Getting closer and closer to Christmas,
which most of us will celebrate like we have grown up doing,
which got me thinking about the little peculiar rituals or myths
might make your Christmas different to mine
or that random guy to the right.
Does your family have any wierd/unusual/fun/ Christmas ritual?
Do you even celebrate Christmas?
How is the ussualy Christmas celebrationg in your country?
My randon facts:
In Iceland, we celebrate Christmas or "Jólunum" on the eve of the 24th.
Most families eat dinner together at 6 and then open presents right after.
(The 25th is ussualy spend either trying to regain the ability too walk
after all that food, or visiting family)
Also our Santa Clause is very different.
First of all we it's the "Jólasveinar" Or Yulemen
That's right.
Plural.
We have 13 of them.
We're just that awesome.
cool
HISTORY TIMEEE!!!
The Yule Lads were originally portrayed as being mischievous,
or even criminals,
pranksters that would steal from, or in other way harass the population
(at the time mostly rural farmers. Poor poor farmers).
They all had descriptive names that descriped their criminal activity of choice, or oddness.
The Yule Lads are the sons of the mountain-dwelling trolls Grýla and Leppalúði.
Grýla, the lovely troll that she is
EATS naughty children.
Oh yes.
Comes down from the mountains with her sack and fills it with the naughties and takes it home and boils them.
She's ussualy said to have hooves.
![User Image](https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/klikkhaus/e11grylaHP.jpg)
Also.
The have a cat, the Yuletide Cat (Jólakötturinn), a beast that, according to folklore, EATS children that don't receive new clothes in time for Christmas.
![User Image](https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/klikkhaus/6a00d83420153053ef00e54f46cecd8834-.jpg)
We have lovely holiday stories =D
But yah. The Yulemen are portraite as nicer these days though,
serving kinda like Santa.
Except children put a shoe in the window sill
and they leave small gifts.
Also, because we have 13 of them
We get 13 gifts
xD
The first one comes to town and brings gifts on the 12th of December
and so it continues until the last on arrives on the 24th.
I find it awesome.
Their names and quirks are as follows:
(Yes. Stole this bit from Wikipedia since I'm to lazy too translate it myself!)
Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod)
-Harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs.
Arrives December 12
Giljagaur (Gully Gawk)
- Hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk.
Arrives December 13
Stúfur-Stubby
-Abnormally short. Steals pans to eat the crust left on them.
December 14
Þvörusleikir-Spoon-Licker
-Steals Þvörur (a type of a wooden spoon with a long handle - I. þvara) to lick. Is extremely thin due to malnutrition.
December 15
Pottaskefill -Pot-Scraper
-Steals leftovers from pots.
December 16
Askasleikir-Bowl-Licker
-Hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their 'askur' (a type of bowl with a lid used instead of dishes), which he then steals.
December 17
Hurðaskellir -Door-Slammer
Likes to slam doors, especially during the night.
December 18
Skyrgámur -Skyr-Gobbler
-A Yule Lad with an affinity for skyr. (Icelandic milk product. Its Yummers)
December 19
Bjúgnakrækir -Sausage-Swiper
-Would hide in the rafters and snatch sausages that were being smoked.
December 20
Gluggagægir -Window-Peeper
-A voyeur who would look through windows in search of things to steal. December 21
Gáttaþefur -Door-Sniffer
-Has an abnormally large nose and an acute sense of smell which he uses to locate leafbread.
December 22
Ketkrókur -Meat-Hook
-Uses a hook to steal meat.
December 23
Kertasníkir -Candle-Beggar
-Follows children in order to steal their candles (which in those days was made of dripping and thus edible).
December 24
There were more, but most people don't remember them.
I remember they had a sister though,
whose name was "Leiðindaskjóða"
It's not a very positive name, indicates that she's annoying.
![User Image](https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a230/klikkhaus/olafur-petursson-eldri-jolasveinar.jpg)