Thorrablot Viking Celebration
Care to taste sheep´s heads, ram´s testicles, fermented shark or dried fish? Well, this is what you get in the annual Thorrablot festivals in Iceland – and actually it tastes wonderful.
Thorrablot (“Þorrablót” in Icelandic) is a traditional winter festival that takes place in the month of Þorri, which starts in late January and ends in late February. These festivals were started by Icelandic student associations in the latter half of the 19th century and have since then been an event which holds a special place in most Icelanders hearts.
The Þorrablót fests are can vary from being an informal dinner with friends and family to large organised events where entertainment and activities are scheduled. Participants usually hold speeches, originally to honour the Norse god Thor. These large Þorrablót fests are usually arranged by membership associations or Event Organisers like Iceland Travel.
The food is special – but you have to taste it !
As you might have already figured out, the served food during Thorrablot does get different reception from people, as most of the food has been processed and storaged for a long time – just like it was done centuries ago. However, the most important thing is to simply have a taste – and don’t be surprised if you actually like it!
Þorramatur buffet usually has a choice between sour and unsour pieces of the same food, served on separate trays. That way, the buffet is more likely to include something that everybody can eat. Here are some of the courses you might want to expect to be on the buffet:
Thorrablot (“Þorrablót” in Icelandic) is a traditional winter festival that takes place in the month of Þorri, which starts in late January and ends in late February. These festivals were started by Icelandic student associations in the latter half of the 19th century and have since then been an event which holds a special place in most Icelanders hearts.
The Þorrablót fests are can vary from being an informal dinner with friends and family to large organised events where entertainment and activities are scheduled. Participants usually hold speeches, originally to honour the Norse god Thor. These large Þorrablót fests are usually arranged by membership associations or Event Organisers like Iceland Travel.
The food is special – but you have to taste it !
As you might have already figured out, the served food during Thorrablot does get different reception from people, as most of the food has been processed and storaged for a long time – just like it was done centuries ago. However, the most important thing is to simply have a taste – and don’t be surprised if you actually like it!
Þorramatur buffet usually has a choice between sour and unsour pieces of the same food, served on separate trays. That way, the buffet is more likely to include something that everybody can eat. Here are some of the courses you might want to expect to be on the buffet:
- “Kæstur hákarl” – Putrefied Greenland shark
- “Súrsaðir hrútspungar” - The testicles of rams pressed in blocks, boiled and cured in lactic acid.
- “Svið” - Singed and boiled sheep heads, sometimes cured in lactic acid
- “Sviðasulta” - Head cheese or brawn made from svið, sometimes cured in lactic acid
- “Lifrarpylsa”- A pudding made from liver and suet of sheep kneaded with rye flour and oats
- “Blóðmör” - (blood-suet; also known as “slátur”, meaning slaughter), A type of blood pudding, which is made from lamb's blood and suet, kneaded with rye flour and oats
- “Harðfiskur”- Winddried fish served with butter
- “Rúgbrauð” - Traditional Icelandic rye bread
- “Hangikjöt” - Hung meat, smoked and boiled lamb or mutton, sometimes also eaten raw.
- “Lundabaggi” - Sheep’s loins wrapped in the meat from the sides, pressed and cured in lactic acid
- “Selshreifar” - Seal's flippers cured in lactic acid
