Iceland was proclaimed an independent republic on June 17, 1944. Sometimes referred to as National Day, the anniversary of this event is also the birthday of Jón Sigurdsson, the nation’s 19th-century leader. A varied program of parades, speeches, sporting competitions, amusements, and outdoor concerts and shows culminates in the evening with dancing in the streets of Reykjavik and other towns. Another National Day was December 1, the anniversary of the 1918 treaty recognizing Iceland as an independent state under the Danish crown. This is now largely a student celebration. Discuss