Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival Jan. 23, 2026

Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival

When January"s chill grips Iceland, locals turn to warmth and tradition with Þorrablót—a midwinter festival rooted in Viking heritage. Named after Þorri, a winter figure from Norse mythology, this celebration began as a sacrificial feast to honour the gods and ensure survival through harsh winters. Today, it"s a lively cultural event that blends history with hearty camaraderie.

© Christophe Lehenaff/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Big rocks, big heads, still counting?
Jan. 23, 2024Maldives
Jan. 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec. 24, 2023Christmas Eve
Where are these illuminated walkways?
Nov. 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Sep. 18, 2023Milky Way over Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park
Jan. 13, 2025Happy Welsh New Year!
Centuries of time in a Delicate Arch
Stairway to heaven?
Dec. 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
Beauty resides in trees
Dec. 30, 2024Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia
Jan. 13, 2026Hen Galan
40 years of recovery
Jun. 25, 2025Glastonbury Festival begins
Mar. 22, 2025Happy World Water Day!
Paddle power
Sep. 19, 2023Splügen Pass, Switzerland
An oasis in a sea of sand
Jan. 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
You otter check this out
Nov. 13, 2024Sea lion in a kelp forest, Baja California, Mexico
Oct. 8, 2024World Octopus Day
May 9, 2024Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
Jun. 5, 2025World Environment Day
Sep. 11, 2023French River, Ontario
Positively purple peaks
Jul. 11, 2024World Population Day
Mar. 24, 2025African elephants in Namibia
Mar. 23, 2026World Meteorological Day
Pretty in pink
Sep. 23, 2024Sea Otter Awareness Week