Christmas

Decorating the Christmas tree is an important and delightful part of the Christmas preparations with both children and adults enjoying adorning the tree in multiple colours. The first Christmas trees were imported to Iceland in the mid-19th century, mainly for use in the homes of Danish families. Very few Icelanders could afford Christmas pine trees in those times but some solved the matter by simply making their own Christmas trees.

The stamp motifs are homemade Icelandic Christmas trees, one from Hruni and the other from Laugardælir, both farms in the South of Iceland. The Christmas tree from Hruni (50g domestic) dates back to 1873 and is considered the oldest homemade Christmas tree in Iceland. It is one meter in height, made of timber and painted green. It has 38 wooden sticks protruding from the stem with branches wrapped with bearberry and a candle on each branch. This tree originates from the estate of pastor Steindór Briem in Hruni and the craftsman was farmer Jón Jónsson.

The Laugardælir Christmas tree (50g to Europe) dates back to the middle of the last century. It has a 63 cm stem which was turned on a lathe and has stylized branches intended for candles. The tree was found in the attic of the church of Laugardælir when it was being demolished. The famed carpenter Gísli Brynjólfsson (1871-1961) is known to have made Christmas trees of similar shape and style. This strongly suggests that he is the creator of this particular Christmas tree which was used for many years in the church of Laugardælir.