Maundy Thursday in Iceland
In Iceland, Maundy Thursday is called Skírdagur and is both a Christian feast day and a public holiday. It falls on the Thursday before Easter and begins a long holiday period for many workers, though individual business hours vary.[1][2][3]
A public holiday under Icelandic law
Iceland’s Working Week Act names the feast days of the National Church of Iceland as days off. The Church’s list of those feast days includes Skírdagur, placing Maundy Thursday among Iceland’s recognized public holidays.[1][2]
The Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ) explains that employees hired for daytime work are generally not required to work on public holidays unless they agree to do so. If they do work, the day is paid under public-holiday overtime rules as well as the regular daytime pay described by ASÍ. Working arrangements and collective agreements can affect an individual employee’s terms.[2]
Maundy Thursday has no automatic substitute day. ASÍ describes a collective-agreement option to move certain Thursday holidays, naming Ascension Day and the First Day of Summer; Maundy Thursday is not among the holidays listed for transfer.[2]
Religious meaning and observance
Maundy Thursday is part of the Christian observance of Easter worldwide. In Iceland, the national church’s liturgical material gives the day the heading “The meal of the new covenant” and includes the Gospel account of Jesus sharing the Passover meal with his disciples, linking the day with the Last Supper and the Eucharist.[3]
Churches may hold special services during Holy Week. As one Reykjavík example, Hallgrímskirkja listed an evening service and a Gethsemane vigil on Skírdagur in its 2025 Holy Week programme. That programme documents one church’s observance in that year; local service times and formats can vary.[4]
Easter customs in Iceland
Chocolate Easter eggs, called páskaegg, are a familiar part of Icelandic Easter. Reykjavík’s municipal guide describes children and adults eating them on Easter Sunday, while Visit Iceland notes that the eggs may contain sweets and a small Icelandic proverb. These are Easter customs rather than customs specific to Maundy Thursday.[5][6]
The Easter break also provides a longer pause in the working week. Visit Iceland describes Easter in Iceland as a five-day weekend and says the pace of life slows, with some shops and museums taking a break.[6]
What to expect as a visitor
Because Skírdagur is a public holiday, people in standard daytime jobs may have the day off, while essential and shift-based work can follow different arrangements. The Central Bank of Iceland lists Maundy Thursday among its public-holiday closures.[1][2][7]
Opening hours can vary across the Easter period, so check directly with any shop, museum or service you plan to use. Visit Iceland specifically advises visitors that Easter opening hours vary; check public transport timetables before you travel.[6]
Frequently asked questions
Is Maundy Thursday a public holiday in Iceland?
When does Maundy Thursday fall?
It is the Thursday before Easter. Its calendar date changes from year to year.[5]
Do workers get the day off?
ASÍ says daytime workers are generally not required to work on public holidays unless they agree to do so. Terms can vary by job and collective agreement.[2]
Are shops and attractions open?
Hours vary over the Easter break. Check individual businesses and attractions before travelling.[6]
Sources and references
Sources used for Maundy Thursday in Iceland:
- 88/1971: Lög um 40 stunda vinnuviku- Alþingi
- Public holidays- Alþýðusamband Íslands (ASÍ)
- Skírdagur- Church of Iceland (Þjóðkirkjan)
- Kyrravika og páskar í Hallgrímskirkju 2025- Hallgrímskirkja
- Holidays and celebrations- City of Reykjavík
- Plan your Visit to Iceland in Spring- Business Iceland (Visit Iceland)
- Public holidays in Iceland- Central Bank of Iceland