New Year’s Day in Greenland
New Year’s Day falls on January 1 and is a public holiday in Greenland. Employees at most workplaces usually have the day off, while shops choose their own opening hours.[1][3]
Public holiday status
Greenland’s official list of public holidays names January 1 as New Year’s Day. The government’s flag-day list also names January 1 as Nytårsdag.[1][2]
The Nordic information service says employees at most workplaces usually have public holidays off. Whether an individual worker has the day off can depend on their workplace arrangements.[1]
A winter holiday in Greenland
New Year’s Day is a public holiday in Greenland, within a calendar broadly shared with the Nordic countries, particularly Denmark.[1]
Greenlandic winter customs around the start of the year include observances that happen after January 1. Mitaartut, also called Mitaarneq, is associated with Epiphany, usually January 6. In many towns and settlements, masked performers visit homes, communicate through gestures, and receive treats. The custom has roots in Inuit culture and is associated with Danish influence through its link to Epiphany.[1][3]
The return of the sun is another seasonal milestone in parts of Greenland, especially north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun returns at different times from mid-January to mid-February. In Ilulissat, schoolchildren prepare songs and drawings, and people gather at a viewpoint to welcome the sun. This is a later seasonal observance, rather than a New Year’s Day ceremony.[4]
Shops and planning
Greenland has no Closing Days Act, so shops may decide for themselves whether to open on public holidays. It is usual for shops to close on some public holidays, particularly in smaller towns and villages; in larger towns, normally only larger supermarkets open on public holidays. Individual hours can vary, so travelers should check directly with shops they plan to visit.[1]
Check with the relevant bank, government office or transport operator before making plans.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in Greenland?
Yes. Greenland’s public-holiday list names January 1 as New Year’s Day, and employees at most workplaces usually have public holidays off.[1]
Does the holiday move when January 1 falls on a weekend?
Are shops open on New Year’s Day?
They may be. Greenland has no Closing Days Act, so each shop sets its own hours; closures are usual on some public holidays, especially in smaller towns and villages.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for New Year's Day in Greenland:
- Public holidays in Greenland- Nordic cooperation, Nordic Council of Ministers
- Bilag 1: Flagdage- Naalakkersuisut, Government of Greenland
- Mitaartut – The silent masked performances- Visit Greenland
- Here comes the sun – Greeting the sun in Greenland- Visit Greenland