The 13 Yule lads are are funny little creatures that could be referred to as trolls. They are the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði. From their earliest age, Icelandic children are told the story of Grýla, the troll-lady that lives way up in the Icelandic mountains. According to folklore, Grýla has been married three times. Her third husband, Leppalúði, is said to be living with their thirteen children and a black cat, the Yule Cat, in a cave at Dimmuborgir lava field. Right before Yule, Grýla, the mother of 13 precocious boys (the Yule Lads), comes to town with her sons: Grýla in search of naughty children to boil in her cauldron, and the boys in search of mischief.

The Yule Cat

The Yule Cat is also a formidable character, and every Icelander must receive a new piece of clothing before the 23rd of December, or they will find themselves in mortal danger. An enormous black cat does indeed prowl Iceland at Yuletide, and eats anyone who doesn’t follow this rule. A new pair of socks, however, will do.

Jólasveinn/Yulelads

Starting 13 days before Yule, a Jólasveinn/Yulelad visits Icelandic children every night, 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.

Stekkjastaur/Sheep-Cote Clod

The first Yule Lad comes to town on 12 December. His name is Sheep-Cote Clod, he comes to town and harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs.

The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
He came stiff as wood,
to prey upon the farmer's sheep
as far as he could.
He wished to suck the ewes,
but it was no accident
he couldn't; he had stiff knees
- not to convenient.

Gyljagaur/Gully Gawk

On 13 December it is Gully Gawk's turn. He hides in the gullies waiting for an opportunity to sneak around into the cowshed and steal milk; slurping the foam off the milk in the buckets is his favorite.

The second was Gully Gawk,
gray his head and mien.
He snuck into the cow barn
from his craggy ravine.
Hiding in the stalls,
he would steal the milk, while
the milkmaid gave the cowherd
a meaningful smile.

Stúfur/Stubb

The Yule Lad who arrives on 14 December is called Stubby. He is a little, shall we say, vertically challenged, which comes in handy for stealing pans.

Stubby was the third called,
a stunted little man,
who watched for every chance
to whisk off a pan.
And scurrying away with it,
he scraped off the bits
that stuck to the bottom
and brims - his favorites.

Þvörusleikir/Spoon Licker

Spoon Licker comes down from the mountains on 15 December. He sneaks into houses at night to steal þvörur (the thin long handled wooden spoon), because he likes nothing more than to licking them.

The fourth was Spoon Licker;
like spindle he was thin.
He felt himself in clover
when the cook wasn't in.
Then stepping up, he grappled
the stirring spoon with glee,
holding it with both hands
for it was slippery.

Pottaskefill/Pot Scraper

Pot Scraper is expected on 16 December. He is also sometimes called Pot Licker, as he waited in the old days to snatch away the pots that had not been washed, and licked the food remains from the inside.

Pot Scraper, the fifth one,
was a funny sort of chap.
When kids were given scrapings,
he'd come to the door and tap.
And they would rush to see
if there really was a guest.
Then he hurried to the pot
and had a scrapingfest.

Askasleikir/Bowl Licker

Bowl Licker comes to town on 17 December.  In the past, Icelanders ate from lidded wooden bowls that they sometimes kept under the bed or on the floor. Bowl Licker would hide under the bed, and if someone put their bowl on the floor, he would grab it and lick the inside clean.

Bowl Licker, the sixth one,
was shockingly ill bred.
From underneath the bedsteads
he stuck his ugly head.
And when the bowls were left
to be licked by dog or cat,
he snatched them for himself
- he was sure good at that!

Hurðaskellir/Door Slammer

Door Slammer comes to town on 18 December. He always makes a lot of noise, slamming doors and such, everywhere he walks about. His favorite time for slamming doors is during the night.

The seventh was Door Slammer,
a sorry, vulgar chap:
When people in the twilight
would take a little nap,
he was happy as a lark
with the havoc he could wreak,
slamming doors and hearing
the hinges on them squeak.

Skyrgámur/Skyr Gobbler

On 19 December we welcome the Yule Lad called Skyr Gobbler. All he wants to do is eat skyr (Icelandic dairy product, which is a bit like natural yogurt) all day long.

Skyr Gobbler, the eighth,
was an awful stupid bloke.
He lambasted the skyr tub
till the lid on it broke.
Then he stood there gobbling
- his greed was well known -
until, about to burst,
he would bleat, howl and groan.

Bjúgnakrækir/Sausage Swiper

On 20 December we expect Sausage Swiper. He hides in the rafters waiting to be able to steal the sausages he loves to eat.

The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.
Sitting on a crossbeam
in soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.

Gluggagæjir/Window Peeper

December 21 is when Window Peeper visits. A voyeur, who likes to peep through windows in search of things to steal.

The tenth was Window Peeper,
a weird little twit,
who stepped up to the window
and stole a peek through it.
And whatever was inside
to which his eye was drawn,
he most likely attempted
to take later on.

Gáttaþefur/Door Sniffer

Door Sniffer comes to town on 22 December. He is easily recognized by his huge nose, and he has an acute sense of smell. He loves standing in the doorway to smell the cakes and lace bread.

Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
a doltish lad and gross.
He never got a cold, yet had
a huge, sensitive nose.
He caught the scent of lace bread
while leagues away still
and ran toward it weightless
as wind over dale and hill.

Ketkrókur/Meat Hook

St. Thorlák's Day, 23 December, is the day of Meat Hook's arrival. Meat Hook is crazy about meat. In the old days, he would lower a long stick through the chimney and snag a smoked leg of lamb hanging from the rafters, or a piece of smoked lamb from the pot.

Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
his talent would display
as soon as he arrived
on Saint Thorlak's Day.
He snagged himself a morsel
of meet of any sort,
although his hook at times was
a tiny bit short.

Kertasníkir/Candle Beggar

Candle Beggar arrives on Yule Eve Day, 24 December. Follows children around in order to steal their candles. In former times, candles were the brightest lights available to people, and thus, highly coveted and desirable household items.

The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
- ‘twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Yule Eve.
He trailed after the little ones
who, like happy sprites,
ran about the farm with
their fine tallow lights.

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                                                              
English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.