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:

Sep. 10, 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
Feb. 25, 2025Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United States
A butterfly’s best friend
Feb. 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
What are these beautiful sandy waves?
Red rock country
Mar. 1, 2024Wheaton River, Yukon
Nov. 3, 2023World Jellyfish Day
Dec. 29, 2023Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
An experiment in sustainability
Oct. 19, 2024International Archaeology Day
Jun. 21, 2024National Indigenous Peoples Day
Home of the ‘world’s worst smelling food?’
A cantilevered window to the past
Man-made, meandering Lake Powell
History awaits atop the hill
Dec. 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
Jun. 15, 2024International Surfing Day
Feb. 18, 2024World Whale Day
Feb. 16, 2024Great Backyard Bird Count
Jul 25, 2026Praia das Catedrais, Galicia, Spain
May 27, 2025Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia
A rainbow that’s worth the rainfall
Oct. 23, 2025International Day of the Snow Leopard
Apr. 8, 2025Paro Tsechu Festival, Bhutan
Rainbow around the sun
Oct. 20, 2023International Sloth Day
Jan. 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Sep. 21, 2023International Day of Peace
Mar. 17, 2025Happy St. Patricks Day!