If you’re spending the holidays here in Reykjavik, be sure to keep an eye out for Sausage-Swiper, Window-Peeper, and Door-Slammer. They’re three of the Yule Lads, a group of 13 mischievous pranksters who—according to local folklore—visit homes one by one to leave rewards or punishments for children on each of the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Tonight, the Gully Gawk is scheduled for a visitation, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk. Modern versions of the lads sometimes portray them in a benevolent light, even dressed like Santa Claus, but other stories are dark. The lads are said to be the sons of Gryla, a mountain troll with an appetite for mischievous children. Let’s hope we’re on the nice list this year.
Iceland awaits the Yule Lads
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Navajo Bridge in Marble Canyon
-
Across the great plains of Africa
-
Looking for peace on the precipice
-
World Elephant Day
-
National Fossil Day
-
Ahh-tumn
-
National Bison Day
-
Whangārei Falls in New Zealand
-
Midsummer in Sweden
-
Let the harvest begin
-
Modica, Sicily, Italy
-
Vietnam’s new bridge deserves a big hand
-
Four Sisters, thousands of trees
-
Birds of a feather flocking together
-
Pi Day
-
Badlands National Parks 45th anniversary
-
Daylight saving time
-
Take me to the river
-
A bridge comes full circle
-
World Art Day
-
When in Rome...celebrate Saturnalia
-
Spot on for International Cat Day
-
Vacuum Chamber 5 at Glenn Research Center
-
American bison
-
Art over Amalfi
-
Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
-
Ronda, Spain
-
Riding the bore tide at Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, Alaska
-
Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California
-
A big birthday for Big Bend