Þorláksmessa (thoer-louwks-mess-a), Mass of St. Thorlák patron is the day before Christmas and is celebrated every year. It is in the celebration of one of only two Icelandic saints and according to some sources, fermeted skata originates from the Western fjords in the eighteenth century and it is said that the tradition goes all the way back to the days when it was not thought to be appropriate to eat meat on this holy day, therefore people ate fish on this day.  Iceland smells with fermeted skata on Þorláksmessa  and Icelanders eat the skate and preferably swallowed it with copious amounts of Icelandic Brennivín schnapps.

Fermeted skata has a sweet taste but not all Icelanders like the tast. In recent years skata parties on Thorláksmessa have become fashionable and after the party Icelanders traditionally gather on the shopping street Laugavegur and in the shopping malls to do some last minute shopping.

At Grand Hotel Reykjavik you can eat as much fermeted skate as you want on the Mass of St. Thorlák, December 23 from 12:00-14:00.

Make a reservation at 514 8000 or send an e-mail at sif@grand.is