Above: an illustration of the Yuletide lads
source: http://www.simnet.is/gardarj/images/frhefti.jpg
Iceland Yule Icelandic Holiday Traditions and Celebrations
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/5/8/15589792/920052234.gif)
Iceland has a very rich culture and history; thus producing a very unique and wonderful holiday experience. The celebrations surrounding the winter solstice are especially unique and amazing in Iceland. Thus making Yule or “Jol” without a doubt one of the best times of the year in Iceland and one of the most fantastic and magical winter celebrations on earth.
Yule (or “Jol” in Iceland) originates from the old winter solstice celebrations. Although many traditions and stories have been made up and added to the regular celebrations many of them are still the same as they were centuries ago. Many of the common traditions and celebrations were also formed around the Norse gods and the beliefs of the Norse people. These traditions (like some other countries and religions) are celebrated on certain days and each day has a name, a date, and usual traditions associated with it.
The first widely celebrated day of yule is: Saint Thorlukar’s day. This day is also known as Þorláksmessa (in Icelandic) and is celebrated on the 23rd of December. St. Thorlukar is the major Saint of Iceland and the bishop of Skalholt. The Christmas tree or “Yule Tree” is generally decorated on this day. This day is also a huge shopping day for Iceland as stores are open until midnight for last minute gift-buyers.
The next day of Yule is Aðfangadagur or Yule Eve. This day is one of the most anticipated days of Yule. It is generally spent with friends and family. One of the more interesting traditions of Yule Eve is that celebrations usually start at 6 o’clock at night. This is thought to be a result of days originally changing at 6pm not 12midnight in Iceland.
Another tradition which is fairly unique to Iceland is that in Yule Eve, Icelandic television stations do not air anything from 5pm – 10 pm. This is to give families and friends a chance to eat a nice traditional meal together and for children and adults to open presents (usually after 6pm; but some families open presents on the 25th as well). For many this day is also a very religious one.
The next day of Yule is celebrated on the 25th and is known as Yule day or Jóladagur in Icelandic. This day is also a time for getting together with friends and family and to open gifts. On this day people rarely (if at all) participate in, or watch public entertainment as it is very uncustomary in Icelandic culture. Although many families eat different food nowadays there is a more traditional meal eaten on Jóladagur. This meal consists primarily of Hangikjöt (roasted lamb leg), Rjúpa (a meal of a bird called a rock ptarmigan) and a type of fried bread called Laufabrauð, each family can make the bread differently and with different patterns; resulting in many unique bread patterns.
On Boxing Day or Anna Jóladagur (the 26th) people, again, usually meet with family and friends, eat traditional meals and desserts and receive gifts. On Boxing Day though, public entertainment and celebrations are back in full swing and the streets are full of people happy to be out and about again with family and friends.
The next day of Yule is probably the most important and celebrated days of Yule; this day is New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is also known as Gamlárskvöld or Nýársdagur in Iceland. This day is very special and considered magical, after all many magical things are said to happen on this day. It is said that on the 31st of December that Cows will be able to talk, seals will take to the land and walk in the form of humans, elves will move from one house to the other and the most gruesome; the dead shall rise from their graves! These tales make cause for many costume parties and spooky tales for adults to tell to children and really makes New Year’s Eve more special. Another tradition in Iceland on New Year’s Eve is to light many bonfires (even on the streets). This tradition dates back hundreds of years and has been dated back to the 1700’s; it is still celebrated in a very similar way today but the celebration has evolved to use fireworks in place of bonfires. The celebration is commonly known as; “Blowing Out the Year!” or “Sprenja Ut!” in Icelandic.
The next and final day of Yule is “Þrettándinn” or “the twelfth night” (celebrated on January 6th). On this day there are also fireworks and bonfires as well as dances known as elfin dances (an Old Norse tradition but is now widely practiced). This day also is said to have some of the same magical occurrences as New Year’s Eve.
Those are the more generally celebrated days of Yule but there are other day’s for the Jolasveinarnir: or the Yuletide Lads. The Yuletide lads are said to leave gifts for god children who leave out their shoes on the windowsill. They also leave potatoes and “Be Good!” notes in the shoes of the naughty children. The lads are said to come to the towns from the north over a thirteen day span. These days are usually on a calendar (a popular Yule decoration as a result) and show the days of each lad. The days are as follow:
December 12th is Gimpy’s day
The 13th of December marks the coming of Gully Imp
December 14th is a day to celebrate the arrival of Itty Bitty
December 15th celebrates the coming of Pot scraper licker
December 16th is a day celebrated pot licker
December 17th celebrates the coming of bowl licker
December 18th is for the celebration door slammer’s arrival
December 19th celebrates the coming of Skyr gobbler
December 20th celebrates Sausage Snatcher’s coming
December 21st is a day for the celebration of Window Peeper’s arrival
December 22nd celebrates the coming of Doorway sniffer
The 23rd of December is for the celebration of Meat Hooker’s arrival
The 24th of December is met with large celebration as it marks the coming of Candle Beggar; thus having all the yuletide lads arrived.
After the 25th of December it is said that the lads then return to the mountains whence they came, until next year. Some of the common gifts given by the Lads are; a deck of cards, a new article of clothing, a book and a candle. These lads are sometimes said to have replaced the job of Santa Claus or “Jólasveinn”, but some believe he still gives gifts to those in Iceland and there he is known by a different name; Yule Man (in English).
In the past there never used to be Evergreen trees in Iceland, and as a result there were no Yule or Christmas trees (however you put it). So Denmark, every year, would send a huge tree to Iceland for Yule; and the trees are to this day placed outside of the Reykjavik Cathedral in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik for all to see and admire throughout the Yule season. Now there are many Evergreens, a result of many people planting them for the purpose of Yule trees.
