Dec 17 2023 13 mins 6
Christmas In Iceland: A Magical Winter Wonderland
When you think of Christmas, you likely imagine stockings hung by the fireplace, carolers singing songs of joy, and families gathering together to feast on hearty dishes and exchange gifts under the tree. But Christmas traditions look different all around the world, each culture adding its own magical flare. And nowhere does the holiday feel more magical than in Iceland.
With its Nordic charms and winter wonderland landscapes, Christmas in Iceland feels like stepping into a fairytale. From 13 mischievous yuletide lads to playful elf folklore to the efficient but friendly Yule Cat who eats anyone without new clothes for Christmas, Icelandic holiday traditions have an air of mystery and whimsy found nowhere else. Add in long nights filled with dazzling northern lights displays, and you have all the makings for a picture postcard Christmas.
Preparations Begin Early
While most countries start gearing up for Christmas just after Thanksgiving, Icelanders begin anticipating the merry festivities long before. As early as November, twinkling lights and glittery decor shine throughout Reykjavik. The country embraces over-the-top Yule décor with a fervent passion.
In town squares across the land, you’ll find massive Christmas trees glowing with thousands of bulbs as carolers sing traditional Icelandic Christmas songs on street corners. Festive wreaths made of fresh evergreen boughs adorn front doors, often accompanied by electric candle arches lining walkways with their warm, welcoming glow.
The homes themselves sport enough flashing lights to be seen from space, each family competing to outdo their neighbor’s display. For such a reserved culture the rest of the year, Icelanders have zero restraint when it comes to Christmas cheer.
The 13 Mischievous Jólasveinar
Of course, no Icelandic Christmas would be complete without paying homage to the 13 Yule Lads. Brought to you by the numbers 13 and 52, these mischievous troll-like creatures are the sons of two ogres, Grýla and Leppalúði. Living in the Icelandic mountains the rest of the year, they only come out in December to have some yuletide fun.
Beginning December 12th, Icelanders leave out shoes for the holiday tricksters who arrive one per night. Well-behaved children awake to small gifts left by the trolls, while the ill-mannered find only potatoes in their shoes to teach them proper manners.
The Yule Lads show their playful sides by doing things like slamming doors, stealing leftovers, peeping through windows, and generally running amuck. During the day, they return to the mountains to join their ogre mother, Grýla, who ventures down at Christmastime to snatch up misbehaving children and boil them alive for her stew.
Cheery holiday stuff indeed!
Names like Door-Slammer, Window-Peeper, Meat-Hook, and Candle-Stealer give you an idea of their modus operandi. But they always make sure to arrive promptly on Christmas Eve with Iceland’s version of Santa Claus, Jólakötturinn, or Yule Cat, to finish stuffing shoes with presents.
Regifting Night
Speaking of Yule Cat, he serves a unique purpose in Iceland. Legend says he prowls the snowy nights before Christmas, ready to gobble up anyone who doesn’t have at least one new piece of clothing to wear for the big day. As terrifying as that sounds, it stems from a long tradition of regifting clothing right before Christmas.
On December 23rd, Icelanders celebrate Þvörutungur Dagur, or Regifting Day. Instead of boxing up cast-offs for donation centers, people swap lightly-used clothing and other items with friends and family. Not only does it stem back to a time when poverty ran high in remote regions of Iceland, but it holds significance to the tradition of Yule Cat.
No one wants to end up as his holiday dinner! So the day offers the perfect chance to pick up a “new” sweater from grandma or swap your old coat for your neighbor’s so you have something new to meet the requirement. The playfully dark folklore makes this quirky custom far more fun.
Christmas Eve Begins with Giant Yule Lads
When Christmas Eve finally arrives, the Yule Lads conclude their hijinks. Families start the evening attending church services together decked out in their fanciest Christmas clothing. Far from the quiet reflection you’d expect, these gatherings take on a celebratory tone with joyful singing and smiling attendees.
Afterward, a giant effigy of a Christmas lad holding a massive torch lights the way to outdoor concerts and Christmas village markets. Locals serving up sweet treats like chocolate-dipped marshmallows and fried dough balls welcome visitors amid a party atmosphere while a bonfire crackles nearby.
