Learn about Iceland mythology and, in particular, the fable about the 13 Yule lads. They are said to live in the Dimmuborgir area among the rocky lava and each appears on one of the 13 days before Christmas, bringing a present. The folkloric story of Gryla and her Yule lads is a gruesome cautionary tale, you better behave, you better watch out… and must scare the daylights out of small children.
Icelandic children are told the story of Gryla, a terrible ogress (part troll, part animal) who lives in the Icelandic Mountains with her 13 boys, the Yule Lads, and black cat. Every Christmas, Gryla and her sons come down from the mountains. Gryla searches for naughty children who misbehave to boil in her cauldron and the boys each behave differently. Icelandic children place a shoe in their bedroom window each evening on the 13 days before Christmas and every night, a Yule lad visits, leaving sweets, small gifts or rotten potatoes. It all depends on how that particular child behaved the preceding day.
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map of North Iceland
Dimmuborgir, home of the 13 Yule Lads in Iceland
Iceland Yule Lad, Sausage Swiper
In the meantime, an enormous black and ferocious cat prowls Iceland on Christmas Eve who eats anyone who doesn’t follow the simple old Iceland rule that every Icelander must receive a new piece of clothing for Christmas or they find themselves in mortal danger.
Here are brief descriptions of the 13 Yule lads:
– Sheep-Cote Clod harasses sheep, but is impaired by stiff peg-legs and is always the first to go to town;
– Gully Gawk hikes in gullies waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk;
– Stubby is very short and steals pans to eat crust left on them;
– Spoon Licker has no manners and is always hungry. He prefers to lick wooden spoons and ladles;
– Pot scraper or pot licker steals leftovers from pots. His favorite dish is skate-fish;
– Bowl licker has a hard time because wooden bowls are scarce. He hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their bowl which he then steals;
– Door Slammer likes noise and slams doors, particularly during the night;
– Skyr Glutton is clumsy but strong as a bull because of all he eats is Skyr (a really delicious form of Icelandic yogurt);
– Sausage Swiper loves to hide in the rafters and snatch smoked sausages;
– Window Peeper looks through windows in search of things to steal. He loves shiny objects;
Iceland Yule Lad, Window Peeper
– Doorway Sniffer has a big nose and acute sense of smell. Good at tracking people in the highlands;
– Meat Hook uses a hook to steal meat and his favorite foods are traditional sour lamb products and sour milk; and
Iceland Yule Lad, Meat Hook
– Candle Stealer or Candle Begger comes to town on Christmas Eve and followed children to steal their candles made of tallow and edible, but now has to make do with light bulbs.
At least Santa Claus doesn’t boil bad children in oil…