Every mid-January through mid-February, the people of Iceland celebrate Thorrablot, a festival of feasts. According to Mike Sula of the Chicago Reader, the festival holds some unusual delicacies.
One can find rams’ testicles, sheep’s heads, and rotting shark meat. You might ask why Icelanders would eat such vile things, but when you look at things from their perspective, it’s a way to preserve their Viking heritage in honor of Thorri, the thunder god himself.
The midwinter feast Thorrablot in Iceland is held at any time during the month of Þorri, which begins on the first Friday after January 19th (the 13t
h week or 4th month of winter on the old Scandinavian calendar).
Thorrablot is a north Germanic sacrificial celebration of a winter or weather spirit named Thorri and takes place only in Iceland. The celebration has its roots in culture and rituals of the Viking Age and was revived as recently as the 19th century.
Today, Thorrablot is an important part of Iceland’s culture. Thorrablot takes place in the coldest dark days of the year, and it’s interesting t
o keep in mind that many of the foods served are actually the smoked/pickled produce of the previous year. It is a Scandinavian tradition with lots of Viking history.
The Thorrablot celebration starts with dinner. For the midwinter feast, Icelanders serve what was normal day-to-day food for Vikings, and turn back to nature-made food that is smoked, laid in mysa (a sour milk-product), salted, dried, or kaestur (rotting and setting meat).
The things you can expect to see on your plate or on the buffet table include local dishes such as fermented shark, smoked lamb’s meat, sour lamb breast, liverwurst, and blood sausage, rye and flatbreads, as well as dried fish.
Al
l of that is washed down with a shot of Brennivin (Iceland’s strong schnapps). Typical Thorrablot food is called Thorramatur and is available in many Icelandic restaurants in January and early February.
Keep in mind that Thorrablot
fare isn’t for queasy stomachs, though, and is usually not suitable for children due to the strange foods and alcohol.
Enjoy it as an adults-only event. After the Thorrablot dinner, get ready for group games and old songs and stories, accompanied by Brennivin.
It’ll definitely get that rotten meat taste out of your mouth. Later in the evening, danc
es start and often continue until the early morning when Thorrablot celebrations draw to an end.
