Iceland’s New Year’s Eve communal bonfire tradition is called Brenna.
Brennur are large outdoor fires lit in communities around Iceland during the New Year period. People gather around them, often combining the bonfires with fireworks, socializing, and celebrations. The fires provide a dramatic public focus during the long, dark winter night.
The custom has deep roots in Icelandic seasonal celebration, though the exact practices and schedules differ between towns. Reykjavík and other municipalities organize permitted bonfires, with safety rules governing their size, location, and materials. Modern events therefore combine older communal symbolism with organized public management.
Brenna is a general Icelandic word for a bonfire, while the plural form brennur is often used for the New Year fires. The tradition is separate from Þrettándinn, the January 6 festivities that mark the end of the Christmas season in Iceland.