“Where babies nap outside and doors stay unlocked” ❄️🇮🇸 Iceland isn’t just about glaciers and volcanoes—it’s a country built on trust, tradition, and some truly wild habits. From naming rules to fermented shark, everyday life here feels like another world. See the customs that make Iceland unlike anywhere else in the article below 👇
Iceland is known for its cold weather and rugged landscapes, but what might surprise you more is how happy and satisfied its people are. Nearly all Icelanders—about 98%—say they’re content with their lives. But that’s not the only thing that makes this island nation so unique. Here are a few fascinating customs and everyday habits that make Iceland stand out.
No Family Names
In Iceland, people don’t use last names like in most countries. Instead, they use a system based on their father’s name. When a baby is born, their full name is formed by taking the dad’s name and adding “-son” for a boy or “-dottir” for a girl. For example, if a man named Jon has a daughter, her name might be Anna Jonsdottir. Only about 10% of people in Iceland have what we would call real last names, and those families usually have foreign roots.
Unlocked Doors and Total Trust
In Iceland, it’s normal to leave the front door unlocked—and sometimes even the car. Since most people in towns know each other, locking things up is not a big deal. In Reykjavik, the capital, only around 120,000 people live there. That’s smaller than many towns! Some parents even leave their babies outside in strollers while they shop or grab a coffee, and no one thinks twice about it.
A Taste for the Extreme
One of Iceland’s most famous traditional dishes is hakarl—fermented Greenland shark meat. It sounds odd, and it smells even worse. The shark is buried and left to rot in gravel for months, then dried out by the wind. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but it’s a national treasure. It’s often eaten with a strong local drink called “Black Death,” which is made from potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds.
Women With Backbone
Iceland was the first country to elect a woman president. Even long before that, Icelandic women were known for being strong and independent. While men were away at sea, women ran the homes, raised the kids, and made big decisions. Today, they still take the lead. Many women in Iceland aren’t afraid to go after what they want—including asking men out. And dark hair dye is a popular choice, since many Icelanders are naturally blonde.
Wearing Many Hats
Jobs can be expensive to maintain in Iceland, and taxes are high. That’s why it’s common for people to work more than one job. Artists and musicians often have second or third jobs to make ends meet. A football coach might also be a dentist, while a novelist could work in construction or as a tour guide.
