Today is Þjóðhátíðardagurinn (the day of the nation's celebration) in Iceland. It marks the day in 1944 when Iceland became independent from Denmark.
The date of 17 June was chosen because it is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a major figure of Icelandic culture and the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.
Hæ Hå³ Jibbå Jei to Iceland!
To celebrate, here's a video by Icelandic singer På¡lmi Gunnarsson of the song "åsland er land å¾itt (Iceland Is Your Country)" written by Magnåºs Þå³r Sigmundsson / Margrå©t Jå³nsdå³ttir.
åsland er land å¾itt
åsland er land å¾itt, og å¡vallt å¾åº geymir
åsland å huga å¾å©r, hvar sem å¾åº ferå°.
åsland er landiå° sem ungan å¾ig dreymir,
åsland å vonanna birtu å¾åº så©rå°,
åsland å sumarsins algræna skråºå°i,
åsland meå° blikandi norå°ljå³sa traf.
åsland aå° feå°ranna afrekum hlåºå°i,
åsland er foldin, sem låfiå° å¾å©r gaf.åslensk er å¾jå³å°in sem arfinn å¾inn geymir
åslensk er tunga å¾ån skår eins og gull.
åslensk er såº lind,sem um æå°ar å¾å©r streymir.
åslensk er vonin, af bjartså½ni full.
åslensk er vornå³ttin, albjört sem dagur,
åslensk er lundin meå° karlmennskuå¾or.
åslensk er våsan, hinn åslenski bragur.
åslensk er tråºin å¡ frelsisins vor.åsland er land å¾itt, å¾vå aldrei skal gleyma
åslandi helgar å¾åº krafta og starf
åslenska å¾jå³å°, å¾å©r er ætlaå° aå° geyma
åslenska tungu, hinn då½rasta arf.
åsland så© blessaå° um aldanna raå°ir,
åslenska moldin, er låfiå° å¾å©r gaf.
åsland så© faliå° å¾å©r, eilåfi faå°ir.
åsland så© frjå¡lst, meå°an så³l gyllir haf.
And an English transliteration provided by YouTube user NiceGirlFromIceland:
Iceland is your country, and always you keep
Iceland on your mind, wherever you go.
Iceland is the country, which at young you dream,
Iceland in the light of hope that you see,
Iceland in the summers all green decoration,
Iceland with glittering northern lights fringe.
Iceland to the fathers accomplishments nursed,
Iceland is the land, that gave you the life.Icelandic is the nation that keeps your heritage
Icelandic is your tongue, pure like gold.
Icelandic is the (spring/source), which streams through your veins.
Icelandic is the hope, filled with optimism.
Icelandic is the night of spring,all bright as day,
Icelandic is the temperament, with prowess courage.
Icelandic is the quatrain, the Icelandic (atmosphere, tone, character)
Icelandic is the belief in freedom's spring.Iceland is your country, that shall never be forgotten,
to Iceland you dedicate strength and work
Icelandic nation, you are meant to keep,
Icelandic tongue, the most valuable heritage
Iceland be blessed, through series of centuries,
The Icelandic earth, that gave you the life
Iceland (be given to you/be yours), eternal father
Iceland be free, while sun gilds ocean.
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Loved living in Iceland. Your countrymen are beautiful people. We made friends that will last a lifetime. Happy holiday.