The thirteenth and last yule lad arrives the night of December 23rd. His name is Kertasníkir yule lad and is here to steal your candles. Even more, if he can’t steal them, he’ll beg for them. Therefore, there are some people who call him Candle Beggar rather than Candle Stealer.
No light but the candle
Candles made of tallow were rare, so it was a big deal to the kids who received a candle at Christmas. It was about the only way to have enough light to enjoy books and other past-time games.
He will eat them too
However, the kids weren’t the only ones who loved these candles. Kertasníkir yule lad loved them too, but for a completely different reason. You see, since the candles were made from beef fat, they were most delicious to the taste to yule lads like Kertasníkir.
Although the candles today aren’t made of tallow, Kertasníkir will still steal your candles and bite into them. This is because he’s still looking for the tallow candles but can’t tell them apart. Therefore, he has to bite into them to find out. He never stops looking and maybe one day he’ll get lucky and find one made of tallow.
Going home
On January 6th The last yule lad rascal heads back home to his family. Maybe next time keep some tallow candles around for him to sink his teeth into.
Poem
Candle Beggar Poem
The Candle Beggar Verse
Candle Beggar loved candlelight
and stole into the farmhouse for a look.
Feasting his eyes on the Christmas candles
and the children carrying them to and fro,
he hid in a corner where nobody saw him
and then snatched a candle for himself.
