Before the dog or cat can reach the supper scraps, Askasleikir has other plans for them. Known as Bowl Licker, the sixth Yule Lad hides beneath beds and waits for a bowl to be put down. He arrives during the night of December 16th, ready for the morning of December 17th—and the household pets have competition.
The Supper Bowl That Gave Him His Name
His name makes more sense when you know what an askur is: a wooden food bowl with a hinged lid. People ate from these bowls while sitting on their beds, and the lid helped keep the food warm. In the poem below, the bowls are then left for a dog or cat to lick clean. That is the moment Askasleikir is waiting for.
Who Is Waiting Under the Bed?
Hidden beneath a child’s bed, Askasleikir keeps watch for the bowl. As soon as it is set down, he snatches it before the pets can get there and licks up whatever remains. The children have had their supper, but this unwelcome visitor is only just getting started.
On December 30th, Askasleikir heads home. The bowls are safe from him for another year, and the dogs and cats can have their turn again.
Bowl Licker in Verse
Another Verse for the Leftover Thief
A Visitor Beneath the Bed
There is something wonderfully unsettling about Askasleikir: the bowl beside the bed is ordinary enough, until you imagine who might be waiting underneath. For this Yule Lad, even a few supper scraps are worth hiding for.
Meet the previous visitor, Pottasleikir, the Pot Licker, then continue to Hurðaskellir, the Door Slammer. You can also meet their mother, Grýla, or explore all the Yule Lad stories.
