What are the names of the 13 Icelandic Santas?

What are the 13 Yule Lad names?

What are the 13 Santa Clauses in Iceland?

How many Icelandic Santas are there?

Plural. Iceland does, in fact, have 13 Santas. They're trolls, actually, who come down from the mountains in December. And they all bring presents for the kids.

How many Yule Lads are there in Iceland?

Unlike most countries that have a single Father Christmas or Santa Claus, Icelandic children are fortunate enough to be visited by 13 Yule Lads (or Jólasveinar) over the last 13 nights before Christmas. The Yule Lads originate from Icelandic folklore, but are, of course, very much alive and well.

Icelandic Santa Claus / 13 Yule Lads

Who might Krampus visit on Christmas?

Every year in early December, children in Austria get ready for St. Nicholas to visit them. If they've been good, he'll reward them with presents and treats. But if they've been bad, they'll get a lot more than a lump of coal—they'll have to face Krampus.

What is Iceland's Christmas monster called?

While Krampus may be king of holiday scares, his fans may be overlooking an equally nasty, much more formidable queen—a Christmas monster who lives further north, in the frigid climes of Iceland who goes by the name Grýla, the Christmas witch.

Who is Jola the Yule Cat?

Iceland's Jólakötturinn, or 'Jola' the Yule Cat, warned lazy children — or the offspring of unproductive employees — would be eaten by a monster feline, which has roots hundreds of years back, and popularized by a poem by Johannes ur Kotlum.

Is there a Yule Cat in Iceland?

This is none other than Jólakötturinn – the Christmas Cat – of Iceland. According to legends, the Christmas or Yule Cat is a monstrously huge black cat that only appears at Christmas Eve, when little children are sound asleep, dreaming of the glitter of the Christmas Tree and what marvellous gifts lie under it.

Are trolls real in Iceland?

Icelandic trolls live in rocky mountains, deep in the uninhabitable Icelandic highlands. They like the taste of flesh and are known to lure unsuspecting humans into their caves with spells, magic potions or simply by taking them captive.

Are the Yule Lads trolls?

The Yule lads (Jólasveinar) are trolls who live in undisclosed locations in the mountains or highlands, but come to town, one by one, during December. The total number of the Yule lads varies in old stories, but in the 19th and early 20th century the tradition of 13 lads became universal.

What is a Spoon Licker?

The first Yule lad arrives in the early morning of December 12 and the last on the 24th. They then depart in the same order as they arrive, each spending 13 days with us humans. The fourth Yule lad to arrive is Þvörusleikir, or "Spoon-Licker". As his name implies Spoon Licker licks people's spoons!

Who are Grýla and the Yule Lads?

The Yule Lads are the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði. They are a group of 13 mischievous pranksters who steal from or harass the population and all have descriptive names that convey their favourite way of harassing. They come to town one by one during the last 13 nights before Yule.

What is a gully gawk?

By Staff |Dec 13 2018. Giljagaur Gully Gawk was known to hide in deep ravines and gulleys, and then sneak into the cowsheds where he stole milk. Photo/Halldór Bjarnason. Giljagaur Gully Gawk was known to hide in deep ravines and gulleys, and then sneak into the cowsheds where he stole milk.

Is Krampus a German legend?

Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”

What is the weirdest Christmas tradition?

Spider webs, Ukraine

The legend of the Christmas spider explains that a poor widow and her kids cultivated a Christmas tree from a pine cone but couldn't afford any decorations… then, on Chrissy morning, they woke up to see their tree blanketed in cobwebs, which sunlight then transformed into gold and silver.

How rare is the huge festive cat?

The hatch rate for Huge Festive Cat is estimated to be around 0.000008% from the Egg of Many Gifts, and 5% when hatched from an Insane Christmas Egg.

Where is Krampus from?

The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany, where Christmas celebrations begin in early December. Krampus was created as a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas, who rewarded children with sweets.

What does sheep Cote Clod do?

Sheep-Cote Clod (Stekkjastaur) is the first Yule Lad to arrive. He has wooden legs and needs a walking stick for his walk from the mountains. He is a prankster like his brothers and his mission is to go to the outhouses, find the sheep and steal their milk.

What's so frightening about jóhannes ÚR Kötlum Christmas cat Jólakötturinn )?

Based on Icelandic folklore, the poem, The Christmas Cat, written by the poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum (1899-1972), describes a gigantic and very dangerous cat that prowls the snowy countryside and catches people instead of mice during Christmas.

Is Santa Claus real?

He is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, who, according to Christian tradition, was a bishop in that small Roman town during the 4th century. Nicholas's reputation for generosity and kindness gave rise to legends of miracles he performed for the poor and unhappy.

Is Grýla a witch?

Gryla is an ancient and very dangerous hedge witch who aligns with the the Spellmans to take down pagans and stop the impending resurrection of the Green Man.

What is Santa called in Iceland?

There are 13 Icelandic Santa Clauses, often referred to as Yule lads. They're called "Jolasveinar" in Icelandic and named after their characteristics.

How do you ward off Krampus?

The variety of Krampus breads made in Germany on Krampusnacht, December 5 – but be sure to flavor them with old sweat and the scent of burning soul to ward off him and his hellraisers.

What is the evil Santa called?

The ancient goat-demon from Germany has become more and more popular in recent years.