The Yule Lads Iceland Christmas Folklore Tale

The Yule Lads Iceland Christmas Folklore Tale

The Yule Lads are mischievous characters from Icelandic Christmas folklore. Traditionally, they are 13 troll-like brothers who descend from the mountains one by one, starting 13 days before Christmas, leaving small gifts in the shoes of well-behaved children—or potatoes for the naughty ones. Each Lad has a unique name and behavior, such as Spoon-Licker, Door-Slammer, or Sausage-Swiper, reflecting their quirky antics. They are the sons of the ogress Grýla, who is known for her terrifying appetite for misbehaving kids. Over time, the Yule Lads have evolved into playful, less-threatening figures in Iceland's holiday traditions.