Does it get any more Christmas perfect than that?
As evening sets in, families make their way home to feast together on scrumptious holiday favorites. They set extra places at the table for departed loved ones before sitting down to bond overstuffed turkey or rack of lamb dinners accompanied by all the rich trimmings.
When the last bites disappear from plates, the kids check their shoes hopefully to see what mischief the final Yule Lad left behind on this most magical eve.
Merrymaking on Christmas Day
Since they’ve already enjoyed food and togetherness on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day takes on a far more relaxed ambiance. Giving gifts plays little importance since the customs surrounding the 13 loveable trolls bring the focus more on silly pranks and getting into the holiday spirit. Most children simply receive one main present from parents along with their 13 gifts from the Yule Lads.
Instead of gathering by the tree on Christmas morning, families spend time playing games and enjoying holiday movies or perhaps joining friends to hike the dazzling snowfields together under breathtaking displays of the northern lights. Laughter and leisure mark this low-key but cheerful day.
When the short afternoon fades to night, people bundle up to head out once again for more Yuletide fun. Musical shows, lively parties, and even downtown pub crawl give adults the chance to let loose in true Icelandic style. You’ll even find restaurants and clubs pumping out Christmas hits for festive nightlife into the wee hours. Age makes no difference...young and old partake in the merrymaking alike!
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Finale
Just when it seems Christmastime can’t possibly get any jollier, Icelanders turn their attention to extravagant New Year’s Eve celebrations to culminate the season. Beginning mid-afternoon, spontaneous neighborhood fireworks shows light up the long night sky. As the evening progresses, towns put on breathtaking fireworks displays rivaling any 4th of July grand finale.
Much later, partiers young and old take the festivities downtown to see in the new year with even more booming pyrotechnics shows set to pulse-pounding music. Strangers shout “Gleðilegt nýtt ár!” (Happy New Year) to each other amid clinking glasses and joyful songs well past midnight.
After nearly a month of Yuletide revelries, the country finally retires its holiday decorations on January 6th for another long, cold winter before preparing to deck the frosty landscape once more when Christmas cheer returns.
Key Differences From American Christmas
When comparing Icelandic traditions to the Christmas celebrations most Americans grew up enjoying, some very distinct differences become quite clear. Rather than a single day characterized by church attendance, a big family dinner, gift exchanges, cookies left for Santa, and cozy fireside huddles, Icelanders focus more on the collective experience and community spirit leading right up to the 25th.
You won’t find months of frenzied shopping, houses buried in Amazon boxes, or parents going into debt striving for picture-perfect holidays. Their ancient folklore brings engaging mystery and light-hearted fun to the weeks of anticipatory delight peppered with equal doses of whimsy and mischief. Interesting customs like Regifting Day even forgo consumerism altogether.
Most kids don’t believe in flying reindeer or elves workshopping at the North Pole either. Instead, gift-bearing takes the form of 13 impish troll brothers playing pranks and causing trouble as they gradually appear from mountain enclaves to have some Christmas fun.
Rather than Saint Nick doling out gifts from his sleigh, the number 13 shows itself again with 13 miniature presents left in shoes over 13 nights. And that number 13 even marks the day they begin– December 12th rather than waiting for Christmas Eve.
You’d also be hard-pressed to find glowing nativity scenes or references to baby Jesus anywhere. Nor do most families own heirloom decorations passed down for generations. Icelanders concern themselves more with bright lights, public gatherings, and of course, new clothes to avoid being gobbled up by the infamous Yule Cat.
While American kids long for the latest gaming console or coolest sneakers under the tree, Icelandic children feel grateful for a single gift plus their 13 mostly practical treats from the brothers. Family focus gets placed more on food, togetherness, and community than stressing over extensive gift exchanges.
So while twinkling lights and frosted window panes certainly exude coziness and Christmas charm just like back home, the underlying focus and resulting traditions look far different. With mystical creatures, bonfire gatherings, nightly pranks, and fireworks under the northern lights, Christmas in Iceland clearly claims its own unique magic. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to
