What is Icelandic Christmas?

Icelandic Christmas, also known as Jóhann, is a magical and unique celebration that stretches for 26 days, from December 11th to January 6th. It's a blend of pagan traditions celebrating the return of longer days and Christian customs like nativity scenes and church services. Here are some highlights:

13 Yule Lads:

Instead of one Santa, Icelanders have 13 mischievous Yule Lads, sons of the ogress Grýla and her lazy husband Leppalúði. Each Lad visits for 13 nights leading up to Christmas, leaving small gifts in shoes placed on window sills for good children and rotten potatoes for the naughty ones. Their names reflect their mischievous personalities, like Spoon Licker and Sausage Stealer.
-Sheep-Cote Clod: He tries to suckle yews in farmer's sheep sheds. Or harass them.
-Gully Gawk: He steals cow milk. Milk was needed to form most sauces meant to be enjoyed during this season. 
-Stubby: He's short and steals frying pans for the food left in them. Horrible as for most people who worked as farm hands their pots and pans were their only possessions of value. Iron was an import.
-Spoon Licker: He licks spoons. The lesson for children? Clean your cutlery.
-Pot Scraper, aka Pot Licker: He sought out pots of sauce, chunks of meat or pans with seasonal veggies left out. The troll of leftovers.
-Bowl Licker: He steals bowls of food from under the bed (back in the old days, Icelanders used to sometimes store bowls of food there—convenient for midnight snacking?). He’s the monster under the bed.
-Door Slammer: He stomps around and slams doors, keeping everyone awake.
-Skyr Gobbler: He eats up all the Icelandic yogurt (skyr, is a national delight enjoyed all year round and compliments both the sweet and savory dishes eaten during this season)
-Sausage Swiper: He loves stealing and eating sausages. It’s said he would wait in the rafters until the right moment to swoop down and steal them.
-Window Peeper: He likes to creep outside windows and sometimes steal the stuff he sees inside. His role was to hopefully scare the kids into not going outside in the dark winters.
-Door Sniffer: He has a huge nose and an insatiable appetite for stolen baked goods, his favorite was the traditional Leaf-Bread.
-Meat Hook: He snatches up any meat left out, especially smoked lamb.
-Candle Beggar: He steals candles, which used to be sought-after items in Iceland as the days are dark about 20 hours a day in the winter time. Without candles people couldn’t enjoy their pasttime of reading.

Light in the Darkness:

December in Iceland is dark, with only a few hours of daylight. Christmas lights twinkle brightly, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. Advent candles are lit each Sunday, leading up to the four candles burning on Christmas Eve.

Festive Food:

Traditional Christmas dishes include hangikjöt (smoked lamb), laufabrauð (thin, leaf-like bread), and kleina (fried pastries). Þorramatur, a selection of fermented and dried fish and meat, is often eaten in December.

Unique Traditions:

On Thorláksmessa (December 23rd), people enjoy the pungent-smelling fermented skate as a final meat indulgence before Christmas. Christmas Eve is a family-focused day with a large feast and exchange of gifts. New Year's Eve is a time for fireworks displays and bonfires, bidding farewell to the Yule Lads and other Christmas creatures.

Overall, Icelandic Christmas is a joyful time filled with light, laughter, and family traditions. It's a perfect blend of the old and new, offering a unique experience for anyone who wants to celebrate Christmas in a different way.