this yr 2023 that I joined this stroll on Viðey island with my father-in-law and husband the place the Summer season Solstice had been celebrated a number of occasions earlier than. Round 100 folks attended the occasion.
Viðey island in Reykjavík
Viðey island is an island the dimensions of Monaco solely a 5-minute ferry trip from Skarfabakki harbour in Reykjavík.
The free occasion was hosted by Borgarsögusafn Reykjavíkur – the Reykjavík City Museum and lasted for 3 hours.
Folks making ready to go on the Summer season Solstice stroll on Viðey island
We got here properly ready carrying a parka, mittens and a cape, and one thing heat to drink as that is Iceland in spite of everything.
However the climate stayed superior for the entire length of our 3-hour stroll. What a distinction a day makes 🙂
The climate in Iceland is so fickle that we simply depend our blessings when it isn’t windy and wet throughout out of doors occasions.
Watching the sundown from Viðey island
We bought a guided tour of the island, on which you’ll see Viðeyjarstofa, Iceland’s oldest home and the primary concrete home in Iceland, inbuilt 1752-1755. And the archaeological dig for an previous monastery.
However I suppose that amongst our international company, it’s best often known as being the island the place the Think about Peace Tower is positioned.
It’s lit on John Lennon’s birthday on the ninth of October and turned off on the day he was shot on the eighth of December. Additionally it is lit from the thirty first of December till the sixth of January. And at another occasions as properly.
Summer season Solstice at Skarfaklettur
After the ferry trip again we stopped by Skarfaklettur rock by Skarfabakki harbour till midnight and watched the sundown.
When you go to Reykjavík on this present day you’ll discover a myriad of individuals dotted all by the seaside wanting west on the solar setting. It’s fairly a magical sight.
Provided that the sky is evident, in fact, and the sundown might be seen.
The solar virtually setting at midnight
One yr on Summer season Solstice we went up north to Drangey island to observe the sundown from that steep rock the place Iceland’s longest surviving outlaw Grettir the Sturdy ended his life within the eleventh century.
However as destiny has it then it was foggy with little or no visibility, so one by no means is aware of from the place it’s best to observe the sundown on Summer season Solstice.
The next day in Reykjavík after the attractive sundown on Summer season Solstice at Viðey island it began raining once more for days on finish.
You will notice folks dotted alongside the seaside watching the sundown
We on the southwest nook of Iceland generally get what we name Rigningasumarið mikla – or the Summer season of the Nice Rain, whereas the east and north get a heatwave.
However we’re very grateful for the few days of sunshine we get, particularly at Summer season Solstice.
Jónsmessa – Midsummer Eve in Reykjavík
Watching the sundown from Laugarnestangi subsequent to the Raven’s Nest
Midsummer Eve is these days increasingly celebrated in Iceland and perhaps greater than the Summer season Solstice. The Jón within the title Jónsmessa refers to John the Baptist.
On Midsummer Eve it’s thought of to be very wholesome to roll round bare within the dew. All of your diseases are presupposed to be cured by doing this and you will not get ailing for the entire subsequent yr.
Midsummer Night time on the Raven’s Nest in Reykjavík
And I bear in mind again when my girlfriends and I have been youngsters that it was customary to place freshly picked flowers beneath our pillow and we might then dream concerning the man we have been presupposed to marry.
We now have some previous folklore about issues that occur on Midsummer Eve, like seals that shed their pores and skin on that evening and tackle human type. A few of them even bought married to a human and had youngsters, however escaped again to the ocean to their seal kids.
And you may even discover wishing stones and different stones of magic that float up on ponds or lakes on this magical evening.
Mt. Drápuhlíðarfjall on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland
In Þjóðsögur Jóns Árnasonar – the Compilation of Folklore by Jón Árnason, a few of the areas of magical stones are talked about, like at Mt. Drápuhlíðarfjall on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
One other such place is at Kofri on Arnarnes in Álftafjörður within the Westfjords. And on Mt. Tindastóll in North Iceland.
And Mt. Baula which might be seen from the ring-road once you drive up north.
Midsummer Eve on Laugarnestangi in Reykjavík
Midsummer Eve is extra broadly celebrated overseas than in Iceland. When residing overseas I had no thought at first why the seaside was dotted with bonfires in Spain and there have been bonfires and celebrations in Norway once I was residing there for some time.
The one time I’ve taken half in a Midsummer Eve celebration is on the director Hrafn Gunnlaugsson’s home a number of years in the past. There was dancing on the roof and a bonfire and nice enjoyable.
The Raven’s Nest
Hrafn Gunnlaugsson is well-known for his many Viking movies and he has a heathen temple in his house. A really vibrant and likable character.
You may know his home by the ocean on Laugarnestangi in Reykjavík. It’s generally known as the Raven’s Nest and it’s totally different wanting with every kind of recycled sculptures and stuff.
It is likely one of the strangest-looking homes in Reykjavík and lots of curious folks timidly method the home to have a more in-depth look.
Watching the sundown from Laugarnestangi in Reykjavík
I like visiting the home. Hrafn is my husband’s second cousin and we’ve got visited the Raven’s Nest on quite a few events.
Have enjoyable in Reykjavík on Summer season Solstice and on Midsummer Eve, and I hope that the solar will probably be shining 🙂
