a wonderful poem for the little house spirits

Iceland has 4 major land spirits that guard it from invasion and attack. These are depicted on the current coat of arms of Iceland in use since the early 1900's. The story is about a wise man who was sent by Harald the Bluetooth to Iceland in the form of a whale to discover things about it, when trying he discovered the 4 spirits each of whom would not let him enter, first the huge dragon spirit who sent serpents and insects and toads that spit poison at the wise man, then he came across the area west of that Where an enormous bird attacked him with many other birds following behind it large and small. After that he left and continued westward and came across a giant bull which began to follow him into the sea and bellowed menacingly, he had many land spirits behind him. He headed south from there and came across a mountain giant with an iron staff that came towards, many other giants were with him. These 4 guardian spirits of Iceland current are a part of the coat of arms of Iceland.

Death of Ophelia By Jean-Baptiste Bertrand 1872

This is the most wonderful Christmas video ever!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMl4Pls41qI

The Yule Lads: The 13 Yule Lads (Jólasveinar ) also known as the Icelandic Christmas Trolls, are a group of 13 troll brothers who are the children of the Giantess Grýla (who is mentioned in the Eddas). While originally the 13 Yule Lads and their mother both took part in punishment, the Yule Lads were considerably less violent in their aggressive actions when compared to their child eating mother. The Yule Lads are not the only “Yule Lads” with one such other brother “Lung Slapper” being far too violent to be let near children. The 13 brothers each travel alone and take 13 days to arrive at their destinations from the mountain highland of central Iceland. As such each brother has a different quirk/Idiosyncrasy, favorite snack, and gift giving style. Like their parents they are Trolls (or alternatively Giants or ogres) and spawn from the Myths of gods, giants, elves, and spirits that populate the land and folklore of Iceland. To get a gift from the Yule Lads requires two things leaving out their favorite snack and leave a shoe/sock/stocking by the window they are going to enter. The Yule lads also seem to have two different versions of when they come as I have found that they come from the 12th-25th of december while others say the 25th-6th lining up more to the common idea the 12 nights of Yule, nevertheless.They and their specific quirks are as follows: Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Shagger or Sheep Coat-clod) the oldest of the brothers and the first to leave his mothers cave, Sheep-Shagger is a harasser of sheep and people needed to watch out for him, though his stiff legs (sometimes wooden) in his old age made it hard for him to properly harass sheep for very long. This likely was to keep people from leaving the sheep in danger and remembering to keep them safe as winter advanced. He prefers cookies and milk. Giljagaur (Gully Gawk) Gully Gawk is the biggest tallest and strongest of the Yule Lads having been fed on he is not the brightest and is somewhat shy, he would often hide in gully's and then sneak into a barn and steal milk from any cows. He is also the Yule Lad who cares for the Yule Cat. His favorite treats, are sweets, meat, and obviously milk. Stúfur (Stubby) while sometimes called charming, Stubby is also considered one of the most selfish Yule Lads. He tends to steal pans (at one point ludicrously precious in Iceland) to eat the leftover bits of crust stuck to them. He is also the shortest of the brothers by far and actually needs a chair kept outside the window of Children for him to be able to reach the shoe and give them a gift. He especially likes Biscuits, cheese and meat. The next two Pot Scraper and Spoon Licker I have seen interchanged but will go with Pot Scraper first. Pottasleikir (Pot Scaper) is the one who steals pots and any leftovers of any kind. Enjoying meat and even the unwashed bits of soup on a pot. He was likely used as a bit of a boogeyman to keep children from wasting food in the cold winter months. He like the eldest enjoys cookies and milk but sweets of all kinds are something he enjoys. Þvörusleikir (Spoon Licker) is the most gaunt and skinny of the Yule Lads, suffering from Malnutrition he would lick spoons especially those that still had bits of sweets like cakes and pies on them. This was made more family friendly over time into him being an overgrown thumb sucker who switched to spoons. His favorite snacks include spoons, milk, and vegetable. Askasleikir (Bowl-Licker) is known for licking bowls especially those of the askur a kind of Icelandic bowl with a lid that are used to keep food warm. He hides under childrens beds and waits for them to finish a nighttime snack before snatching the bowl and pulling it under the bed to lick it. He loves Skyr (Icelandic sours milk cheese) and cookies and milk. Hurdaskellir (Door Slammer) This one loves to slam doors and will break into houses in order to slam doors. Some say he does this to startle people others say he just likes slamming doors. He likely personifies the high winds that the Turf houses of Iceland would deal with in winter.

