IS - Íslenska

Public holidays 2008

Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2008- the “red days” of the calendar - plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, which are holidays from noon. 12 of them fall on weekdays and 2 on weekends.

  1. New Year's DayTuesday, 1 January 2008Major holiday
  2. Maundy ThursdayThursday, 20 March 2008
  3. Good FridayFriday, 21 March 2008Major holiday
  4. Easter SundaySunday, 23 March 2008Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  5. Easter MondayMonday, 24 March 2008
  6. First Day of SummerThursday, 24 April 2008
  7. Labour DayThursday, 1 May 2008
  8. Ascension DayThursday, 1 May 2008
  9. Whit SundaySunday, 11 May 2008Major holidayFalls on a weekend
  10. Whit MondayMonday, 12 May 2008
  11. Icelandic National DayTuesday, 17 June 2008Major holiday
  12. Commerce DayMonday, 4 August 2008
  13. Christmas EveWednesday, 24 December 2008Half dayMajor holiday
  14. Christmas DayThursday, 25 December 2008Major holiday
  15. Second Day of ChristmasFriday, 26 December 2008
  16. New Year's EveWednesday, 31 December 2008Half dayMajor holiday

Questions & answers

How many public holidays are there in Iceland in 2008?
Iceland has 14 statutory public holidays in 2008, plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve which are holidays from noon. 12 holidays fall on weekdays and 2 on weekends.
What are "red days" in Iceland?
Rauðir dagar - red days - is the common Icelandic name for statutory public holidays, printed in red in calendars. Most employees have the day off and many shops are closed.
What are the "major holidays" (stórhátíðardagar)?
Major holidays carry the highest overtime premium under collective agreements: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday, Icelandic National Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve - Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve count as major holidays from noon.

See the days in context in the 2008 calendar or stretch your time off with bridge days.