Now you have had a glimpse of the wonderful culture and traditions that are housed in Iceland and may you maybe someday visit the country and experience the season yourself. For now have a Happy Yule, or as the say it in Iceland “Gleðileg jól”.
Yule (or “Jol” in Iceland) originates from the old winter solstice celebrations. Although many traditions and stories have been made up and added to the regular celebrations many of them are still the same as they were centuries ago. Many of the common traditions and celebrations were also formed around the Norse gods and the beliefs of the Norse people. These traditions (like some other countries and religions) are celebrated on certain days and each day has a name, a date, and usual traditions associated with it.
The first widely celebrated day of yule is: Saint Thorlukar’s day. This day is also known as Þorláksmessa (in Icelandic) and is celebrated on the 23rd of December. St. Thorlukar is the major Saint of Iceland and the bishop of Skalholt. The Christmas tree or “Yule Tree” is generally decorated on this day. This day is also a huge shopping day for Iceland as stores are open until midnight for last minute gift-buyers.
The next day of Yule is Aðfangadagur or Yule Eve. This day is one of the most anticipated days of Yule. It is generally spent with friends and family. One of the more interesting traditions of Yule Eve is that celebrations usually start at 6 o’clock at night. This is thought to be a result of days originally changing at 6pm not 12midnight in Iceland.
Another tradition which is fairly unique to Iceland is that in Yule Eve, Icelandic television stations do not air anything from 5pm – 10 pm. This is to give families and friends a chance to eat a nice traditional meal together and for children and adults to open presents (usually after 6pm; but some families open presents on the 25th as well). For many this day is also a very religious one.
The next day of Yule is celebrated on the 25th and is known as Yule day or Jóladagur in Icelandic. This day is also a time for getting together with friends and family and to open gifts. On this day people rarely (if at all) participate in, or watch public entertainment as it is very uncustomary in Icelandic culture. Although many families eat different food nowadays there is a more traditional meal eaten on Jóladagur. This meal consists primarily of Hangikjöt (roasted lamb leg), Rjúpa (a meal of a bird called a rock ptarmigan) and a type of fried bread called Laufabrauð, each family can make the bread differently and with different patterns; resulting in many unique bread patterns.
On Boxing Day or Anna Jóladagur (the 26th) people, again, usually meet with family and friends, eat traditional meals and desserts and receive gifts. On Boxing Day though, public entertainment and celebrations are back in full swing and the streets are full of people happy to be out and about again with family and friends.
The next day of Yule is probably the most important and celebrated days of Yule; this day is New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve is also known as Gamlárskvöld or Nýársdagur in Iceland. This day is very special and considered magical, after all many magical things are said to happen on this day. It is said that on the 31st of December that Cows will be able to talk, seals will take to the land and walk in the form of humans, elves will move from one house to the other and the most gruesome; the dead shall rise from their graves! These tales make cause for many costume parties and spooky tales for adults to tell to children and really makes New Year’s Eve more special. Another tradition in Iceland on New Year’s Eve is to light many bonfires (even on the streets). This tradition dates back hundreds of years and has been dated back to the 1700’s; it is still celebrated in a very similar way today but the celebration has evolved to use fireworks in place of bonfires. The celebration is commonly known as; “Blowing Out the Year!” or “Sprenja Ut!” in Icelandic.
The next and final day of Yule is “Þrettándinn” or “the twelfth night” (celebrated on January 6th). On this day there are also fireworks and bonfires as well as dances known as elfin dances (an Old Norse tradition but is now widely practiced). This day also is said to have some of the same magical occurrences as New Year’s Eve.
Those are the more generally celebrated days of Yule but there are other day’s for the Jolasveinarnir: or the Yuletide Lads. The Yuletide lads are said to leave gifts for god children who leave out their shoes on the windowsill. They also leave potatoes and “Be Good!” notes in the shoes of the naughty children. The lads are said to come to the towns from the north over a thirteen day span. These days are usually on a calendar (a popular Yule decoration as a result) and show the days of each lad. The days are as follow:
December 12th is Gimpy’s day
The 13th of December marks the coming of Gully Imp
December 14th is a day to celebrate the arrival of Itty Bitty
December 15th celebrates the coming of Pot scraper licker
December 16th is a day celebrated pot licker
December 17th celebrates the coming of bowl licker
December 18th is for the celebration door slammer’s arrival
December 19th celebrates the coming of Skyr gobbler
December 20th celebrates Sausage Snatcher’s coming
December 21st is a day for the celebration of Window Peeper’s arrival
December 22nd celebrates the coming of Doorway sniffer
The 23rd of December is for the celebration of Meat Hooker’s arrival
The 24th of December is met with large celebration as it marks the coming of Candle Beggar; thus having all the yuletide lads arrived.
After the 25th of December it is said that the lads then return to the mountains whence they came, until next year. Some of the common gifts given by the Lads are; a deck of cards, a new article of clothing, a book and a candle. These lads are sometimes said to have replaced the job of Santa Claus or “Jólasveinn”, but some believe he still gives gifts to those in Iceland and there he is known by a different name; Yule Man (in English).
In the past there never used to be Evergreen trees in Iceland, and as a result there were no Yule or Christmas trees (however you put it). So Denmark, every year, would send a huge tree to Iceland for Yule; and the trees are to this day placed outside of the Reykjavik Cathedral in Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik for all to see and admire throughout the Yule season. Now there are many Evergreens, a result of many people planting them for the purpose of Yule trees.
Now you have had a glimpse of the wonderful culture and traditions that are housed in Iceland and may you maybe someday visit the country and experience the season yourself. For now have a Happy Yule, or as the say it in Iceland “Gleðileg jól”.