Overview
About Yule Lads
Thirteen distinctive characters
In the familiar Icelandic Christmas sequence, the Yule Lads arrive one at a time from 12 to 24 December. Stekkjastaur comes first and Kertasníkir last. Their names identify particular habits: Þvörusleikir licks spoons, Hurðaskellir slams doors, Skyrgámur targets skyr and Bjúgnakrækir steals sausages. These characters draw on the food, utensils, animals and domestic spaces of the old farming community, giving seasonal humour a connection with material history.
Folklore in seasonal life
The custom of gifts left in children's shoes is associated with the lads' successive arrivals. Museums and performers also retell their stories through songs, dramatic appearances and conversations with children. The National Museum presents them alongside other Christmas figures, including Grýla and Leppalúði. These performances show folklore being maintained and adapted through participation. The Yule Lads are characters in a shared seasonal tradition, and their antics should be understood within that imaginative setting.
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