The 13 Yule Lads of Iceland | Icelandic Santa Claus’s

The 13 Yule Lads of Iceland are a group of Icelandic folklore figures who are said to have visited children on Christmas Eve, bringing gifts.

The which icelandic yule lad are you is a question that many people ask. There are 13 Yule Lads of Iceland, and each one has his own personality and characteristics.

You don’t simply receive a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas in Iceland. In the evenings running up to Christmas (Jólin), you’ll also be visited by a total of 13 Yule Lads (Jólasveinar). These naughty guests make their way down from the mountains, leaving little presents for well-behaved youngsters. 

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What are the 13 Yule Lads, and who are they?

The Yule Lads are troll brothers who used to be troublemakers who would cause mayhem every night. In recent years, they seem to have been inspired by Santa Claus to become gift-givers.

From the 12th of December, the Yule Lads make nightly visits to houses throughout Iceland, one at a time. Children who behave well are given a present in their shoes, which they must put on the windowsill. Children who are misbehaving are given a potato. 

Small presents and refreshments, such as leaf bread (laufabrau), an Icelandic Christmas snack, are left out by the children.

Each Yule Lad has his unique personality and is well-known for his naughty behavior. 

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What are the names of the Yule Lads and what do they stand for?

Sheep-Cote Clod: In farmer’s sheep sheds, he attempts to suckle yews.

Gully Gawk: He takes the froth from cow milk buckets.

Short and chubby, he grabs food from cooking pans.

Spoon Licker: He is a spoon licker.

Pot Scraper, also known as Pot Licker, is a thief who takes dirty pots and licks them clean.

He’s known as the Bowl Licker because he takes food dishes from beneath the bed.

He keeps everyone awake by stomping around and slamming doors.

Skyr Gobbler consumes all Icelandic yoghurt.

Sausage Swiper: He is a sausage thief who enjoys stealing sausages.

Window Peeper: He enjoys creeping around exterior windows and sometimes stealing what he sees inside.

Door Sniffer: He has a colossal nose and a voracious hunger for stolen baked goods.

Meat Hook: He grabs any meat that has been left out, particularly smoked lamb.

He is known as the Candle Beggar because he steals candles, which were formerly highly prized in Iceland.

“Jólasveinavsur” is a poem by the Yule Lads. 

In Jóhannes frá Kötlum’s poem “Jólasveinavsur,” you may learn everything about the Yule Lads’ names and characteristics in the sequence of the nights they visit.

1. Sheep-Cote Clod (Stekkjastaur) – 12th December

Sheep-Cote Clod was the earliest of them.

He arrived as though he were made of wood.

to pray for the sheep of a farmer

He’d gone as far as he could.

Giljagaur (Gully Gawk) – December 13th

Gully Gawk was the second.

His mien and skull were grayed.

He crept inside the cow barn undetected.

from the depths of his rugged ravine

3. Stfur (Stubby) – December 14th

The third person to be called was Stubby.

a clumsy young guy,

who was on the lookout for any opportunity

to remove a pan from the heat

vörusleikir (Spoon Licker) – December 15th

Spoon Licker was the fourth.

He was as slender as a spindle.

He was surrounded by clover.

when the chef was not present

Pottasleikir (Pot Licker) – December 16th

The sixth one is called Pot Licker.

He was a witty guy.

Scrapings were given to children.

He’d knock and rap on the door.

6. Askasleikir (Bowl Licker)—December 17th

The sixth Bowl Licker is

was appallingly ill-bred

From the depths of the bedsteads

He poked his nasty head out.

Huraskellir (Door Slammer) – December 18th

Door Slammer was the sixth entry.

a sad, obnoxious fellow:

In the twilight, when people

I’d want to take a little sleep.

Skyrgámur (Skyr Gobbler) – December 19th

The seventh, Skyr Gobbler,

He was a complete moron.

He sneered at the skyr tub.

Until the lid on it shattered.

Bjgnakrkir (Sausage Swiper) – Bjgnakrkir (Sausage Swiper) – Bjgnakrkir (Sausage Swiper) – Bjgna

Sausage Swiper was the ninth.

a nefarious thief

He ascended to the rafters.

and stole the food there.

Gluggaggir (Window Peeper) – December 21st

Window Peeper was the tenth.

a strange little twit,

who took a step up to the window

and sneaked a look inside.

Gáttaefur (Door Sniffer) – Gáttaefur (Door Sniffer) – Gáttaefur (Door Sniffer) –

Door Sniffer came in eleventh place.

a dunderhead and a scumbag

Despite never getting a cold, he had

a large, delicate nose

Ketrókur (Meat Hook) – December 12th

The eleventh Meat Hook is

His abilities would be on show.

as soon as he got here

on the feast day of Saint Thorlak

Kertasnkir (Candle Beggar) – December 24th

Candle Beggar was the thirteenth.

– I think it was chilly.

if he wasn’t the final

on Christmas Eve, of the whole lot

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Scary Parents of the Yule Lads

The Yule boys’ parents are the indolent Leppali and the wicked Grla. The latter was an ogress who gathered misbehaving youngsters in her big bag and boiled them in her cave to eat. 

Christmas Cat Is Terrifying

On Christmas Eve, keep an eye out for the frightening Christmas cat. This large black Christmas cat (Jólakötturinn) is Grla’s pet and will devour anybody who is not dressed in new clothes on Christmas Eve.

The Yule Lads and Christmas Trolls: Where to Find Them

If you want to see the Yule Lads, their parents, and the Christmas cat in Iceland, go to Dimmuborgir in the north of the nation. It’s a labyrinth of lava forms, columns, and caverns made of natural stone.

Dimmuborgir, which meaning “black cities,” is said to represent a link between the earth and the underworld.

The Yule Lads may also be seen in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, where decorations around the city recount the tale of these trolls.

You may sit in Grla’s enormous cauldron in the Troll Garden in Fossatn if you wish to engage with her. 

Have you ever had a visit from Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads?

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The grýla and the yule lads are a group of 13 mischievous Icelandic elves who visit children on Christmas Eve to leave them presents.

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The 13 Yule Lad names are as follows:
1. Algernon
2. Augustus
3. Balthazar
4. Barnabas
5. Basil
6. Bertram
7. Cletus
8. Darnell
9. Didymus
10. Edmund
11. Emmanuel
12. Eugene
13. Gabriel”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Who are the 13 Santas in Iceland?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
The 13 Santas are a group of men from Iceland who have been dressing up as Santa Claus every December since the year 2000.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Who are the Yule Lads exactly?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”
The Yule Lads are a group of three elves who were originally created by the Brothers Grimm, and they have been seen in many different forms of media since then. They are often depicted as mischievous pranksters who like to play tricks on people during Christmas.”}}]}

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 13 Yule Lad names?

The 13 Yule Lad names are as follows: 1. Algernon 2. Augustus 3. Balthazar 4. Barnabas 5. Basil 6. Bertram 7. Cletus 8. Darnell 9. Didymus 10. Edmund 11. Emmanuel 12. Eugene 13. Gabriel

Who are the 13 Santas in Iceland?

The 13 Santas are a group of men from Iceland who have been dressing up as Santa Claus every December since the year 2000.

Who are the Yule Lads exactly?

The Yule Lads are a group of three elves who were originally created by the Brothers Grimm, and they have been seen in many different forms of media since then. They are often depicted as mischievous pranksters who like to play tricks on people during Christmas.

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