Iceland’s Christmas Yule Lads are a staple in the country’s rich historic folklore. It’s believed that during each of the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, a Yule Lad comes down from the mountains to bring children gifts or candy – and sometimes play pranks. The Yule Lads have some pretty interesting characteristics, like the Skyr Gobbler who loves Skyr, a delicious Icelandic dairy product similar to yogurt, and the Doorway-Sniffer, who loves to take a whiff of your cakes and lace bread with his big nose.
Which Yule Lad are you most like? Take the quiz below to find out and be sure to enter our contest at the end of the quiz for a chance to win a prize! Each day a Yule Lad comes to town (December 12 – 24), we’ll choose one winner to receive a Yule Lad ornament to add to their tree! Make sure you check back here to find out if you won and see which Yule Lad you’ll be receiving, then keep an eye out in the mail!
Want to learn the whole story of the Yule Lads? Enjoy the famed Icelandic story, “Christmas is Coming,” read by Icelandic actress Erla Skúladóttir in the Árbær Open Air Museum in Reykjavik here!
In addition to the Yule Lads, Iceland has many other unique Christmas traditions; see them all out here, and be sure to keep an eye out for the Yule Lads arriving on the following dates:
December 12 – Sheep-Cote Clod
December 13 – Gully Gawk
December 14 – Stubby
December 15 – Spoon-Licker
December 16 – Pot-Scraper
December 17 – Bowl-Licker
December 18 – Door-Slammer
December 19 – Skyr-Gobbler
December 20 – Sausage-Swiper
December 21 – Window-Peeper
December 22 – Doorway-Sniffer
December 23 – Meat-Hook
December 24 – Candle-Stealer
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