Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival Jan. 24, 2025

Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival

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 snow globes
Jan. 24, 2024Diamond Beach, Iceland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov. 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
Apr. 7, 2024International Beaver Day
Oct. 11, 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon
Whos in this creepy copse?
Jul. 12, 2025Thomsons gazelles, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Mar. 23, 2025World Meteorological Day
Jul. 19, 2024A young jaguar on a riverbank, Pantanal, Brazil
Jul. 29, 2024International Tiger Day
Dec. 9, 2025National Llama Day
May 20, 2024Victoria Day
An iridescent view
Clouds dance above Sundance
Mar. 6, 2024Wahclella Falls, Oregon, USA
‘Night shining’ clouds
Jun. 6, 2024The 80th anniversary of D-Day
Dec. 7, 2023Verdon Gorge, France
Aug. 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
Stars in daylight
Mar. 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK
Dec. 30, 2023Daiichi Tadami River Bridge, Fukushima, Japan
A sky full of stars
Oct. 8, 2024World Octopus Day
Jun. 6, 202581st anniversary of D-Day
Sharks, just living their lives
Whats so funny?
Kickoff in Qatar
Flying the flag for Pride
Nov. 21, 2025World Hello Day
Apr. 16, 2024Union Square, Manhattan, New York, USA
Dec. 25, 2024Merry Christmas!