Reykjavík Grapevine - des. 2021, Blaðsíða 27

27The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12— 2021Books
Christmas
Books To Set
The Mood
Get your read on
Words: Valur Grettisson Photos: Various
Info
If you want to understand the
Icelandic Christmas tradition, here
are the books you have to read.
The Sad Old Yule Cat
Icelandic Christmas is rife with
tradition. It’s quite old fashioned
in many ways. Everything is closed
on Christmas Eve, everybody goes
around to the home of family or
friends to eat a smoked rack of
pork. That may seem quaint, but
our Christmas stories might just
scare the living daylights out of
you. One of the horrific charac-
ters in Icelandic Christmas tales
is a freaky cat that has developed a
taste for poor children that didn’t
receive any new clothes for Christ-
mas. But one of Iceland’s most in-
ventive artist, Brian Pilkington,
doesn’t fear the Yule Cat., In this
book the Yule Cat has become old,
and, well, not so fierce. He has
become a moth-eaten, fleabitten,
lazy old geriatric that is in need of
a seasonal makeover. This delight-
ful story is ideal for children of all
ages, and a perfect introduction to
Icelandic Christmas.
The Creepy Yule Lads
We’re not done with Brian Pilking-
ton on this list. He also wrote and
draw this wonderful book about
the weird pranksters and thieves
that we Icelanders welcome into
our childrens’ bedrooms 13 nights
in a row. I’m of course talking
about the Yule Lads. Wait, what
did you think I was talking about?
Don’t answer that. This is actually
the book that shaped the millen-
nial generation’s image of the Yule
Lads and is a wonderful portrayal
of these weird lads who lick our
spoons, slam out doors and even
peek into the window like a peep-
ing tom. But they give us stuff, so
it’s worth it.
Elves Are a Christmas
Thing
Elves and supernatural beings
are a big part of Christmas in Ice-
land. The elves roam around and
even move from one palace (rock)
to another at this time of year. If
you’re lucky, you will meet them at
a crossroads. Just don’t accept any
gifts from them—doing so would
drive you utterly insane. In this
book, Jón R. Hjálmarsson retells
and explains many of Iceland’s
most famous folktales, bringing
trolls, elves, wizards, mermen and
a host of other mysterious beings
to life.
Trolls and Mundane Tasks
Speaking of trolls, they are more
complex creatures than you think.
They’re not just roaming around
waiting to be turned to stone, they
live pretty complicated lives, with
mundane tasks to perform and
troll kids to raise. In this won-
derful book that 80s kids grew up
with, the best Icelandic children
author of all time, Gu!rún Hel-
gadóttir, tells the wonderful tale
of a troll mother and her fight with
the wilderness. Our good friend
Brian Pilkington drew the brilliant
pictures for the book, making the
adventure both warm and relat-
able, just like Gu!rún’s story.
A Simple Novella? Think
again
If you’re looking for something a
little more grown up, this is the
book for you. Or give it to your par-
ents. Gunnar Gunnarsson is one
of Iceland’s greatest poets, and
was close to winning the Nobel
Prize in the 50s, only to be beaten
out by Halldór Laxness. Gunnar’s
A!venta, or The Good Shepard is
a simple novella telling the story
of a shepherd looking for a sheep.
But don’t be fooled by the simple
premise—this is one of those sto-
ries with such depth at its core that
it takes a lifetime to digest it. It’s
one of Iceland’s great stories and
has also been translated into 20
languages.
Books are available on
shop.grapevine.is
27The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12— 2021
Fjallkonan is a new lively restaurant & pub in the heart
of Reykjavík offering a selection of Icelandic and
international dishes from local ingredients.
Casual and cosy atmosphere yet still fun and festive.
Stop by for snacks & drinks, lunch or dinner.
LAMB & FLATBREAD
Slow cooked lamb, traditional Icelandic flatbread from the
Westfjords, carrot purée, pickled red onions, horseradish sauce
ARCTIC CHARR & BLINI
Lighly cured arctic charr, chickpea blini, horseradish sauce,
roe, crispy lentils, yuzu-elderflower dressing
ICELANDIC PLATTER
> Puffin, crowberry gel
> Minke whale, malt glaze
> Lamb tartar, chive mayo
THE LAMB BURGER
Bacon, mushroom & date duxelle, pickled red onions, pickled
cucumber, rucola, smoked cheese, fries
SKYR ETON MESS CHEESECAKE
White chocolate “Skyr” mousse, meringue, raspberries,
raspberry sauce
Hafnarstræti 1–3 > Tel. +354 555 0950 > fjallkona.isfjallkonan.rvk fjallkonan
FJALLKONAN WELCOMES YOU!
Icelandic
Delicacies
Must try dishes
Happy Hour 15-17
every day