The Christmas Issue – From the football to the baking tray

The Christmas Town of Hafnarfjörður

Aron Pálmarsson is on duty at the Christmas Village this year. He has hung up his football boots and taken up baking. He is looking forward to meeting all the people of Hafnarfjörður who have supported him over the years. The article appeared in the Christmas issue of the Hafnarfjörður municipal magazine.

„Yes, that's how it's been – and the men from Haukarnar are no less so than the men from FH,“ says Aron, describing the necessary rivalry between the clubs and then the solidarity when they go beyond the town's borders. „Then the people of Hafnarfjörður stand together. I love this unity. It's amazing.“

This handball hero, who had his farewell match in a fixture between his teammates from FH and Veszprém in August, has bought the Bæjarbakaríið from his family and runs it. He has also stepped into the property market in a new capacity as an operator with the investment fund, Aparta. He is also a professional advisor to the handball department of FH, and a mentor. „I'm there if people need me.“

He is a family man, unlike when he was single for years from the age of 19 while playing professionally abroad. „I was completely focused on football and was comfortable on my own.“

Lines of love through life

A Hafnarfjörður native. „Yes, through and through,“ says Aron, who has put down roots in Hafnarfjörður again and lives with his childhood sweetheart, Rita Stevens. With children together, this blended family is still finding their Christmas rhythm.

„A Netflix story,“ he says of how love has found its way to them time and time again. „We were both at Setbergsskóli, a couple in Year 7 and a couple in our first year of sixth form. Then she lived with me in Germany for a year and a half from the age of 22.“ After that time, they didn't hear from each other for six years. „We then met by chance in 2020 and here we are,“ he says.

Handball got in the way of love – or vice versa – he felt when they were young. „I was just thinking about the ball. It always came first.“ That has changed, and they now go hand in hand.

The ball offered a routine life

Aron describes a meticulously organised handball life. „I could always say where I would be all year. Now it's a challenge to sort out where I'll be and what I'm going to do myself.“ He has returned to his childhood haunts where his old friends have established careers and families, while he was starting from scratch.

„I still find it strange to look around and see that people take different paths to the same goal,“ says Aron. „But I understand that the paths are different, even though I don't choose to take the easiest one.“ Ambition and hard work still characterise him.

„Yes, these qualities haven't disappeared just because the ball game is over. I always feel that you should put in a lot of effort, take responsibility and achieve your goal.“

So does he do everything with his heart, then? „No, I try to use it as little as possible and my head as much as possible,“ says Aron, laughing. „As soon as you make big decisions based on your heart, you can become blind. You have to think about the past, present and future, whatever the decision is. Emotions. Definitely don't make decisions based on them,“ he says, smiling and thinking it over.

„But my heart is always with FH,“ he says. „And Rita, the children and Christmas with the family. Yes, and then I'm in the very heart of it all in the Christmas Village during Advent.“

Hafnarfjörður's Christmas Magazine 2025 – online edition:

Caption: Aron Pálmarsson and Rita Stevens have settled back on their home turf, having both attended Setbergsskóli as children and now living in Setberg, just as they did then.