1. The darkness
Yes, I know. You’re probably craving light as New Year approaches. I feel the same way myself. Nevertheless, I would say that darkness was one of the most delightful reasons to spend New Year’s Eve in Iceland.
The sun rises late and sets early. More precisely around New Year’s: The sun rises at 11:20 AM and sets at 3:45 PM.
In other words, when you wake up, there’s a good reason to snuggle a bit longer under the covers… or linger a liiittle longer over breakfast.
I really like that when I’m on New Year’s holiday, especially when it’s cold outside.
2. The snow
Yes, there is plenty of snow in Iceland around New Year’s. Snow that falls in large white pillows, and snow that comes rushing – yes, whipping from the storms of the sea, tangling your hair and settling in every crevice and fold of your clothing.
The snow makes Iceland so beautiful – like a true Icelandic winter fairytale. And the snow gives the darkness shades, transitioning into the whitest, glittering crystals that only winter fairytales can create.
3. Northern lights
If you’re lucky, you can trade all your fireworks and Roman candles for genuine Nordic light shows: the Northern Lights.
Here you get the Nordic and celestial answer to phosphorescence. Soft, floating arcs of green, red, yellow, pink, purple, and white lights, playing across the sky and illuminating the winter darkness – captivating you.
4. The cold and the warmth
Yep. It’s cold in Iceland when you’re there around New Year’s. And the wind can be really harsh at times. So harsh that it slaps you when you’re out in nature. But Iceland isn’t just a cold place. Iceland is dramatic, and therefore also offers contrasts to the cold. Warmth.
From the Earth’s interior, warm water flows out into the springs, giving you the opportunity to take a delightful bath in a hot spring while it’s snowing! And to top it off, the harsh raw rocks and the colorful lava are filled with the most delightful, turquoise-milky-colored spring water, which can only put you in a fantastic New Year’s mood.
5. The elves
Do elves exist? Well, no, right? But in Iceland, there are indeed elves living in the snow-covered mountains and volcanoes!
It may be that most Icelanders are members of the church, but every other Icelander will still insist that there are elves in the mountains.
Sometimes, it’s precisely the supernatural that makes the impossible possible. And who hasn’t stood at five minutes to twelve on New Year’s Eve, crossing their fingers to fulfill precisely an impossible dream in the new year?
I don’t know if the elves are the only ones involved when you succeed with your biggest, yet unrealized dream next year.
But why not give it a shot and spend your New Year’s in Iceland?
Useful links
-> Reykjavik Loves
-> Reykjavik New Year’s Eve
-> Árbær Open Air Museum
-> Blue Lagoon
