Ólavsøka Eve, Faroe Islands

Held at Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, the smallest capital in the world.

Ólavsøka, or Olsok, on July 29 is the national holiday of the Faroe Islands, and today is its eve, featuring a cavalcade and boat races. Tomorrow is the day that the Faroese Parliament (Løgting) opens its session.

The literal meaning is 'St Olaf's Wake' or vigilia sancti Olavi in Latin, from St Olav's death at Stiklestad in 1030. But the Løgting is certainly older than that. Like several other Faroese holidays, the celebration begins the evening before. So Ólavsøka always starts on July 28, and this afternoon there will traditionally be a cavalcade and boat races ...

Tagged: calendar-customs, saint