As always, the most interesting thing about Christmas anywhere is that terrified look children get when mum makes them sit on Santa's knee. Here in Iceland Santa is for pussies. Real children are visited by 13 once terrifying Yuletide Lads on the days leading up to Christmas - and if they have been naughty perhaps the Lad's mother Grýla or their evil pet the Christmas Cat. Most of the stories told about Grýla and her family were to frighten children – her favourite dish was a stew of naughty kids and she had an insatiable appetite. Such was the power of the terrifying creature and her offspring that a public decree was issued in 1746 prohibiting the use of Grýla and the Yuletide Lads to scare children in to being good.
From child snatchers the Yuletide Lads developed into thieving tricksters who descended from the mountains one by one during the thirteen days before Christmas. Formerly, they tried to pilfer their favorite things or play tricks on people (hence their names), but now their main role is to give children small gifts. Every child in Iceland puts their best shoe on their bedroom window sill on December 12th (some try to put their boot, in the hope that they may get more, but so far the Yule Lads haven’t been fooled) and they get a small gift from each lad when he arrives in town. But beware not to be naughty or the lad might just leave a rotten potatoe in your shoe!On December 12 the Yuletide Lads begin to come to town. The first to arrive is Stekkjastaur (Stiff Legs) who loves to drink the milk from farmers' ewes but his stiff legs make that very difficult. On December 13 Giljagaur (Gully Oaf) arrives. Before the days of milking machines, he would sneak into the cowshed and skim the froth off the pails of milk. The Lad who arrives on December 14 is Stúfur (Shorty), who, as his name implies, is on the small side. He smacks his lips over the leftovers in the cooking pans, especially if they are burnt or gone bad. On December 15, Þvörusleikir (Spoon Licker) comes down from the mountains to steal wooden spoons that have been used for stirring. On December 16, Pottaskefill (Pot Licker) comes visiting. He snatches the unwashed pots from the kitchen and scrapes the insides with his fingers and tongue and leaves them quite clean. Askasleikir (Bowl Licker) arrives on December 17. He hides under beds, and if someone puts a wooden food-bowl in the floor, he grabs it and licks it clean.
The Yule Lads
Hurðaskellir (Door Slammer) comes on December 18. He is an awfully noisy fellow, who is always slamming doors and keeping people awake. The Lad who is expected on December 19 is called Skyrgámur (Curd Glutton), because he loves skyr (milk curd) so much that he sneaks into the pantry and gobbles up all the skyr from the tub there. Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Pilferer) comes on December 20. He loves sausages of all kinds, and steals them whenever he can. On December 21, Gluggagægir (Peeping Tom) arrives. He is not as greedy as some of his brothers, but awfully nosy, peeping through windows and even stealing toys he likes the look of. On December 22 Gáttaþefur (Sniffer) comes calling. He has a big nose, and he loves the smell of cakes being baked for Christmas. He often tries to snatch a cake or two for himself. On 23 December, St. Þorlákur's Day, Ketkrókur (Meat Hook) arrives. He adores all meat. In olden days he would lower a hook down the kitchen chimney and pull up a leg of lamb hanging from a rafter, or a bit of smoked lamb from a pan, as smoked lamb was traditionally cooked on St. Þorlákur's Day. Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar) comes on Christmas Eve, December 24. In olden times, candle light was the brightest light available. Candles were so rare and precious that it was a treat for children to be given a candle at Christmas. Poor Candle Beggar wants one too but he can't make up his mind whether to eat them or watch their lovely light.
Presents are exchanged at 6pm on December 24th. They are not delivered by any of the Yuletide Lads but by friends and family. I think this is done so that someone may be held accountable if something terrible should happen - like not getting any new clothes for example. An old Icelandic folklore states that everyone has to get one new piece of clothing at Christmas. Anyone who does not is in danger of being eaten by Grýla’s pet - a malicious beast called the Christmas Cat.
The dreaded Christmas Cat
Thanks for the underwear Nana - it might just have saved my life ...
Christmas chickens
Icelandic Laufabrauð (Leaf Bread)
The Christmas Branch
