Ash Wednesday in Pictures

From Múlaborg preschool.

From Múlaborg preschool. Kristinn Magnússon

Vala Hafstað

Children all over Iceland celebrated Ash Wednesday yesterday by dressing up in all sorts of colorful costumes. They visited stores, businesses and institutions and sang songs in hopes of receiving candy in return.

From Akureyri.

From Akureyri.

In Akureyri, North Iceland, children flocked to the shopping center at the town square, Glerártorg, to hit a piñata, filled with candy, as is their custom.

From Akureyri.

From Akureyri.

In Reykjavík, a number of children visited Kringlan shopping center, some of them wearing the most unusual costumes — not necessarily comfortable ones.

From Múlaborg preschool.

From Múlaborg preschool. Photo/Kristinn Magnússon

At Múlaborg preschool, Reykjavík, children got a chance to dress up and attend a party to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the foundation of SFL — the Benefit Society for Children with Disabilities.

From Húsavík, North Iceland.

From Húsavík, North Iceland. Photo/Hafþór

It used to be the custom in Iceland for children to make tiny bags from colorful material for Ash Wednesday, which they would secretly hang with pins on the coats of adults downtown. Back then, you might see some people walking around town unawares that several bags were swinging back and forth on the back of their coat. That custom has, however, disappeared.

From Kringlan shopping center, Reykjavík.

From Kringlan shopping center, Reykjavík. Photo/Kristinn Magnússon

From Kringlan shopping center.

From Kringlan shopping center. Photo/Kristinn Magnússon



From Kringlan shopping center.

From Kringlan shopping center. Photo/Kristinn Magnússon

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