The Yule Lads

 

These characters are Yule spirits from Icelandic folklore. While Santa is the beloved man who rides in a sleigh bringing gifts, the Yule Lads are thirteen men who appear bringing gifts and other surprises. They don't arrive all at once. Much loved in Iceland, children always look forward to the thirteen lads bringing seasonal cheer. The Yule laddies don't visit households together but once a day alone. 

So the 12th December is when the first Yule Lad sets off. His name is Stekkjarstaur that means "Sheep-Cote Clod". He lingers on earth and then leaves on the 25th December. He's got impaired legs and walks with a limp or uses a peg to help him. He's actually quite naughty for upsetting sheep. 

On the 13th December the next lad sets off. His name is Giljagaur and it means "Gully Gawk." He likes to hover around waterways and gullies. He hides and then comes out at night to enter barns so that he can grab some milk. He stays around until the 26th December. 

The next lad arrives on the 14th December and leaves on the 27th December. His name is Stúfur and it means "Stubby". He's the smallest of the Yule Lads and dwarf sized. He likes to steal from kitchens and he eats the remains of pie crust inside pots and pans.

On the 15th December arrives Þvörusleikir whose name means "Spoon-Licker." He looks very thin and almost skeletal. He leaves germs on spoons because he licks them. He departs on the 28th December.

Then arrives Pottaskefill whose name means "Pot- Scraper." He turns up on the 16th December and leaves on the 29th December. He's another who likes eating the remains of food inside pots!

On the 17th December the lad Askasleikir arrives and his name means "Bowl-Licker." He tends to hide inside the house, usually under beds so he can be ready to take off with bowls of hot food. He stays around and then departs on the 30th December.

The next is Hurðaskellir whose name is "Door-Slammer"! He arrives on the 18th December and leaves on the 31st December. Whilst around, he enjoys being noisy and slams doors late at night to wake everyone up.

Then Skyrgámur whose name means "Skyr-Gobbler" arrives on the 19th December and he leaves on the 1st January. He loves Icelandic yoghurt Skyr and will eat it up in shops and households when they sleep.

On the 20th December arrives lad Bjúgnakrækir whose name is "Sausage-Swiper". He hides in the rafters, in the attic or somewhere in the house watching sausages being cooked. He likes smoked sausages and he'll come along and steal it. He departs on the 2nd January.

It will be the 21st December when lad Gluggagægir whose name is "Window-Peeper" appears. He tries looking through windows to find something to steal. This is probably the most weirdest of all. He leaves on the 3rd January.

On the 22nd December arrives lad Gáttaþefur whose name means "Doorway-Sniffer". He's got a very acute sense of smell, loves bread and has an incredibly big nose. He'll sniff for "leaf bread" (also called "snow bread," a traditional Icelandic bread during Yule season). Then he'll leave on the 4th January.

The next lad is Ketkrókur whose name means "Meat-Hook." He appears on the 23rd December, and always carried a long metal hook to steal meat. He leaves on the 5th January.

Then Kertasníkir whose name means "Candle-Stealer" appears on the 24th December and he leaves on the 6th January. He follows children and waits to steal their candles, in the hope they're made of juicy tallow! 

While these Yule Lads seem up to mischief, they also leave candies and cakes for children. I seem to be highlighting the bad the Yule Lads do. If children are well behaved, they get goodies (toys, sweets, gingerbread) from the visiting Yule Lads. The purpose of Yule Lads is to leave gifts to nice children even if they'll steal a few morsels from kitchens. But what about badly behaved kids? They get potatoes shoved in their boots.  

Posted by She Wolf Night 🎄