“Réttir” Iceland’s Annual Sheep Gathering Party

Today Iceland has a little less than 400,000 sheep roaming the Island’s countryside, just as many as humans roaming the cities.  The sheep population has been steadily dwindling from the mid of last century when Iceland used to have far more sheep than people, up to quadruple the ratio of sheep to humans!

It’s fair to say that Icelandic wool is woven into the very fabric of the country.  Wool is a big part of Iceland’s economy; it’s one of the country’s biggest exports. Although fishing and tourism are trumping the wool industry in the 21th century, as the country’s main sources of income.

This doesn´t change the important event which takes place annually in September. This month is the time of the réttir, when the sheep are rounded up in throughout the month.  During Iceland’s summer months of long summer days, sheep roam Iceland’s mountainous regions of highlands and valleys. During this time, they´re enjoying the sun on their backs, eating the various grasses, berries and herbs that grow naturally and doing what sheep do!  Indeed, the sheep benefit from the long sun-filled Icelandic days as they explore the countryside and seek out tasty morsels to eat.

The rettir marks the sheep being brought back to the farms for the winter.

Iceland’s long history of sheep and wool in a paragraph

Sheep first arrived from Norway in the 9th century AD, brought by early pioneers who used them for wool, food and sheepskins (they probably decided they were the ultimate multi-purpose choice). The sheep were faced with the challenges of changeable island weather and adapted through the generations to cope with the oft harsh conditions.  Bred in isolation as no other sheep joined the island, Icelandic sheep are tough, adaptable and unique.  Icelandic sheep have the double layer wool of known as tog and thel something that is totally unique to Icelandic sheep, developed naturally to keep them warm that still works for us today.

What is réttir?

Réttir is the Icelandic name for the annual sheep round-up that happens in September, when the sheep are brought down from the summer grazing for the winter.

The rettir is an ancient practice steeped in tradition. The rettir system uses circular sheepfolds (pens) called Stafnsrétt that consist of an inner and outer circle with compartments that are assigned to each farm. The sheep are moved to their families assigned section and from above the sheepfold looks like a huge wagon wheel.

Iceland’s sheep have always been set free to roam the Icelandic highlands for the summer.  This happens just after lambing time in May.  They are rounded up and brought back in for the winter at the annual Rettir in mid-September, so that they spend the long dark winter days in a safe, sheltered environment.  The process takes several days and farmers are joined by their families, people from the local communities and often tourists too.  The farming press releases the dates to notify people when the rettir is happening at each location and although it is certainly not a tourist attraction, several tour companies offer day trips to experience the annual event.

Although it’s a joyful time with a festival air the rettir is hard work and the weather can be unpredictable and harsh especially when bringing the sheep down.  At the high altitudes the northern winds can be freezing cold in September, and the cold rain cuts across horizontally and is frequently torrential.  It’s essential to wear the right clothing to stay warm and well.  The harshness of the conditions is a timely reminder that the sheep need to be tough to thrive in the changeable and often harsh conditions. 

How the sheep are herded

It’s hard work but a joyful time with people herding on foot, horseback and using ATVs.  Sheep dogs play their part too as they herd the sheep down to the sheepfold site. All the sheep are herded together for the journey regardless of who owns them.  It’s only once the sheep are penned in the round rettir sheepfold in a lowland location, that the task of sorting the sheep begins. Moving them in together with the rest of their flock is essential to return them home to their owner’s farms for the winter.

There is always a party atmosphere with music, singing and festivities including several traditional Icelandic dishes being cooked up to serve especially for the occasion.

If the sheep are so tough, why are they brought down off the mountains? 

Icelandic sheep enjoy high welfare standards and families depend on their sheep for income, food and warmth and they want to keep them safe.  Because there is frequently heavy snowfall in Iceland and sheep can easily get lost and trapped in the snow the sheep are collectively brought back to the farmsteads for the harshest winter months.

Why does Iceland have so many sheep?

Iceland wouldn’t be the Iceland that we know and love if it were not for the sheep!  Sheep are an integral part of the country for many reasons.

The sheep are shorn twice a year for their own welfare and that wool provides clothing and insulation for the people of Iceland. It’s one of Iceland’s biggest exports through overseas purchases of products made with the unique Icelandic sheep’s wool. However, until Icewear created a way to utilise all the wool, some of it was previously a waste product.  Now it is successfully used in clothing insulation.  Learn how Icewear prevent waste and help the farming community here.

The way that sheep graze fashions the grasslands, sheep are known in agriculture for the way that they improve grassland.  Sheep nibble close to the ground giving wildflowers and herbs the opportunity to compete with the grass.  That also means that the sheep themselves eat a wider range of vegetation which is good for their health whilst improving biodiversity and helping wildlife. Another advantage is that the sheep trails make ideal hiking paths especially as the sheep often find the easiest way up and down the mountains and hikers can follow their trails!

Iceland’s sheep provide food for Icelanders, and the quality of the lamb is celebrated . Due to being recognised as tender with a distinctive flavour Icelandic lamb has ‘protected designation of origin status’, which means that only lamb from Iceland can be described as Icelandic lamb.

Iceland has so many sheep because they are such an integral part of the history, traditions and welfare of the island. Icelandic sheep provide excellent food and clothing.

Marking the time of year

The traditions surrounding caring for Iceland’s sheep mark the changing seasons.

Just as the sheep are part of the fabric of the land, the rettir is part of Iceland’s traditions and marks the coming of winter, just as releasing the sheep to the hillside in the spring marks the coming of the summer.  You could say that the changes of the seasons are also marked by the traditions surrounding the sheep!

The way that sheep graze fashions the grasslands, sheep are known in agriculture for the way that they improve grassland. Sheep nibble close to the ground giving wildflowers and herbs the opportunity to compete with the grass. That also means that the sheep themselves eat a wider range of vegetation which is good for their health whilst improving biodiversity and helping wildlife.

Iceland’s sheep provide food for Icelanders, and the quality of the lamb is celebrated. Due to being recognised as tender with a distinctive flavour Icelandic lamb has ‘protected designation of origin status’, which means that only lamb from Iceland can be described as Icelandic lamb.

Iceland has so many sheep because they are such an integral part of the history, traditions and welfare of the island. Icelandic sheep provide excellent food and clothing.

Marking the time of year

The traditions surrounding caring for Iceland’s sheep mark the changing seasons.

Just as the sheep are part of the fabric of the land, the rettir is part of Iceland’s traditions and marks the coming of winter, just as releasing the sheep to the hillside in the spring marks the coming of the summer. You could say that the changes of the seasons are also marked by the traditions surrounding the sheep!