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The 13 Icelandic Santas are called the Jólasveinar, or Yule Lads (say «YOH-la-svay-nar»), and they arrive one per night from December 12 to 24. Each has a funny name, a mischievous habit and one big quirk. Here they all are, explained for kids.
How the tradition works
In Iceland, children put a shoe in the window before bed. If they were kind, a little treat, a piece of fruit or a tiny present appears by morning. In the old stories, a very naughty kid finds a potato instead.
The thirteen brothers are the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði, and they come down from the mountains one at a time. After Christmas they leave in the same order, one per day, from December 25 to January 6. That is why the celebration lasts 13 days.
The 13 Yule Lads, night by night
- December 12, Stekkjarstaur («Sheep-Cote Clod»): his legs are stiff as sticks, and he tries to milk the sheep, but they scamper away.
- December 13, Giljagaur («Gully Gawk»): hides in gullies and waits for the moment to lick the milk foam.
- December 14, Stúfur («Stubby»): the smallest of the bunch. He loves scraping the crusty bits from pans.
- December 15, Þvörusleikir («Spoon-Licker»): skinny, and always on the lookout for wooden spoons to lick.
- December 16, Pottaskefill («Pot-Scraper»): knocks on doors asking for dirty pots to scrape.
- December 17, Askasleikir («Bowl-Licker»): hides under the bed, waiting for a forgotten bowl.
- December 18, Hurðaskellir («Door-Slammer»): loves to slam doors with a bang, and nobody can sleep without smiling.
- December 19, Skyrgámur («Skyr-Gobbler»): crazy about skyr, Iceland's creamy yogurt, and eats until the tub is spotless.
- December 20, Bjúgnakrækir («Sausage-Swiper»): climbs up to the kitchen rafters to grab smoked sausages.
- December 21, Gluggagægir («Window-Peeper»): peeks through windows. That is exactly why the shoe goes there.
- December 22, Gáttaþefur («Doorway-Sniffer»): has a giant nose and follows the smell of fresh holiday bread.
- December 23, Ketkrókur («Meat-Hook»): uses a long hook to fish a piece of meat down the chimney.
- December 24, Kertasníkir («Candle-Stealer»): the last to arrive. He follows children hoping for little candles, which used to be a very special gift.
Grýla and the Yule Cat, with no scares
Grýla is the lads' mother, a grumpy giantess from old tales who lives in a cave stirring soup. Today she is told with humor, almost like a bossy mountain grandma.
The Yule Cat, or Jólakötturinn, is a huge cat who, according to folklore, appears for people who did not get a new piece of clothing before Christmas. That is why Icelandic families often give clothes as a gift. Tell it lightly: he is a fluffy cat who just wants everyone nice and cozy.
5 light games and jokes for the family
- Shoe in the window: set out a shoe with a welcome note for the night's Yule Lad, and write his name together.
- Riddle: «Who keeps licking wooden spoons?» Answer: Þvörusleikir. Each child makes up a riddle for a sibling.
- Thirteen charades: one child acts out a lad, like sniffing the air with a big nose, and the rest guess. If it is the door-slammer, only pretend, and quietly.
- Stúfur joke: why does Stubby never lose at hide-and-seek? Because he fits anywhere!
- Coloring time: everyone picks a favorite lad and draws him. For help, there are free coloring pages to print.
Make your own countdown
Put a simple calendar on the fridge with the thirteen names, one per day. Each morning the child crosses off the night that passed, reads the name of the day's Yule Lad and tells what he does. It is a lovely way to practice reading, memory and patience until Christmas, with no rush and no fuss.
Tips for telling it to little ones
With kids aged 3 to 5, tell one lad per night, just the name and the quirk. Say the Icelandic name slowly, like a sound game. With older kids, find Iceland on a map and compare with your own family traditions.
If a child is afraid of Grýla or the cat, turn it around: they are folklore characters, like the wolf in fairy tales. For another activity, Pigúiça is waiting in the free browser game, with no sign-up and no ads.
Want a bedtime story to close the night? The book Dogavios, by Lucas dos Reis Arieme, is right here.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Iceland have 13 Santas?
Because the tradition tells of thirteen brothers, one for each night from December 12 to 24. Each has his own name and his own mischief.
What do kids leave in the window?
A shoe. The next morning, if they were kind, a little treat appears inside. Many families also leave a note or a drawing.
Which Yule Lad is the funniest?
It depends on the child! Many love Hurðaskellir, who slams doors, and Skyrgámur, the yogurt glutton. Ask yours to pick a favorite.
Your next adventure could be a moment together.
Now that you have met Pigúiça here, discover the story behind her world. See the illustrations, read the beginning and choose a book to share with your child, one page at a time.
