Icelanders are the inhabitants of a harsh northern country: even before the 20th century, they survived in extreme conditions, and today they walk in the rain without umbrellas, work two jobs, and live in turf houses. Despite all this, 98% of Iceland’s population considers itself happy.

1. Patronymic instead of surname
According to an old Viking tradition, newborn Icelanders are given their father’s name instead of a surname, followed by the suffix -son (son) or -dottir (daughter). For example, Björk Gvüðmundsdóttir literally translates as “Björk, daughter of Gvüðmund.” Only 10% of local residents have real surnames—usually Icelanders of foreign descent.

2. Always open doors
300,000 people live here, while the capital has a population of only 120,000. Most residents know each other, so they don’t install iron doors or fence themselves off from their neighbors with high fences. Doors are often left unlocked, and car keys are left in the ignition.

3. Rotten Shark and the Black Death
Hákarl, the staple of Icelandic cuisine, is the rotten meat of a Greenland shark, poisonous when fresh due to its high urea content. To prevent poisoning, it is aged for six months in barrels filled with gravel, then sun-dried for several months. This delicacy is washed down with “Black Death,” a strong alcoholic drink made from potato spirit and caraway.

4. Strong Women
Iceland became the first country in the world to elect a woman president.

5. Creative Spirit and the Prose of Life
Creative professions are very popular in Iceland, and almost every local guy plays in a rock band and studies to be an artist.

6. Churches for Elves
Local residents still believe in elves and trolls. They build houses and churches for these fairy-tale creatures near their homes, and before constructing buildings and roads, they consult with local witches to avoid accidentally displacing a stone under which an elf has taken up residence.