Today is Bóndadagur, or Husband’s Day, when wives and girlfriends in Iceland pamper their men. Bóndadagur also marks the beginning of the old Icelandic month of Thorri, during which Thórrablót mid-winter feasts are held across the country.

Thorri food. Photo by Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir.

In many households, Bóndadagur is celebrated by eating the traditional Thorri food: dried fish, smoked lamb, putrefied shark and soured blood and liver pudding along with other soured meat products, including ram testicles. The delicacies are often washed down with a shot or two of brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.

Other women treat their significant others with flowers. According to Morgunbladid 50 percent more flowers are sold in the week preceding Bóndadagur last year than during a regular week.

However, on Konudagur, or Women’s Day (February 20 this year), the sale doubles. “Our feeling is that women buy flowers along with something else whereas men make a special trip to the florist’s on Women’s Day and buy larger bouquets,” florist Sigurdur Moritzson at Graenn markadur commented.

The flower tradition on Bóndadagur is rather new; it was largely unheard of until the 1990s.

Click here to read more about these traditions and here watch an audio slideshow of the food traditionally eaten at Thorrablót.