The White Falcon - 17.12.1993, Síða 6

Icelandic Christmas customs: trolls and fires
Trolls...
Thefollowing information comesfrom past
years' editions of The White Falcon as well
as submissions to the paper.
On Christmas, many children wait for the
appearance of a kindly, old man known as Sl
Nicholas or Santa Claus, but in Iceland, the
children wait for the Yuletide Lads.
The Yuletide Lads range in number from 9
to 13, with the latter figure appearing in print
in 1864. Original names included SheepCot
Clod, Meat Hook, Gully Gawk, Bowl Licker
and a few others that change from time to
time.
Although the Yuletide Lads are considered
the friends of children today, it was not al-
ways that way. They were first mentioned in
a 17th century poem, “Ballad of Giyla.”
According to the ballad, Gryla was an ogre
who ate unruly children and the Yuletide
Lads were her offspring. Many Icelandic
parents used Gryla as a tactic to scare their
children into being good.
However, in 1746 the idea was formed for
getting rid of this practice. In the “Edict on
House Discipline in Iceland,” this scare prac-
tice was still accepted in various parts of the
country and it wasn’t until the late 19th cen-
tury that changes were made.
In the 19th century, the Yuletide Lads were
no longer considered cannibals. They still
had a mischievous and thievish manner about
them attributed to Gryla and their association
to her. Their appearance, which originally
resembled ogres, now developed into a human
likeness, though they were still as big, ugly
and clumsy-looking as before.
As time passed, even this began to change
as they assumed more of an international
Santa appearance, not only in their stature
and clothing, but in their disposition as well.
The Yuletide Lads became friendlier with
children, bringing gifts, singing and telling
stories. With the development of Christmas
advertisements, a new emphasis was placed
on the Yuletide Lads. They became more and
more accepted as Santa’s elves, due to their
magical powers. This acceptance, which
started first in the towns, soon spread to the
neighboring countryside.
The number of Yuletide Lads was nine,
according to an old nursery rhyme, but in Jon
Amaon’s “Folk and Fairy Tales,” published
in 1864, the figure was 13.
How the latter number was reached was
that one of the Yuletide Lads came down
from the mountain each day, with the first
one arriving on Christmas Day and the last
Away in a
manger...
In celebration of the Christ-
mas season, the Chapel of
Light sponsored a Cantata,
which told the story of
Christ’s miraculous birth and
life through the medium of
song. The production, which
required months of prepara-
tion, drew a sizeable crowd
last weekend and left view-
ers with a true sense of the
Christmas spirit.
Enormous bonfires such as this are common around Iceland on
New Year’s Eve, drawing thousands of people out into the night.
(Photo by J03(SW) Andreas Walter)
one leaving on the
Twelfth Night, which is
the last day of Christmas.
During the past 50
years, various children’s
poems have been written
about them, as well as
the State Broadcasting
Service presenting a
Christmas “Children’s
Hour,” which still hon-
ors the names and num-
bers of the Icelandic
Yuletide Lads.
Icelandic children re-
ceive gifts on each night
the Yuletide Lads visit,
if they are good. Each
night they put their shoes
in their bedroom win-
dows ... and each morn-
ing they find a present. If they are bad, they
receive a potato. So, instead of getting a
Christmas stocking filled once, they receive
a total of 13 presents, usually candy.
If your child is waiting this year to see old
St. Nick, remind him or her about the Yule-
tide Lads who bring the Christmas spirit to
Iceland.
... and fires
By J03(SW) Andreas Walter
On New Year’s Eve, the people of Iceland
celebrate the beginning of a new year as do
many other cultures and societies, world-
wide.
There is one aspect to the Icelandic culture
that makes its New Year’s celebrations
unique: bonfires.
Many months before the celebration,
Icelanders collect old lumber, broken fishing
boats and just about anything flammable.
These goods are brought to designated sites
near towns to await their fate.
Around 6 p.m., on New Year’s Eve, the
festivities begin gathering momentum^
Crowds start forming at the sites, some tdj
chat with neighbors, others simply to behold
the intensity of the fires. But to all who view
these displays, it is a time to leave the old
behind and celebrate the birth of a new year.
Locally, base residents can take part in the
celebration by driving to the Njardvik bon-
fire site. The pile of lumber is visible from the
highway leading to Reykjavik. Be sure to
dress warmly, last year’s event in Njardvik
was blanketed with snow.
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The White Falcon