Traditionally a spring festival, Peat Cutting Day was the time of year when Falkland Islanders went out to cut cubes of surface-soil peat which was then used as the primary fuel for heating homes and cooking food in the islands. 

Peat is found in pockets all around the Falklands with large deposits in the area around Stanley. Without such a handy supply of fuel, settlement of the Islands would have been unlikely. The use of peat continued for many years though today has been replaced by kerosene or diesel in most households. 

The smell of peat burning is very nostalgic and remains in the air at some places around Stanley and elsewhere.  

As the need for peat cutting has diminished, Islanders instead use the day to go fishing and camping.