Þorláksmessa (ˈθɔrtlauxsˌmɛsːa, Mass of St. Thorlac) is an Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

ic holiday celebrated on December 23. It is a celebration in honor of Þorlákur Þórhallsson

Saint Thorlak

Saint Thorlac Thorhalli is the patron saint of Iceland. Born in Skálholt in sourthern Iceland, he was bishop of Skalholt from 1178 until his death...

, bishop of Skálholt, who was appointed as the patron saint of Iceland in 1985, centuries after his death on December 23, 1193.

In modern times, Þorláksmessa has become part of Christmas

Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

: on the 23rd, many people finish decorating their houses and the Christmas tree, and buy Christmas presents. On Þorláksmessa evening in Reykjavík

Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...

, many go out and stroll down Laugavegur

Laugavegur (Reykjavík)

Laugavegur is the primary commercial artery of downtown Reykjavík, Iceland and one of the oldest shopping streets. The name means "wash road", as it used to lead to the hot springs in Laugardalur where in olden times the women of Reykjavík took their laundry for washing.It has experienced economic...

.

In western Iceland it is customary to eat buried and fermented skate

Skate

Skates are cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae in the superorder Batoidea of rays. There are more than 200 described species in 27 genera. There are two subfamilies, Rajinae and Arhynchobatinae ....

 along with potatoes on Þorláksmessa; in recent years, this custom has become common in the rest of the country as well. The ammonia

Ammonia

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...

-infused odor of fermented skate is quite strong, similar to that of hákarl

Hákarl

Hákarl or kæstur hákarl is a food from Iceland. It is a Greenland or basking shark which has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months...

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External links

• http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/food/2008/03/thorrablot.html#comment-1016038
• http://expatmamma.blogspot.com/2004/12/national-delicacies_23.html
• http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=253051
• http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=250838
• http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=295367
• http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=297135
• http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2007/12/03/thorlaksmessa/
• http://jol.ismennt.is/english/thorlaksmessa-joe.htm