The Yule lads are at it again!
Dec. 22nd, 2011 12:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
airiefairieIt is again that time of the year! Christmas/Yule is coming and the snow helps create just the right atmosphere. Yule is one of the biggest events in Iceland, although maybe it is very different from what you might expect. In Iceland, Yule has still a lot to do with old pre-Christian tradition. Of course, even despite the crisis, people like to go shopping like crazy at Ikea and embark on gargantuan eating marathons, but they also like to observe the old traditions, even if these might be are a bit scary... And what can be older and scarier than those crazy Christmas-ish trolls that are the 13 Icelandic Santas, also known as the Yule Lads? =)
Yes, there are actually 13 (THIRTEEN) Santas, called Jólasveinar, going about their business in the silent cold nights as the countdown to the Icelandic Christmas commences. Then they start departing in reversed order, until Twelfth Night (January 6). The "Best Party" (an actual political party here) had made the audacious promise to reduce them to just one single Santa... Maybe they were planning to dress him in red and go "Ho Ho Ho" mindlessly all the time? How outrageous! But naturally they have failed to act on their promise yet, because this could spark another Tin Revolution (with angry mobs banging cutlery on the streets). The reason for this push-back? Well, Icelanders stubbornly refuse to stop believing in the Hidden Folk (i.e. the Elves), and particularly the 13 Santas! Because it is more fun this way! And because, no matter how mischievous the lads may be, we are already so used to them!
The 13 Icelandic Santas, in order of appearance (and then, after Christmas, in order of departure, one per night)...
Stekkjastaur, the Sheep-Cote Clod. Occupation: Harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs.
Giljagaur, the Gully Gawk. Occupation: Hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk.
Stúfur, the Stubby One. He is abnormally short. Occupation: Steals pans to eat the crust left on them.
Þvörusleikir, the Spoon-Licker. Occupation: Steals Þvörur (a type of a wooden spoon with a long handle) to lick. Is extremely thin due to malnutrition.
Pottasleikir, the Pot-Licker. Occupation: Steals leftovers from pots.
Askasleikir, the Bowl-Licker. Occupation: Hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their 'askur' (a type of bowl with a lid used instead of dishes), which he then steals.
Hurðaskellir, the Door-Slammer. Occupation: Likes to slam doors, especially during the night.
Skyrgámur, the Skyr-Gobbler. A Yule Lad with an affinity for skyr.
Bjúgnakrækir, the Sausage-Swiper. Occupation: Would hide in the rafters and snatch sausages that were being smoked.
Gluggagægir, the Window-Peeper. A voyeur who would look through windows in search of things to steal.
Gáttaþefur, the Doorway-Sniffer. Has an abnormally large nose and an acute sense of smell which he uses to locate laufabrauð (Christmas leaf bread).
Ketkrókur, the Meat-Hook. Occupation: Uses a hook to steal meat.
Kertasníkir, the Candle-Stealer. Occupation: Follows children in order to steal their candles (which in those days was made of tallow and thus edible).
...And of course, where without their mother, Grýla! She is an ogress who lives in the mountains of Iceland with her third husband, a lazy troll named Leppalúði, her fiendish cat and a of course this gang of 13 mischievous sons. Quite a family, isn't it? =)
Yes, there are actually 13 (THIRTEEN) Santas, called Jólasveinar, going about their business in the silent cold nights as the countdown to the Icelandic Christmas commences. Then they start departing in reversed order, until Twelfth Night (January 6). The "Best Party" (an actual political party here) had made the audacious promise to reduce them to just one single Santa... Maybe they were planning to dress him in red and go "Ho Ho Ho" mindlessly all the time? How outrageous! But naturally they have failed to act on their promise yet, because this could spark another Tin Revolution (with angry mobs banging cutlery on the streets). The reason for this push-back? Well, Icelanders stubbornly refuse to stop believing in the Hidden Folk (i.e. the Elves), and particularly the 13 Santas! Because it is more fun this way! And because, no matter how mischievous the lads may be, we are already so used to them!
The 13 Icelandic Santas, in order of appearance (and then, after Christmas, in order of departure, one per night)...
Stekkjastaur, the Sheep-Cote Clod. Occupation: Harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs.
Giljagaur, the Gully Gawk. Occupation: Hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk.
Stúfur, the Stubby One. He is abnormally short. Occupation: Steals pans to eat the crust left on them.
Þvörusleikir, the Spoon-Licker. Occupation: Steals Þvörur (a type of a wooden spoon with a long handle) to lick. Is extremely thin due to malnutrition.
Pottasleikir, the Pot-Licker. Occupation: Steals leftovers from pots.
Askasleikir, the Bowl-Licker. Occupation: Hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their 'askur' (a type of bowl with a lid used instead of dishes), which he then steals.
Hurðaskellir, the Door-Slammer. Occupation: Likes to slam doors, especially during the night.
Skyrgámur, the Skyr-Gobbler. A Yule Lad with an affinity for skyr.
Bjúgnakrækir, the Sausage-Swiper. Occupation: Would hide in the rafters and snatch sausages that were being smoked.
Gluggagægir, the Window-Peeper. A voyeur who would look through windows in search of things to steal.
Gáttaþefur, the Doorway-Sniffer. Has an abnormally large nose and an acute sense of smell which he uses to locate laufabrauð (Christmas leaf bread).
Ketkrókur, the Meat-Hook. Occupation: Uses a hook to steal meat.
Kertasníkir, the Candle-Stealer. Occupation: Follows children in order to steal their candles (which in those days was made of tallow and thus edible).
...And of course, where without their mother, Grýla! She is an ogress who lives in the mountains of Iceland with her third husband, a lazy troll named Leppalúði, her fiendish cat and a of course this gang of 13 mischievous sons. Quite a family, isn't it? =)
