Lent in Iceland: Bollu, Sprengi and Öskudagur tradition

Christianity came to Iceland around the year 1000, which was just a few generations after settlers first moved to the small island in the northern Atlantic. Before then religious beliefs existed, but most were replaced by Christian celebrations, holidays and customs at that time. A common thread running through those customs and belief systems has always been the rich and delicious food-based history and traditions of Iceland.

Traditionally the week that marks the start of Lent sees three consecutive days of celebration on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, seven weeks before Easter.  In 2026 these dates fall on 16th, 17th and 18th February. Although the dates change each year to follow the Christian calendar the last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Lent offer examples of long-standing, cherished food-based customs in Iceland.

The three days are called Bolludagur, Sprengidagur and Öskudagur.

Read on to appreciate the way that these centuries old traditions are celebrated and what these three days mean to Icelanders. You may notice similarities with other countries pre-lent celebrations and might be surprised by the similarities to Halloween.

Bolludagur 2026

Bolludagur, translates to “Bun Day,” it’s the Monday before Lent. Bolludagur is marked by baking and enjoying freshly baked sweet buns with cream.

So, why “Bun Day?”

As the tradition goes, children craft special coloured wands on Bolludagur by gluing colourful strips of paper to the ends of sticks. Then, they wake up their parents or attract their attention throughout the day by tapping them, often on the bottom, or “buns” with the wands and shouting, “Bun! Bun! Bun!”

Although the tradition of waking parents up this way is several centuries newer than the holiday itself. The original purpose of Bolludagur was to enjoy traditional Icelandic breads a final time before the Christian population went into Lent when fasting took place or at least indulgences and excesses were tempered.

Sprengidagur 2026

The next pre-Lent tradition is Sprengidagur, on Tuesday 17th February in 2026. It translates to “Explosion Day or “White Tuesday”. On Sprengidagur traditional Icelandic salted meat and beans are consumed in a tremendous feast at dinner. 

The most popular dish is the salted meat called “saltkjöt og baunir,” frequently accompanied by vegetable and lentil soups. Icelandic people enjoy this hearty meal on the eve of Ash Wednesday, ahead of the seven weeks of Lent that’s usually a time of fasting, even if only from meat.

Öskudagur 2026

The final day of this three-day run of holidays is Öskudagur, which is also Ash Wednesday which denotes the first day of Lent. However Icelandic traditions around Ash Wednesday are known to be somewhat fanciful, especially when compared to the UK. This year the traditions are especially appropriate due to the proximity to Valentine’s Day on 14th February in 2026.

The Öskudagur tradition is for school-age girls and young women to pin little bags filled with ash onto the backs of the boy they admire, the aim of the game is to ensure that the boy doesn’t notice. Young boys also have a similar practice,  but their small bags are filled with pebbles instead.

Öskudagur has been compared to Halloween in recent times due to the way that children dress up in elaborate fancy dress costumes and go from shop to shop singing out for sweets and chocolate. Again, the tradition has stemmed from the final indulgence before the seven weeks of Lent when indulgences are given up.

So that’s a round up of the three days that precede Lent in Iceland. Hopefully you have a greater understanding of the traditions and the reasons behind them.