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But not everyone enjoys Christmas as we in America do. We have our own (not really religious) traditions - the Christmas Tree. the Yule Log, the Fruitcake.
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This year, we will enjoy the Christmas of Iceland! Here is an overview of what to expect....
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The Icelandic Christmas period is an intriguing mixture of religious practice and traditional folklore, beginning on 23 Decemberand ending on Epiphany, 6 January. As many countries do, Iceland celebrates Chrismas mostly with good food and gifts to loved ones, but unlike most countries that have a single Father Christmas / Santa Claus character, Icelandic children are fortunate enough to be visited by 13 Yule Lads. Other Christmas stories are rather bleak in nature, perhaps reflecting the harshness of winter and the isolation of the community in previous centuries.
Grýla
From a relatively young age Icelandic children are told the story of Grýla, the ogress living in the Icelandic mountains. She is a dreadful character, described as part troll and part animal and the mother of 13 precocious boys (the Yule Lads). Grýla lives in the mountains with her third husband, her thirteen children and a black cat. Every Christmas, Grýla and her sons come down from the mountains: Grýla in search of naughty children to boil in her cauldron and the boys in search of mischief. She can only capture children who misbehave but those who repent must be released.
The Yule Lads
Icelandic children place a shoe in their bedroom window each evening in the 13 days before Christmas. Every night one Yuletide lad visits, leaving sweets and small gifts or rotting potatoes, depending on how that particular child has behaved on the preceding day. Each Yuletide lad has a specific idiosyncrasy and will therefore behave in a particular manner.
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And so, we will have a single visitor of the Yule Lads as they come each and every day from Dec 12th until Christmas. Put your shoes out. And remember, if you are bad you could end up like these two!
I will also post a picture from that beautiful land as well. Because they are a little crazy, but it is gorgeous.
Bradley and Lynn in the pot a few years ago. We haven't seen them since....