Continuous Christmas in North Iceland

Christmas has already arrived in a place located only a short drive south of Akureyri, North Iceland. In fact, it has been there year round for a quarter of a century. The gift store Jólagarðurinn, or the Christmas Garden, was opened by the couple Benedikt Ingi Grétarsson and Ragnheiður Hreiðarsdóttir on May 31, 1996.

“The basic idea was to create jobs for us and our children while they were growing up,” Benedikt tells Morgunblaðið . “We thought the operation would be over once we were gone, but when our daughter Margrét Vera expressed interest in entering the business, the aim was set for a hundred years.”

“Icelanders have always been steady customers, and they have never been as many as during the past two summers,” Benedikt states. “What we appreciate the most is that the children who at the beginning of the operation arrived with their parents now arrive with their own children. One generation follows another.”

Recent reports of a possible shortage of goods before Christmas does not affect the Christmas Garden. “Christmas is here all year round, so it doesn’t matter when we receive our goods,” Benedikt explains. “Besides, we have a number of suppliers worldwide.”

The couple’s children have been employed at the store, along with close relatives. Therefore, this is a typical family business.

Most things Christmas-related can be found at the store, Christmas music can be heard every day, and coffee and hot cocoa is served outdoors year round, regardless of the weather.

For more information, see here .