Reykjavik, Iceland During New Year’s Eve
This is THE place to be for your next New Year’s celebration.
When we think of holidays, our minds often think about destinations. In the mood for an epic parade? You can’t beat the Macy’s Day Parade. Thinking about an iconic Christmas? Chances are that your imagination paints a scene of ice skating in Rockefeller. Thinking about planting a kiss on your loved one on Valentine’s? You might consider doing it in front of the Empire State building when it’s lit with a beating heart, showered in pink, and looks like love just exploded all over it.
What do all of these scenarios have in common?
New York (*queue Alicia’s Key’s & Jay-Z*)
When it comes to spending New Year’s Eve, many of us may imagine watching the Time Square Ball Drop.
Don’t get me wrong Big Apple. I love you and have had a great time visiting your city. In fact, I cannot wait for the next time I get to visit you. However, there is one location that has the advantage over you when it comes to celebrating New Year’s Eve: Reykjavik, Iceland.
Let me caveat this by stating that I have not celebrated New Year’s Eve in New York. However, being nearly four decades old, spending countless nights watching that ball drop, people watching on TV, I have to say… I’m good. Do you know why?
Because I’m that confident that New Year’s Eve in Iceland is that much better.
I lived in Iceland for three years, and each December 31st at midnight, it was epic.
What makes New Year’s Eve in Iceland so special? I have four reasons, to be exact.
1. Zulu/GMT Time Zone
New York is often considered the place for the celebration, and it’s on the east coast. However, which corner of the world gets to welcome the New Year?
Well, that would be Iceland.
The Land of Fire and Ice is located in the time zone where all time zones are based on Zulu/GMT.
Each day, every hour, of every year: Our time is based on Zulu/GMT. To me, being on the frontier of the World’s Time means more to me than simply being on the East Coast, where the rest of the U.S’s time trickles from.
2. The fireworks budget
I have no idea what Iceland’s budget is for fireworks. However, considering that I’ve seen three of their fireworks extravaganza’s at the stroke of midnight, December 31st, I’d like to go out on a limb and say, “They don’t care. It’s a motherf*ckin’ New Year!” 🤘
No matter where you set up your view around Reykjavik’s capital, I can assure you that you’re going to have a 360° view.
In fact, it won’t surprise me if you:
- Become worried a significant building is going to catch on fire.
- Concerned that the country spent its entire budget on fireworks.
- Become concerned a nuclear bomb just went off.
3. Forget the crowds
You do not have to be in the heart of Rekjavik to have an unforgettable New Year’s experience. In New York, if you’re not in Times Square, you’re nowhere special.
One of the beautiful realizations about Iceland is that it is wide open, and crowds usually are not a concern (unless you’re in the heart of the capital on New Year’s).
With so many of us worried about large gatherings due to COVID, I can assure you that you’ll have plenty of space, safe, and a magical experience while in Iceland.
4. It’s not just about the fireworks
Icelanders know how to bring in the New Year, and it’s not just with fireworks. Fireworks are typically illegal unless purchased through the Icelandic Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR).
The ICE-SAR is a nonprofit, noncommercial, volunteer-based organization specializing in search and rescue services on land and at sea around the coast of Iceland. — Landsbjorg.Is
Friends & Family The value that Icelanders place on friends and family can often be unmatched. Like many holidays, celebrations can be private. Exquisite meals are usually prepared during these times, and pubs and/or restaurants close early. During this time, families will cook wild game from family hunts.
Bonfires (“Brenna”)
Sometime around 8:30 pm, large pyres will ignite around the city. This practice dates back to the middle ages when fishermen would clean their houses in preparation for the New Year.
Again, don’t hate me, New York. I sincerely love you.
However — like you — I want to keep it real and say that Iceland has a slight advantage over the New Year’s celebration.
Whether you feel that New York has the advantage or Iceland, you can watch both live on New Year’s. Right now, with COVID, it’s not a bad way to feel like you are in two places at once.