Leif Norman photographer

“Bolludagur” is the first in a row of three peculiar Icelandic holidays. It roughly translates as “Cream Puff Day” in English. This is one of many Icelandic festivities that are overlooked by foreigners, so here’s a little something to inform you.

Without fail, Bolludagur falls on Monday, so the actual date changes every year. We’re not sure where this holiday originates from but it is believed that bakers from Denmark or Norway introduced this custom in the middle of the nineteenth century.

We hope you won’t think we’re a nation of total freaks after reading this, but according to tradition, children arm themselves with a “bolludagsvondur” (a wand specially bought or made for the occasion) on the Sunday before Bolludagur. When they wake up the following day, they creep into their parents’ room and spank them repeatedly while yelling “Bolla!” over and over again. For every blow received before getting out of bed, parents owe their children a cream puff with jam and chocolate.

Yes, this actually happens. A few Icelanders make their own puffs and a lot buy them at bakeries and grocery stores. You don’t necessarily have to spank or be spanked in order to deserve one. We urge you to take part in this old Icelandic tradition and get yourself a bolla on Bolludagur. This custom may be weird, but whoever thought of dedicating a whole day to eating and enjoying pastries must have been a genius.”

From http://www.mydestination.com/reykjavik/events/73201347/bolludagur-11-february-2014