Bolla! Bolla! Bolla!

What? Well, if you were in Iceland today, you would not be surprised if a child ran up waving a stick and shouting "Bolla! bolla! bolla!" This is Bolludagur, or Bunday-Monday. 

This festival, in late February or early March, happens the day before Shrove Tuesday. Children make bun wands and spank their parents with them. Each spank is rewarded with a chocolate bun. Not sure about the spanking, but a bun is a nice idea. You can buy your bun wand - but most children make their own at home or at school.

You can use fancy materials, or be eco-friendly and recycle newspapers [I am trying to think of a reason to make these with the children in church. They'd be good for Palm Sunday - for waving not spanking!]

This festival is part of the whole "eat up the rich foods before Lent starts" tradition. But Icelanders do not have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. No, that is Sprengidagur - Explosion Day. So called because people eat a soup made from salted meat, lentils and beans, and eat it till they...explode.I can live without that one!

Wednesday is Öskudagur [Ash Day] and the schools are closed. Children wear fancy dress and go round collecting goodies[a bit like Hallowe'en Trick or Treat] The run-up to Lent sounds great fun in Iceland. Bolla! Bolla! Bolla!