Comments on: You better watch out...

You better watch out...

Miko — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:17:34 -0800

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, but do you know Stekkjarstaur, Giljagaur, Stufur, Thvorusleikir, Pottaskefill, Askasleikir, Hurdarskellir, Skyrgamur, Bjugnakraekir, Gluggagaegir, Gattathefur, Ketkrokur and Kertasnikir? They're the Jolasveinar, the impish "Yuletide Lads" of Iceland, and those are only some of their many names. During the thirteen days before Christmas, legend says that they do their best to monkeywrench the celebrations with hijinks like stealing sausages, milk, and candles, and peeping into windows and up skirts. The children of gruesome child-eating trolls Gryla and Leppaludi, who were known for snatching naughty children, the elves got their start in the 17th century. In the years since, their image has apparently mellowed, and now they leave children presents in their shoes and limit themselves to mild pranks.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:48:22 -0800

Great stuff. I was just in Iceland for my mother-in-law's birthday and the Yule Lads are definitely one of the weirder Christmas traditions. I did all of the present buying and wrapping for my immediate family this year, so my husband declared that I was one of the Yule Lads - I chose to be Sausage Snatcher, though the temptation to be Stiff Legs who "bothers the sheep" was also pretty high. Also great: The Icelandic Christmas Cat who will eat you if you did not get clothes for Christmas. Genius way of convincing Icelandic children that clothes are an acceptable present! Gleðileg jól!

By: weapons-grade pandemonium

weapons-grade pandemonium — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:50:07 -0800

You forgot quonsar.

By: wumpus

wumpus — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 09:53:32 -0800

you have to pacify them with offerings of food. We have two models of these guys sitting in our house - yay for Scandinavian Christmases!

By: cavalier

cavalier — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:43:09 -0800

You are not the first to pass this way, nor shall you be the last?

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:06:24 -0800

They're not Icelanders, they're The Firesign Theatre!

By: dejah420

dejah420 — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:26:59 -0800

What fun!

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:43:05 -0800

but do you know Stekkjarstaur, Giljagaur, Stufur, Thvorusleikir, Pottaskefill, Askasleikir, Hurdarskellir, Skyrgamur, Bjugnakraekir, Gluggagaegir, Gattathefur, Ketkrokur and Kertasnikir? Gesundheit.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:00:53 -0800

Charming post. Winter in Iceland can be amazing. Neat country and people. Fascinating to read a bit about their culture and mythology. Thanks.

By: Zero Gravitas

Zero Gravitas — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:02:04 -0800

Yup, gotta love them. I'd like to add that the reason they're still popular with Icelandic children is that it means extra presents for them. The story goes that on each of the thirteen nights before christmas, one of the jólasveinar comes to town and leaves a small present for the nice children. And they do, which is why this is the kind of folklore that kids can get enthusiastic about I can't be bothered to translate it but I remember one christmas song quite vividly. It deals with how Grýla would starve if all the children were nice, but if you were naughty she'd come and stuff you in her bag, take you back to her lair, boil you alive and eat you. The end of the song, where she and her husband starve to death due to a shortage of naughty children, always saddened me. My mother (born 1944) once told me that back in the day, whe was properly terrified of the jólasveinar, whereas now they're just Santa Claus clones (but skinnier, and more prone to burst out into song).

By: Zero Gravitas

Zero Gravitas — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:10:03 -0800

quonsar, however never fit in with the rest of the jólasveinar. He tried to convince them that wearing fish down their trousers would warm them on their long, cold hikes across the highlands in the chill of winter, but they wouldnt even give him a chance. So much for innovation.

By: ninjew

ninjew — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:35:03 -0800

I think I bought a Skyrgamur last year. It came flat-packed in a box. Makes a great entertainment center!

By: Artw

Artw — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:57:29 -0800

They eat puffins you know.

By: bitter-girl.com

bitter-girl.com — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:07:04 -0800

I'd like to give a shoutout to the Julbock, myself. Because nothing says "festive holiday season" more than a Yule Goat. Oh, wait! there's Gunther! (sorry, Icelandic fans, I think my Swedish relations have got you trumped with the goofy here... all hail Gunther!)

By: Artw

Artw — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 20:14:40 -0800

Also: Bjork

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:15:21 -0800

bitter-girl.com: Wow. I didn't know Gunther was Swedish. I thought he was German. Either way, I can proclaim my love for the "Ding-Dong Song" as the anthem of my people. (I may be married to an Icelander, but I'm of Swedish descent myself and I have the "Swedish Mafia" tshirt to prove it.) As much as I love the Yule Goat and *real* Swedish meatballs, and the Dalar House, I do resent the goddamned lutefisk. That stuff's just gross.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:16:26 -0800

Artw: They eat puffins AND reindeer. I've even had reindeer for Christmas Eve dinner. It was like eating a small piece of my soul, having been raised in the land of Rudolph and all.

By: grapefruitmoon

grapefruitmoon — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:17:43 -0800

ARGH. Dalar HORSE. Stupid brain death.

By: alexei

alexei — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:55:24 -0800

Well, so long as you're correcting yourself, it's actually Dala horse.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 04:12:46 -0800

Terrific seasonal post, miko - so well researched. It was fun to read - thanks!

By: Artw

Artw — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 17:37:26 -0800

I've had reindeer jerky, biut TBH it was pretty much like any other jerky: i.e. sort of like trying to eat a belt.

By: bitter-girl.com

bitter-girl.com — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 00:18:16 -0800

grapefruitmoon, I, too have the Swedish Mafia shirt! (here for the uninitiated)! But wait -- isn't lutefisk more Norwegiany? And yes, totally gross. I'll take the meatballs any day. Or roast pork with apricots and prunes -- I make that + hasselback potatoes (not to be confused with Hasselhoff, thanks) = YUM.