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It's no secret that Iceland is magical during winter… Between the Northern Lights dancing, snow falling, ice caves sparkling, and holiday traditions, it's a hard choice!  But did you know as Icelanders we have very specific traditions we participate in?  We would love to share with you some today…

 

Gleðileg Jól
is Merry Christmas in Icelandic.  You pronounce it by saying, “Gleh-dith-leg Joul." Try it!

 

13 Jule Lads
Unlike Santa Claus, Iceland has 13 mischievous yet endearing Yule Lads who visit children on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas Eve. …and their mother is a TROLL!  Each night, kids leave their shoes by the window, hoping for treats… But beware, a rotten potato might appear if they’ve been naughty!

 

Jólakötturinn

The Yule Cat, a mythical feline that lurks in the countryside. It is said to devour those who haven’t received new clothes before Christmas. 

Truly a perfect excuse to treat yourself to a cozy Icelandic sweater!

 

Christmas Food
Christmas in Iceland is incomplete without traditional treats like laufabrauð (crispy "leaf bread" with intricate patterns), hangikjöt (smoked lamb), and a warm cup of malt ég appelsín, a beloved soft drink blend.

 

Fireworks
We LOVE to celebrate the holiday season with our skies lit up!  In fact, this is the only time of the year you can buy fireworks to support your local SAR (search and rescue) squads and light them off until we “burn off Christmas” on January 6th (Þrettándinn).