Ash Wednesday Workshop
As Ash Wednesday approaches, we want to invite children to an ash bag workshop on Monday, 24 February, between 13:00 and 15:00. Participation is free for children and accompanying adults during the winter school break.
On Ash Wednesday, children dress up in costumes and march around town in a procession in search of sweets in exchange for singing. Few children today, however, are familiar with the tradition of hanging ashbags on people's backs. Those who are older remember well the excitement of going to town in costume and hanging bags on the backs of strangers, preferably adults, without them knowing. Seeing unsuspecting people walking around town with colourful bags on their backs was a great joy. This tradition has almost completely disappeared, but now Árbær Open Air Museum is trying to revive it by offering an ash bag workshop. All materials will be on-site, and the workshop will be in a house called Lækjargata by the museum square. Gunnar V. Andrésson took the photo, and the film is now preserved at the Reykjavík Museum of Photography. Accessibility: The museum’s footpaths are mainly gravel. Many historic houses have steps and thresholds. Service dogs are welcome. Public Transport: Nearest bus stop: Árbæjarsafn (1-minute walk). Other stops: Laxakvísl and Fagribær (5–6 minutes away). Free parking, including blue-badge parking spots opposite the entrance, is available.