Icelandic Language Day or Dagur íslenskrar tungu in Iceland

At the suggestion of the Minister of Education, the Government of Iceland decided, in the fall of 1995, that November 16 every year, which is Jónas Hallgrímsson's birthday, would be the day of the Icelandic language. The goal of Icelandic Language Day is to remind the importance of the Icelandic language and to rejoice and celebrate its history, present and future. The day is celebrated on the birthday of Jónas Hallgrímsson, November 16 every year. On that day, recognitions and awards are given annually for work in the interest of the Icelandic language and various cultural events are held.

The poet and naturalist Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807-1845) was one of the most learned men of his time. He had a degree in theology, studied law and later obtained a degree in natural sciences from the University of Copenhagen. Jónas went on research trips around Iceland and wrote diaries and reports about Icelandic nature. In addition to scientific work, Jónas was active in the publication of the magazine Fjölnis, he wrote many poems, wrote stories and translated foreign works of fiction into the Icelandic language.