Icelandic Christmas folklore

The Yule Lads, or Yulemen, are the Icelandic santa clauses. Their number has varied throughout the ages, but currently they are considered to be thirteen.

Their names are as follow:

Stekkjastaur (Sheepfold Stick)
Giljagaur (Gilly Oaf)
Stúfur (Shorty)
Þvörusleikir (Spoon-licker)
Pottasleikir (Pot-licker)
Askasleikir (Bowl-licker)
Hurðaskellir (Door-slammer)
Skyrgámur (Skyr-glutton)
Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage-pilfer)
Gluggagægir (Peeper)
Gáttaþefur (Sniffer)
Ketkrókur (Meat-hook)
Kertasníkir (Candle-begger)

The Yule Lads were originally considered to be very bad news - they were pranksters that tortured the farmers, as can be seen from their names.

The Yule Lads are said to be the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði, vicious trolls that live in the mountains. Grýla is ancient - her name is even mentioned in Snorri Sturluson's thirteenth century Edda. Another prominent member of the family is the Yuletide Cat, a beast much feared by children. It was said that the cat would eat any child that didn't get a new article of clothing in time for Christmas. This believe lingers in the Icelandic language in the form a saying: "You don't want to go to the Yuletide Cat."

But in modern times the Yule Lads have taken on a more benvolent role as the slowly merge with Santa Claus. They have taken up his costume, and nowadays little children in Iceland place their shoes in the window for thirteen days prior to christmas, and each night a little gift is left in the shoe from the Yule Lad that came down from the mountains that night.

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