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Christmas Magic in the Land of Fire and Ice

Holiday fun on a winter holiday in Iceland

By Jennifer ChristiansenPublished 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago 7 min read
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The Yule Cat (taken by the author in Reykjavík)

A Christmas trip to Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, is crammed with magic of all kinds from viewing the mysterious Aurora Borealis to listening to folkloric tales of creatures that roam the country during the month of December. Although my journey was rather brief this time, I was charmed by the country, its people, and of course the traditional stories told during my holiday travels.

Aurora Borealis

“She looked directly up into the Northern Lights and she wondered if those cold-burning specters might not draw her breath, her very soul, out of her chest and into the stars.” Eowyn Ivey

The chance to see Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, was the catalyst behind this Christmas escape across the sea. Pictures of swirling colors dancing with twinkling stars across the nighttime sky have filled my head for years. And, luckily, the astronomical wonder did make a few appearances during my visit. They are difficult to see in Reykjavik due to light pollution, but I did witness faint lights from our marina hotel balcony one night. The best display was seen on a countryside tour, where we waited two hours for this amazing natural phenomenon. The lights appeared as a pale ribbon in the sky, becoming gradually brighter.

The author and her husband under the Northern Lights (December 2021)

I learned how the colors and patterns stem from ions or atoms being energized as they collide with the atmosphere and are affected by magnetic force. The hues can range from reds, violets, and greens, however only the greens were visible to me. The moon was super round, big, and bright which, although beautiful, weakened the force of the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights (taken by the author)

Icelandic people once linked the lights with childbirth with the belief that they would relieve the pain of delivery as long as the expectant mother didn’t look at the Aurora while giving birth. If she did, the child would be born cross-eyed. Icelandic myths also associated the Aurora to spirits of the dead. And, due to their Scandinavian origins and their original belief in Norse Mythology, Icelanders saw them as auspicious omens.

“It is good to feel small beneath the sparkling northern lights, small beside the mighty river. Nature is so close to us up here. My troubles and difficulties just shrivel up. I like being insignificant.” Asa Larsson

The Yule Cat

In December, the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) prowls the country of Iceland where it hunts people, not mice. Folks who are not equipped with warm, winter clothing are the desired targets of the cat. Icelandic families work hard to make sure that no one will fall victim to the huge cats’s sharp teeth by gifting each other new, warm clothes for the winter.

The Yule Cat (taken by the author)

The tale stems from the 19th century when employers would annually reward the hardworking employees with clothes and shoes. If you were slovenly, however, the gift was not received. And the Yule Cat would gobble you up like a piece of tuna fish. Today, families still tell the story to encourage their children to work hard and be productive to avoid punishment by the Yule Cat.

A beloved poem about the fantastic feline was written by Johannes ur Kotlum.

You all know the Yule Cat

And that Cat was huge indeed.

People didn’t know where he came from

Or where he went.

He opened his glaring eyes wide,

The two of them glowing bright.

It took a really brave man

To look straight into them.

His whiskers, sharp as bristles,

His back arched up high.

And the claws of his hairy paws

Were a terrible sight.

Yule Cat, Iceland, jolakotturinn

Yule Cat or Christmas Cat. He is not a nice cat. From Mental Floss.

He gave a wave of his strong tail,

He jumped and he clawed and he hissed.

Sometimes up in the valley,

Sometimes down by the shore.

He roamed at large, hungry and evil

In the freezing Yule snow.

In every home

People shuddered at his name.

If one heard a pitiful “meow”

Something evil would happen soon.

Everybody knew he hunted men

But didn’t care for mice.

He picked on the very poor

That no new garments got

For Yule – who toiled

And lived in dire need.

From them he took in one fell swoop

Their whole Yule dinner

Always eating it himself

If he possibly could.

Hence it was that the women

At their spinning wheels sat

Spinning a colorful thread

For a frock or a little sock.

Because you mustn’t let the Cat

Get hold of the little children.

They had to get something new to wear

From the grownups each year.

Yule Cat, Iceland, Christmas

The Yule Cat is coming… From I Heart Reykjavik.

And when the lights came on, on Yule Eve

And the Cat peered in,

The little children stood rosy and proud

All dressed up in their new clothes.

Some had gotten an apron

And some had gotten shoes

Or something that was needed

– That was all it took.

For all who got something new to wear

Stayed out of that pussy-cat’s grasp

He then gave an awful hiss

But went on his way.

Whether he still exists I do not know.

But his visit would be in vain

If next time everybody

Got something new to wear.

Now you might be thinking of helping

Where help is needed most.

Perhaps you’ll find some children

That have nothing at all.

Perhaps searching for those

That live in a lightless world

Will give you a happy day

And a Merry, Merry Yule.

The Icelandic Yule Lads

Icelandic folklore tells of thirteen mischievous brothers who leave their mountain home, one each day, starting on December 12. They visit farms and towns in search of holiday food to steal. They are the children of the cannibalistic trolls Grýla's and Leppalúð. Grýla was known to come down from the mountains on Christmas and boil naughty children alive.

Received from Marina Hotel

Some of the versions of these traditional stories are downright terrifying – in fact they were once banned from being told to children. In more modern times, the characters and stories transformed into more benign varieties. Today’s stories suggest that the Yule Lads only play harmless tricks. They also must have become aware of Santa Claus, since they began to leave little gifts in the shoes of well-behaved children. This led to children placing their shoes on their windowsills, hoping for candy or treats. Naughty children, however, receive an old potato or nothing at all.

The Yule Lads are:

 Sheep-Cote Clod (STEKKJASTAUR): He tries to suck milk from sheep in farmers’ sheds (December 12)

 Gully Gawk (GILJAGAUR): He steals froth from buckets of cow milk (December 13)

 Stubby (STÚFUR): He's short and steals food from frying pans (December 14)

 Spoon Licker (ÞVÖRUSLEIKIR): He licks spoons (December 15)

 Pot Licker (POTTASKEFILL): He steals unwashed pots and licks them clean (December 16)

 Bowl Licker (ASKASLEIKIR): He steals bowls of food from under the bed; in the past, Icelanders sometimes stored bowls of food there (December 17)

 Door Slammer (HURÐASKELLIR): He stomps around and slams doors, keeping everyone awake (December 18)

 Skyr Gobbler (SKYRGÁMUR): He eats up all the Icelandic yogurt, or skyr (December 19)

 Sausage Swiper (BJÚGNAKRÆKIR): He loves stolen sausages and is known for hiding in the rafters and stealing them as they smoked (December 20)

 Window Peeper (GLUGGAGÆGIR): He likes to creep outside windows and sometimes steal things he sees inside (December 21)

 Door Sniffer (GÁTTAÞEFUR): He has a massive nose and an insatiable appetite for stolen baked goods (December 22)

 Meat Hook (KETKRÓKUR): He snatches up any meat left out with a sturdy hook (December 23)

 Candle Beggar (KERTASNÍKIR): He steals candles, which used to be sought-after items in Iceland. Some were also edible since they were made with beeswax or fat (December 24)

Received from Marina Hotel

Even though I barely scratched the surface of this magical land of elves, trolls, and other creatures, a holiday trip to the Land of Fire and Ice is an enchanted journey filled with beauty and natural marvels. It is a place of unexpected wonder that I cannot wait to visit again.

‘Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes – every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man.’ Orison Swett Marden

europe
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About the Creator

Jennifer Christiansen

Animal advocate, traveler, and bibliophile. Lover of all things dark and romantic.

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