In Iceland, Santa Claus is not alone because there are 13 Santa Clauses. They are called Jólasveinar, or “Christmas boys”, and they look nothing like the traditional old man. In fact, they are trolls with human features and a mischievous nature, children of the ogress Grýla and Leppaluði.
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The little family lives in northern Iceland and has a huge Christmas cat called Jólaköttur. He’s not a reassuring cat at all, in fact he’s downright evil. Just like Grýla.
Over time, the 13 Santa Clauses, from the “monstrous” they were, acquired a more benevolent nature, and an appearance more similar to that of Santa Claus, while remaining very mischievous. They are the ones who bring Christmas presents to the children, one per night, starting from December 12th until December 24th.
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They bring gifts to the good children, leaving them inside a shoe placed on the windowsill, to the bad ones only a potato. During the period from December 25th to January 6th they return home, always one per day.
Each of them has a name that describes their peculiar nature: the very first to arrive, on December 12th, is Stekkjastaur, who loves to tease the sheep, on December 13th it is the time of Giljagaur, who steals milk from the sheep, on the 14th December arrives Stúfur, who steals dirty pots and feeds on the crusts, on December 15th the spoon licker called Þvörusleikir arrives, on the 16th December is the day of Pottaskefill, who licks pots.
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December 17th is the time for Askasleikir, the so-called bowl licker, Hurðaskellir, or the door slammer, arrives on December 18th, Skyrgámur, who is greedy for skyr, arrives on December 19th, while Bjúgnakrækir, the sausage stealer, arrives on December 20th. The 21st is the day of the spy Gluggagægir, the 22nd December of Gáttaþefur, the door-sniffer, the 23rd December of Ketkrókur, who steals meat with a hook, and the 24th of Kertasníkir, the candle thief.
Definitely less reassuring than Santa Claus, these legendary Christmas trolls are an integral part of Icelandic tradition and children, especially those who have been good, are very happy to welcome them into their homes day after day.
SOURCES: Vizier/Arctic Portal/restless-viking
