Author's Note- Hello everyone, welcome to the first short for 'The Boy with the Ice Blue Eyes, and other Circumpolar Tales'. This is a monthly short story collection which focuses on the history, culture, current events, or humor of the countries, states, and territories that border the Arctic Circle. I hope that this project can be both entertaining while also helping people look at the far north in a different light. Enjoy!
Disclaimer- I do not own Hetalia nor do I own the historical or cultural aspects of polar culture that are explored in these stories. Though I wouldn't mind moving back above the Arctic Circle.
Iceland-
Reykjavik, Iceland, March 2nd
Day after Beer Day
When Scandinavia had a get together for holidays, it was usually on the continent. It wasn't that Iceland's 'siblings' didn't like Iceland. They just disliked Iceland's traditional holiday foods, which tended to center around fermented Elasmobrachii. The other nations' dislike of hakarl made Iceland want to eat more of the food because it helped give him some much desired space. Unfortunately there was one major national holiday that did not involve food….Beer Day.
While Beer Day was a very practical cultural holiday celebrating the return of alcohol to a dry island as well as the international trade that alcohol represented, his fellow Scandinavians tended to forget that. Instead they came to join the annual runtur in an attempt to drink at least one beer, or in the case of Denmark three to five, at every bar in the city. Iceland was not invited because he was clearly too young to be drinking which meant he spent a quiet evening at home, vainly trying to not think about the damage the personifications of the Scandinavian nations where doing to his island.
Turned out this year he need not have worried. At 4:15 am, fifteen minutes after the bars had closed there was a soft knock at the door. When Iceland opened it there was a slightly woozy Sweden. One of his massive hands was holding up a glazed looking Norway; while the other kept a passed out Denmark balanced in a fireman's carry. A giggle came from behind the giant nation and Iceland to peak around just in time to see Finland loose grip of Sweden's coat tail and slump to the pavement. Well it looked like no one managed to be picked up by the police this year.
"So did you have a good time?" Iceland asked. Norway glared, Finland giggled, and Sweden shrugged.
"Wh'r do you w'nt 'em?"
Iceland motioned towards the living room, Finland wobbled his way indoors, and Sweden deposited to two other nations on the sofas before heading kitchen to start cooking their traditional after Beer Day breakfast. It didn't take long for Denmark wake up on the couch and start wining about battle being played out in his head. Norway threatened to end his misery if he didn't shut up. From the bathroom soft snores could be discerned. Apparently Finland had passed out in the bathtub. Iceland rolled his eyes at all of them before turning his eyes back to the book he had been reading.
"'Land, c'ffee r'dy."
Iceland took insane pleasure in the loud clatter made by 'accidently' dropped the coffee pot.
Historical Note-In 1908 Icelanders had decided to make the island dry, but the ban on alcohol only lasted 6 years because Spain had gotten mad at Iceland for not importing their wine. With Spain threatening to stop importing Icelandic fish, if they didn't start importuning Spanish Liquor again, Iceland was forced to make wine and spirits legal.. The exception to the ruling was beer, which remained illegal for the next 75 years. When the ban was finally lifted Icelanders did their best to make up for lost time by dedicating March 1st, the day the ban was officially lifted, as a day to drink the beverage. It has been such a success that there have been some arguments that March 2nd may need to be named national hangover day.
End Note- If you enjoyed this piece please let me know. Also if you have some ideas for future stories or have a specific country you would like me to write about I would love to hear from you. And I do take requests.