Independence Day of Iceland

Flag of IcelandIceland’s Independence Day commemorates an important event in Iceland’s history in 1918, when it was recognized as a sovereign state in union with Denmark.

Since 1380, Iceland has been a possession of Denmark.

The national liberation movement gained strength throughout the nineteenth century, from the middle of which Iceland gained new freedoms.

Thus, in 1843, the Althing was restored (the tradition of the congress in the week of “mid-summer” to the All-Icelandic Ting – a popular assembly where disputes were decided, judged and passed laws), in 1854, the Danish trade monopoly was abolished, and in 1874 a constitution was adopted that gave Iceland limited autonomy.