Icelandic Yule Lads
Together, these characters reveal a great deal about the country’s history and culture. Eleven of them, for example, are completely obsessed with their stomachs.
With its abundance of snow, its remote northern position and its ready supply of elves and reindeer, you might be forgiven for imagining Iceland as the homeland of Santa Claus. Not so. In this wild and mysterious country they have 13 Santas, and if you misbehave, their mother will come and get you.
A short stroll along the streets of Reykjavik after midnight on a Saturday is all you need to realise that in Iceland, they do things differently. The pavements will be crowded with revelers who all look as though they’re in avant garde indie bands. People here don’t follow the herd with fashions or trends, everyone dresses in their own individual, quirky way.
It’s this independent spirit that typifies Iceland. They have their own unique approach to life; whether it’s the peculiar but logical way the windows in your hotel room open or how numbers are listed in the phone book (by Christian name). Björk, in her own country, is by no means unusual.
It’s inevitable then, that their festive celebrations should be individual and more than a little bizarre.
The “Yule Lads” arrive at Icelandic homes one after another on the nights leading up to the 25th December. Although centuries older, the tradition firmly took root when a collection of folktales by Jón Árnason in 1862 set their names and gave their number as 13. Each Yule Lad has a particular activity with which to harass the population:
Stekkjarstaur (Sheep Worrier/Stiff legs)
Suckles the milk from sleeping ewes.
Giljagaur (Gully Gawk)
Drinks the creamy froth from milk pails.
Stúfur (Stubby)
Small and very good at hiding in kitchens to sneak leftover food.
Þvörusleikir (Spoon Licker)
Very thin and emaciated, he too hangs around kitchens searching for scraps. Spoons in particular.
Pottasleikir (Pot Licker)
He is especially fond of the hardened crusty bits that collect around the rims of pans.
Askasleikir (Bowl Licker)
Specifically askurs – wooden bowls with ornately carved lids. Each household member would have their own.
Hurðaskellir (Door Slammer)
He enjoys waking up the household by banging doors as loudly as possible in the dead of night.
Skyrgámur (Skyr Glutton)
Skyr is a dairy product, quite similar to yoghurt.
Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Stealer)
Although old and wizened, Bjúgnakrækir is adept at climbing high up to the rafters to get at the strings of sausages that used to hang there to save on living space.
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Post CommentGale Barker
On June 23, 2008 at 3:50 pm
A fascinating article that really brings Icelandic traditions to life.
Wilki
On June 24, 2008 at 7:23 am
What a lovely little read
Jodie
On June 25, 2008 at 5:26 am
Very interesting – would like to read more pieces like this!
Asdf
On July 21, 2008 at 2:06 am
A very fun article. It kind of surprised me to see something about the Icelandic santa’s here
Their dad (Grýla’s husband) is called Leppalúði and he’s incredibly lazy, basically Grýla does all the kid-cooking for him.
There are tens or even hundreds of less known “yule lads” over here but the 13 you talked about in the article are the most known ones.
Robin
On December 22, 2009 at 12:33 pm
The Yule Lads are, indeed, still alive and well. During a recent stay in the IcelanicAir Hotel they were leaving gifts for my sister and I in the way of a sack hanging from our door knob. It was a real thrill to be included in the festivities (if only our Icelandic mother had kept it alive for us when we were children!)