Reykjavík Grapevine - 05.12.2014, Síða 59

T H E R E Y K J A V Í K G R A P E V I N E X M A S S P E C I A L 7
Hamborgarhryggur
(Haam-bouwrgahr-hreggurrrr)
See also: Dining
A traditional Christmas food eaten on the
24th at six o'clock. It is pork, usually with
a honey glazing and pineapple, cooked in an
oven for a few hours. This is a pretty heavy
meal, and its consumption reportedly re-
sults in the number of heart attacks increas-
ing around Xmas, when people who really
shouldn’t eat fatty meats gorge themselves
almost to death.
Heitt súkkulaði
(hate sooqou-laethi)
Indulging in a cup of freshly made heitt
súkkulaði (“hot chocolate”) is an essential
part of the Icelandic holiday experience.
The classic recipe is thus: melt one plate of
‘Suðusúkkulaði’ (available everywhere one
might buy chocolate) in a double boiler with
1–2 cups of water. In a separate container,
heat one litre of milk to the boiling point.
Slowly stir melted chocolate into boiling
milk. Enjoy.
Jólaball
(yo!-la-baahl)
See also: Jólaboð
The jólaball, or Christmas dance, is a lon
standing tradition where children are herded
by their parents or schools to hang out, eat
cake and candy and dance around a decorated
tree while singing some classic Christmas
tunes. More often than not, one or more of the
Yule lads will make an appearance and dis-
burse small gift bags of candy.

Jóladagatal
(yo!-la-dae-gah-taahl)
The jóladagatal (“Christmas calendar”)
is used to count down the days from De-
cember 1 until the 24th, and is a must for
children of all ages—some adults like to
indulge as well. The most common variety
has a differently shaped piece of chocolate
for each day, although some of the crappier
ones just have dumb, holiday related pic-
tures (seriously mom?). Some families like
to craft their own, wrapping small gifts for
each day.
Jóladagur
(yo!-la-daguer)
See also: Jólaboð
Jóladagur—Christmas Day—is the big day
for family gatherings and Christmas par-
ties. Many like to sleep in and relax be-
fore putting on formal attire and heading
out to a friend’s house to indulge in some
hangikjöt or hot chocolate. Everything is
closed. A very relaxed day, for most.
Jólaglögg
(yo!-la-gluhg)
See also: Jólahlaðborð, drinking
A hot beverage consisting of red wine,
vodka, and spices (kind of like mulled wine,
really). Often served with raisins. The word
can also just mean a party of friends around
Christmas time who get together under the
pretext that they will drink Jólaglögg, when
all they really want to do is drink anything
with alcohol in it. You know, because of the
dark.
Jólahlaðborð
(yo!-la-hlaeth-boerth)
See also: Christmas dining, eating out,
Hamborgarhryggur
A fairly new tradition in Iceland. A
Jólahlaðborð is a Christmas buffet that
people attend in groups, usually coworkers
go together for a night of eating, but mostly
drinking. Many a marriage has been put to
a serious strain after a drunken night at a
Jólahlaðborð.
Jólakort
(yo!-la-kowrt)
Many Icelanders choose to parlay greetings
to their friends and loved ones over the holi-
days via the mailing of Christmas cards, or
jólakort. They will most often feature a ge-
neric Christmassy motif and some standard
well wishes, although some use the oppor-
tunities to send along pictures of the family.

