Here in Iceland, we have 13 Yule Lads, which are very different from Santa Claus. We have records of more than 70 Yule Lads, but these 13 have remained with us into modern times.
The Yule Lads live in Iceland, way up north in Mývatn at Dimmuborgir - Dark Fortress or Dark Cities, and there you can find their cave hidden away - and you might even stumble upon it during your visit to Dimmuborgir.
Top photo: with my father-in-law inside Jólasveinahellirinn - the Cave of the Yule Lads in Dimmuborgir
The information sign at Dimmuborgir tells us about the Icelandic Yule Lads
Dimmuborgir - the Dark Fortress at Mývatn is a true wonder of nature.
This fantastic area consists of towering lava rock formations that make you feel like you stepped into another world - a world of fairy tales and Yule Lads :)
The rocks are brittle and fragile - and here is the playground of the Yule Lads - so be aware that while visiting this area, you might run into them! Y
ou might also run into them when they want to take their only bath of the year, the Christmas bath at the Mývatn nature baths.
Mývatn Nature Baths
Our original Yule Lads were pranksters, and each had a special name that described their mischievous conduct. Their names are:
Stekkjastaur- Sheep-Cote Clod
Giljagaur - Gully Gawk
Stúfur - Stubby
Þvörusleikir - Spoon Licker
Pottaskefill - Pot Scraper
Askasleikir - Bowl Licker
Hurðaskellir - Door Slammer (he loves waking people up by slamming doors)
Skyrgámur - Skyr Gobbler
Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage Swiper
Gluggagægir - Window Peeper
Gáttaþefur - Doorway Sniffer
Ketkrókur - Meat Hook
Kertasníkir - Candle Beggar
By their names, you can see that they are up to mischief ;)
The cave of the Yule Lads - Jólasveinahellirinn
They aren't mischievous and quite ill-mannered. I guess their parents, Grýla and Leppalúði, didn't raise them properly. But they have a good heart.
The Yule Lads sleep in their cave during summertime and can rarely be seen walking around as they are resting.
In December, it is a different story; then there is a good chance of running into a mischievous Yule Lad. That is why I only visit Dimmuborgir in the summertime ;)
The cave of the Yule Lads - their clothes drying
When you stumble upon the cave, you will see their laundry drying.
Pop into the natural cave, and you will see their lava beds, personal belongings, and kitchen.
Did they pop out for a second?
It is fun visiting their cave, as long as they don't come back, then you will be trapped inside the cave with these mischievous pranksters!
The first Yule Lad comes to inhabited areas thirteen days before Christmas, and the children for sure know the name of the first one, as they have been waiting in anticipation.
Then a new one arrives every day until the last one arrives on the 24th of December - the children always know which one will be visiting them on each day.
The cave of the Yule Lads - Jólasveinahellirinn
It has been a tradition here in Iceland since 1950 for young kids to leave their best (or biggest) shoe on the windowsill in their bedroom, the first one 13 days before Christmas.
The Yule Lad, coming to "town," visits all the kids and leaves a small present for them in their shoe. But only if the kids have gone to sleep early and have not behaved badly.
Because, as one knows, the Yule Lads cannot leave you a present if you are awake ;)
A kid who hasn't behaved well on that particular day will find a raw potato in the shoe! And I can tell you that the kids who see the raw potato in their shoe rarely show it to anybody, as they are so ashamed.
Grýla, the mother of the Yule Lads
The parents of the Yule Lads are called Grýla and Leppalúði. They live in a big cave in Ludentarborgir, not far away from the cave of their offspring at Dimmuborgir.
I have not found that cave and am not eager to find that particular cave, to tell you the truth ;)
Grýla is an evil, grim ogre who eats badly behaved children. She comes to pick them up, puts them in her sack, and then cooks them in her cauldron.
I remember how scared we Icelandic kids were of this terrible ogre, Grýla - and she still gives me the creeps!
Leppalúði, the father of the Yule Lads
Grýla and Leppalúði own the Christmas Cat, which eats people who don't get any Christmas presents containing clothes. So you'd better get some soft Christmas presents if you don't want the Christmas Cat to eat you ;)
The first Yule Lad to arrive from the mountains on the 12th of December is Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod).
The last one is Kertasníkir (Candle Beggar), but he arrives on the 24th of December. From him, well-behaved children receive the biggest present in their shoe, so that is always a day to look forward to.
After Christmas, the Yule Lads return to their home in Dimmuborgir, one by one, in the same order in which they arrived in town, until the last one, Kertasníkir, leaves on the last day of Christmas, January 6th.
Grýla and Leppalúði in Akureyri, the capital of the North
The best time to meet the Yule Lads at Dimmuborgir is from November 15th until December 31st, when they are getting ready for Christmas and after they return from their expedition.
The Icelandic name for a Yule Lad is "jólasveinn," so if you walk through Dimmuborgir, shout out loud: "Jólasveinn!!"- and see what happens!
I have heard that they are greeting people from 11:00-13:00 from November 30th until December 24th. Don't be afraid of them, as with age they have become better behaved :)
I have also written many travel blogs about Mývatn, as this area, along with Jökulsárgljúfur canyon and Ásbyrgi, is my favourite place to visit in Iceland.
To reach this area up north, you can rent a car and drive up north in a couple of days. Do take your time, as there is so much to see and do on the way.
You can also check out the all-inclusive self-drive tour packages. And the Diamond Circle tours.
Have fun at Dimmuborgir in North Iceland :)
