Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival 24 Jan 2025

What could be better than warming up winter with a feast that"s a little wild and a lot of fun? Thorrablot, Iceland"s midwinter festival, invites you to dive headfirst into tradition. This celebration of survival, culture, and community, which dates to the Viking Age, was once a way for Icelanders to honour Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Today, people celebrate by gathering to feast on an array of local delicacies, including fermented shark, smoked lamb, rye bread and shots of Brennivín—often called "black death" schnapps.

© John and Tina Reid/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

The envy of postcards and snowglobes
24 Jan 2024Diamond Beach, Iceland
24 Jan 2026Big Garden Birdwatch

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Bryce Canyon hoodoos in winter
22 Mar 2025Happy World Water Day!
19 Sep 2024International Talk Like a Pirate Day
28 Jan 2024Channel Country, Australia
11 Jan 2024Eurasian lynx
Doves of peace
Where the humpback whale sings
Where is this scenic view?
11 Jun 2025Greater flamingos, Lüderitz, Namibia
13 Apr 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
24 Sep 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
30 Oct 2024Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
8 Jul 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
31 Jan 2025Happy International Zebra Day!
It’s party time
26 Jun 2024Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
In hot water
Red rock country
7 Dec 2024Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
25 Jan 2026Burns Night
20 May 2025World Bee Day
5 Aug 2025Tide pools in La Jolla, California, United States
Waterfall capital of the world?
9 Aug 2024Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
22 Jun 2026World Rainforest Day
11 Nov 2025Externsteine in the Teutoburg Forest, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
One on land, a million in space
What are these colorful insects?
2 Feb 2026Groundhog Day
13 Nov 2025Quiver trees, Keetmanshoop, Namibia