Jólakötturinn
(yo!-la-koett-ur-enn)
To avoid, as the saying goes, “going to the
Christmas cat,” children are required to re-
ceive at least one piece of new clothing in time
for Christmas each year. Otherwise, the cat
will eat them.
Jólamatur
(yo!-la-maw-tuer)
See also: Christmas buffets, rjúpur, kæst
skata, hangikjöt, jólaöl, jólasmákökur
Like in most other places, nourishing oneself
over the holidays is all about indulgence. When
it comes to jólamatur (“Christmas food”): the
richer, sweeter, fattier and saltier, the better.
Jólasveinar
(yo!-la-svain-er)
The Icelandic Jólasveinar (Yule Lads) have
little to do with the international Santa Claus.
They are descended from trolls, and were
originally bogeymen who scared children.
During this century they have mellowed, and
sometimes don red suits. Their number var-
ied in old times from one region of Iceland to
another. The number thirteen was first seen
in a poem about Grýla (the Lads’ mother) in
the 18th century, and their names were pub-
lished by Jón Árnason in his folklore collec-
tion in 1862.
On December 12, the Yule Lads begin to
come to town one by one on each of the thir-
teen days before Christmas.
The first is Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod),
who tries to drink the milk from the farmers’
ewes.
On December 13, Giljagaur (Gully Gawk)
arrives. Before the days of milking machines,
he would sneak into the cowshed and skim
the froth off the pails of milk.
Next comes Stúfur (Stub-
by) on December 14. His
name implies that he is
on the small side. He is
also known as Pönnuske-
fill (pan-scraper), as he
scraped scraps of food off
the pans.
On December 15,
Þvörusleikir (Spoon-
Licker) comes down
from the mountains. He steals wooden
spoons that have been used for stirring.
When he visits the National Museum, he goes
looking for wooden spoons.
On December 16, Pottasleikir (Pot-Lick-
er) comes visiting. He tries to snatch un-
washed pots, and licks the scraps from them.
Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker) arrives on De-
cember 17. He hides under beds and if some-
one puts his wooden food-bowl on the floor,
he grabs it and licks it clean.
Hurðaskellir (Door-Slammer) comes on
December 18. He is an awfully noisy fellow,
who is always slamming doors and keeping
people awake.
The Lad who is expected on December 19
is called Skyrgámur (Skyr Gobbler), because
he loves skyr so much that he sneaks into the
pantry and gobbles up all the skyr.
Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper) comes on
December 20. He loves sausages of all kinds,
and steals them whenever he can.
On December 21, Gluggagægir (Window-
Peeper) arrives. He is not as greedy as some
of his brothers, but awfully nosy to the point
of voyeurism, peeping through windows and
even stealing toys he likes the looks of.
On December 22 Gáttaþefur (Doorway-
Sniffer) comes calling. He has a big nose,
and loves the smell of cakes being baked for
Christmas. He often tries to snatch a cake or
two for himself.
December 22 is sometimes called hlak-
kandi ("looking forward"), because the chil-
dren have started looking forward to Christ-
mas.
On December 23, St. Þorlákur’s Day, Ket-
krókur (Meat-Hook) arrives. He adores all
meat. In olden days he would lower a hook
down the kitchen chimney and pull up a leg of
lamb hanging from a rafter, or a bit of smoked
lamb from a pan, as smoked lamb was tradi-
tionally cooked on St. Þorlákur’s Day.
Kertasníkir (Candle-Beggar) comes on
Christmas Eve, December 24. In olden times,
candlelight was the brightest light available.
Candles were so rare and precious that it was
a treat for children to be given a candle at
Christmas. And poor Candle Beggar wanted
one too.
During the thirteen days before Christ-
mas, the National Museum presents actors
dressed as the old-school Jólasveinar. They
show up around 11 am each day. National Mu-
seum, Suðurgata 41, 101 Reykjavík. Tel. 530
2200. www.thjodminjasafn.is
Originally appeared in issue 16/2005.
Jólaöl
(yo!-la-oel)
See also: Christmas dining
The ultimate Christmas drink, Jólaöl (or:
“Christmas ale”) is created by mixing an elu-
sive ratio of Malt and Appelsín orange soda. Al-
though you can now buy this drink premixed,
it’s way more fun to mix it yourself, accord-
ing to taste (try two parts Appelsín to one part
Malt, in that order). Note that it contains no al-
cohol. Which is nice for a change.
Jólasmákökur
(yo!-la-smouw-koek-er)
See also: Dining
Jólasmákökur (“Christmas cookies”) are an
essential part of the Icelandic holiday experi-
ence. Most households bake their own cookies
in the weeks leading up to Christmas, making
an average of three to five different types. They
are then consumed at Christmas gatherings or
while lounging about with one’s new presents.
Some classic types include: Piparkökur (“gin-
ger snaps”), Mömmukökur (ginger snap-type
cookies sandwiched around white frosting),
súkkulaðibitakökur (chocolate chip cookies)
and hálfmánar (rhubarb preserves wrapped in
dough), although the varieties are endless.
See story on page 2
Jólatré
(yo!-lah-tr-yeah!)
See also: Þorláksmessa, Christmas pres-
ents
Icelanders’ Christmas trees are usually in-
stalled on December 23, with the actual
decorating taking place on the 24th (although
this does differ between households). Vari-
ous organisations, such as the local rescue
squads, sell live trees to fund their operations,
although private companies also partake. Fake
plastic trees aren’t very popular, although
some folks prefer them.