Yule Lads

In Iceland we do not have one Santa Claus... we have 13 Yule Lads. They are the sons of Grýla and Leppalúði, vicious trolls that live in Dimmuborgir, by Mývatn. 13 days prior to Christmas they start coming down from the mountains, one each night. Children in Iceland place their best shoe on their windowsill before going to bed and each night a little gift is left in it from the Yule Lad that came down from the mountains that night. If the child has been misbehaving or is late to bed, there might be a raw potato left instead.

 

Visiting them in Dimmuborgir in December and joining them for their annual bath is the Mývatn Nature Baths is truly an unforgettable experience for children as well as adults.

 

Check the calendar of events at www.yulelads.is