Christmas is Coming

The Christmas Exhibition at Arbaer Museum has been very popular in recent years, and become an established feature of the festive season in Reykjavík. Both young and old enjoy strolling from house to house on the Museum site, experiencing preparations for Christmas as in olden days. The Yuletide Lads prowl around playing pranks, while visitors can try their hand at traditional crafts, sing Yuletide songs and take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

In the Arbaer farmhouse traditional laufabraud (leaf bread) is cut into
decorative patterns before being fried, while upstairs wool is spun and
knitted, and fish skin is sewn into shoes. An old-style Christmas tree of
wood is trimmed with sprigs of heather. In Kornhusid (the Granary) adults
and children can do handicrafts, make paper-chains etc. In Gardarstraeti
tallow is used to make candles, including three-branched "kings'
candles." At Habaer hangikjot (smoked lamb) will be boiling, and visitors can
have a taste of the freshly-cooked meat, while in the house woodcarving will
be demonstrated. In Efstibaer, preparations for Christmas are in full swing,
and pungent skate is bubbling in the pan. A printer is at work in Midhus,
where he prints Christmas greetings for visitors. In Sudurgata 7, we see
Christmas in an upper-class home of a century ago, and a goldsmith is also
at work there. Icelandic arts and crafts are shown in the Arts Corner, while Krambudin (the
General Store) sells confectionery and various festive items. At the Dillon
House, steaming hot chocolate is served with Christmas refreshments.