Iceland Has 13 Santas With Names Like Door Sniffer

Forget one fat guy in a red suit—Iceland goes all out with 13 different Santa-like figures called the Yule Lads (Jólasveinar). These mischievous brothers descend from the mountains one by one over the 13 nights before Christmas, starting on December 12. Each has a delightfully weird name that describes exactly what trouble he causes.

The first to arrive is Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), who sneaks into barns to steal sheep's milk. The next night brings Giljagaur (Gully Gawk), obsessed with cow's milk. Then comes Stúfur (Stubby), the short one who steals pans to eat the crusty leftovers.

The Weirdest Brothers

Þvörusleikir (Spoon Licker) is tall, thin, and perpetually malnourished because his only food source is licking stolen wooden spoons. Pottaskefill (Pot Scraper) steals unwashed pots to scrape out the remnants. Askasleikir (Bowl Licker) hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their askur (a traditional wooden bowl with a lid), which he then devours the contents of.

Things get stranger. Hurðaskellir (Door Slammer) just... slams doors. All night. That's his entire personality. Skyrgámur (Skyr Gobbler) raids refrigerators for Iceland's beloved yogurt-like dairy product. Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper) hides in the rafters to steal smoked sausages.

The Final Four

As Christmas approaches, the remaining brothers arrive: Gluggagægir (Window Peeper), a creepy voyeur who peeks through windows to find things to steal. Gáttaþefur (Door Sniffer) has an absurdly large nose that he uses to sniff out laufabrauð (traditional Icelandic leaf-bread). Ketkrókur (Meat Hook) lowers hooks down chimneys to snatch smoked lamb hanging from rafters. Finally, on Christmas Eve, Kertasníkir (Candle Stealer) arrives to steal candles, which were once made from edible tallow.

Gifts, Potatoes, and a Murderous Mother

In modern times, the Yule Lads have mellowed considerably. Children place their shoes on windowsills, and each night a different Yule Lad leaves a small gift—but only if the child has been good. Naughty kids get a rotten potato instead.

The Yule Lads are the sons of Grýla, a terrifying ogress who lives in the mountains and eats misbehaving children, and her third husband Leppalúði. The family also includes the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn), a giant feline that devours anyone who doesn't receive new clothes for Christmas. It's a incentive program for Iceland's historical wool industry.

Each Yule Lad stays for 13 days, so by Christmas, all 13 are in town simultaneously. Then they depart in the same order they arrived, with the last leaving on January 6 (Epiphany). The tradition was standardized in 1932 by Icelandic poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum, though the folklore is much older.

So while most countries make do with one overworked Santa, Iceland spreads the Christmas chaos across nearly two weeks of door-slamming, spoon-licking, sausage-swiping mayhem. It's the most Icelandic thing imaginable: taking a simple concept and making it delightfully, absurdly complicated.