He loves cheese and meat. Skyrgamur (Skyr-Gobbler/ Skyr-Glutton) Even more than bowl-licker Skyr-Gobbler loves Skyr this beloved cheese from Iceland was watched carefully during Yuletide in order to avoid this Troll consuming it. Skyr-Gobbler is shown to be a rather confused individual as a result his presents tend to be odd and random (his night being the 8th) and whatever is in your shoe/stocking is a complete surprise. He likes skyr but dairy products in general are his favorite snacks. Bjugnakraekir (Sausage-Swiper/ Sausage Snatcher) he loves smoked sausages and is said to have loved them due to his mother cooking them. He would often hide in the rafters and wait for dinner to be cooked before stealing the delicacy from Icelandic families. He greatly prefers meat, especially sausages. Gluggagaegir (Window-Peeper) this Yule Lad travels across the land looking in windows and spying on children. Given that he does this at night and nights in Icelandic winters are 18 hours the children were often terrified of this troll going around and perhaps reporting back to his mother Grýla any misbehaving children for the dinner table. In modern days his reason has softened from horrifying troll that may lead to you getting eaten to someone just enjoying the beauty of the homes of Iceland and its people as his cave is rather boring. He loves pancakes and milk. Gattathefur (Doorway-Sniffer) he has a giant nose and would sniff around for good smells he hates bad smells making it best to clean your room and not leave any dirty clothes or smelly things out. He especially loves laufabrauð (Leaf-Bread) a treasured delicacy he would often steal before anyone could be impressed by the quality of the delicately decorated treat. He loves sweets especially Leaf bread. Ketkrokur (Meat-Hook) as a young Troll the smallest of the Yule Lads he was fed massive amount of meat to be bulked up by his mother, he now loves meat and will go around waiting in kitchens or anywhere with food for meat to be brought out before taking out his long meat hook and stealing it. He of course loves meat. Kertasníkir (Candle Stealer) this one likes to eat candles specifically old style Tallow candles (though he does not know the difference and will gobble down wax candles as well) he is the most popular Yule Lad as he is also the last one to come and tends to leave the best present. This was a dire threat at one point as there was no other source of light for much of the day especially the time honored tradition of Icelanders reading especially to each other at Yuletide. He likes candles and cookies for snacks. If a child was bad they would get a potato instead of a gift or perhaps even have Grýla come and eat the child. In order to combat commercialism parents were asked ( on the sly) to not put things like I-pods or other super expensive items in the shoes as the Yule Lads wouldn't be making those and it made the gap between rich and poor Icelanders apparent during a time period that was not about consumerism. This is reflected in the continued depiction of the Yule Lads in traditional Icelandic clothing to avoid the influence of Santa Claus onto the local traditions.

Skyr

Leaf Bread

Askur

I love this scene, it is so reminiscent of the Wild Hunt (oddly the fact that Winter is beginning to fade hence Christmas (Yule) happening is interest combining the Spring Hunt in. However the way the gifts are given and what is given (To the worthy and of gifts that are needed but not necessarily wanted). As well as their general unhappiness with receiving them or at the very least disgruntlement shows the way the Hunt may gift rather than the Ipod giving Santa's Ride we see today. -TAO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY-fhfuDEUA&list=LL&index=36

9 Stylish and Sustainable Ways to Wrap Gifts
https://www.treehugger.com/stylish-sustainable-ways-wrap-gifts-4859231