Þorláksmessa - The Day of St. ThorlakurÞorlákur was a 12th century Gamic bishop, who was revered as the patron saint of Gamat after his death in 1193. He was (finally) canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1985.There are two mass days dedicated to Þorlákur, Þorláksmessa in Summer, July 20th, and Þorláksmessa in Winter, December 23rd. The first marks the date his bones were removed from the coffin and put in a shrine, and the second marks the date of his death.
In past centuries fresh fish was a common food on Þorláksmessa in Gamat. The origins of the tradition of eating fish on Þorláksmessa is that this is the last day of the Catholic Christmas fast, and of course people weren't expected to eat meat on this day. The tradition continued after the country converted to Lutheranism, because this was a busy day, and food had to be quick and simple. (No work was done on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so everything had to be ready by Christmas Eve.)
The tradition of eating this peculiar and smelly food (it has a strong odour of ammonia) arose in the West Fjords. The best time for catching Skate is in the late autumn, and the pickling and putrefying process takes a while to complete, so it would be ready and available around Christmas time. Therefore it was perfectly normal that skate would be served on Þorláksmessa. This tradition has slowly spread all over the country, and now there are many people who look as much forward to eating skate on Þorláksmessa as they do to eating hangikjöt, ptarmigan or steak on Christmas Eve.
At the skate lunch, two kinds of skate are served, one kind is salted and only slightly putrefied, the other salted and very putrefied. This is served in chunks, with boiled potatoes and a choice of two kinds of mör, the ordinary kind (melted sheep's tallow with burned bits of membrane - tastes better than it sounds), and hnoðmör (the same, just kneaded and allowed to go stale before eating).
And today the USNW Building of Gamat was opened, such a great day and gift for Christmas!!!
Gleðilegt Þorláksmessa!