The Yule Lads are descended from trolls, and originally they were bogeymen who scared children. During this century they have mellowed, but they still tend to pilfer and play tricks. A popular poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum (1899-1972), which first appeared in the book Jólin koma ("Christmas is Coming") in 1932, has made their names and number widely known.
Here is an introduction to Yule Lad #4, "Spoon Licker," from "Christmas is Coming."
The fourth was Spoon Licker;
like spindle he was thin.
He felt himself in clover
when the cook wasn't in.
Then stepping up, he grappled
the stirring spoon with glee,
holding it with both hands
for it was slippery.
And here is my photo of an Icelandic waterfall that took my breath away:
Godafoss, "Waterfall of the Gods" |
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