In Icelandic Christmas tradition there are 13 Yule Lads (offspring of the horrible trolls Grýla and Leppalúði) who descend from their mountain home each year around Christmas (one each day beginning on December 12) to wreak havoc on townsfolk. Each lad is named after his mischievous action:
12 December: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod) - harasses sheep and has stiff peg-legs.
13 December: Giljagaur (Gully Gawk) - Hides in gullies and steals milk from the cowshed.
14 December: Stúfur (Stubby) - Abnormally short. Steals pans to eat the crust left on them.
15 December: Þvörusleikir (Spoon licker) - Steals and licks spoons.
16 December: Pottaskefill (Pot-Scraper) - Steals leftovers from pots.
17 December: Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker) - Hides under beds and steals and eats from bowls.
18 December: Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer) - Slams doors during the night.
19 December: Skyrgámur (Skyr-Gobbler) - Will do anything for Skyr.
20 December: Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Snatcher) - Hides in the rafters and snatches smoking sausages.
21 December: Gluggagægir (Window Peeper) - Looks through windows for things to steal.
22 December: Gáttaþefur (Door Sniffer) - Has an abnormally large nose and sniffs for laufabrauð (Christmas fried flat bread).
23 December: Ketkrókur (Meat Hook) - Steals meat with a hook.
24 December: Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar) - Follows children in order to steal their candles (which used to be made of tasty dripping).
see more about the Yule Lads here
all images courtesy of the Nýmjólk milk carton
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