Christmas – Page 2 – Mystic Iceland

December 14, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas, Holidays, yule lads

Þvörusleikir the Spoon Licker: Iceland’s Yule Lads

Þvörusleikir, Iceland’s fourth Yule Lad, has a taste for the supper left on wooden spoons. Meet the skinny Christmas visitor who sneaks into the kitchen for one more lick.

December 14, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas, Holidays

Grýla: The Dark Origins of Iceland’s Christmas Ogress

Before she became Iceland’s Christmas ogress, Grýla’s name haunted older tales. Follow her story through monstrous marriages, medieval sagas, and masked winter visitors.

December 14, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas, Holidays, traditions, yule lads

Stúfur the Pan Thief: Iceland’s Yule Lads

Stúfur is the smallest Yule Lad, with an appetite for the scraps stuck to frying pans. Meet Iceland’s third Christmas visitor and his taste for kitchen mischief.

December 13, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas, Holidays, yule lads

Giljagaur the Gully Gawk: Iceland’s Yule Lads

Giljagaur waits in the gullies for a chance to steal milk from the cowshed. Meet Iceland’s second Yule Lad, whose Christmas mischief begins where the milking pails are kept.

December 12, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas, Holidays, yule lads

Stekkjastaur the Sheep-Cote Clod: Iceland’s Yule Lads

Stekkjastaur arrives first, bringing Christmas surprises and an older reputation as a milk thief. Meet the stiff-legged Yule Lad who gives Iceland’s sheep little peace.

Image accompanying Creepy Christmas Poem #2

December 7, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas

Grýla: A Dark Icelandic Christmas Poem, Part 2

Grýla arrives with an appetite and a monstrous face—or three. Part 2 presents bilingual verses about Iceland’s Christmas ogress, alongside illustrations and an accompanying video.

December 5, 2020November 1, 2026Christmas

Grýla: A Dark Icelandic Christmas Poem, Part 1

Grýla’s hunger gives these Christmas verses their dark edge. Read Part 1 of the collection in English and Icelandic, with poems by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.