Yule Lads

Jólasveinar [' jou ː ˌ la svεi ˑ NAR ] ( German Christmas journeymen ) are the Icelandic Santa Clauses, 13 coarse, rough fellows. But nowadays they also bring gifts and wear the advertising more effective red coats.

They come from 12 December from the mountains to the people. Added each day to another, until at Aðfangadagskvöld (early evening, Christmas Eve) are all together. After a day goes back one up ( the 13th Christmas / Epiphany, January 6) have disappeared at þrettándan all.

Her mother is the troll Grýla and Leppalúði her father. Initially, they brought no gifts, but stole here and there for something to eat and annoyed people. Grýla is a bogey, which is rumored that they prefer to eat naughty children. Her housemates also Jólaköttur belongs (the Christmas cat). She eats lazy people who had not processed all wool in the fall. The hardworking to get Jólaföt Christmas ( Christmas clothes ), something to wear.

Notes: The rest of the cooking were extra bite for the kids, Stúfur, Þvörusleikir and Pottaskefill they make them in dispute. Each resident had in the house his personal Askur ( wooden food bowl ) with a hinged lid. Not every day was cooked hot food. In the old days were " Kerti Spil og " ( a tallow candle and a card game ) common Christmas gifts for the children.

The acts of Christmas guys are in a famous poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum (* 1899, † 1972). In Iceland there are 13-page Christmas stockings. The Christmas Song Jólasveinar einn og Atta ( Santa Clauses one and eight ) tells of only nine Christmas journeymen. In other texts, other names are mentioned for these rarer.