Ísafjörður Guide

Tue, 17.December 2013

The traditions around Christmas in the world are many and some of them are very old.

In Iceland, the people, like in the rest of North and Central Europe kept in time of winter solstice festivals, which often lasted several days. The Nordic winter festival  celebrated the victory of the sun over darkness. It was, before the current day calendar was introduced, in time rather early to mid-January than in December. For three days it was celebrated with good food and drink. Since the 14^th and 15 Century, it was as a Christian festival celebrating around the 25^th December held.

Traditionally draw elves ( álfar ) around Christmas (formerly early to mid- January). Who is hiding in the Christmas night at known crossroads, can watch the elves as they loaded with their belongings on chariots and horses, changing their place of residence. Just be aware that you do not talk to them, otherwise you might be crazy. However, it may also be that you will find something of value, what the elves have lost . Since then (January 6) the dance of the Elves and fairies fire takes place on the Thirteenth.

At the Thirteenth goodbye also the last Icelandic Santa to return to the mountains. Trolls live for ages in the Icelandic mountains. At Christmas season they are playing the people various pranks. Today's Santas (jólasveinar ) are the sons of the mother Grýla, an unspeakably ugly and evil troll woman. She had, even in the 14^th Century a huge dick with hundreds of skin sacs. And in each of them sat 20 children. In the 17th and 18th Century it was considered a human eating, especially naughty children they liked to eat, so she was in lookout especially around Christmas after naughty children. In the time she had 80 children and three husbands. Her husband later is the ugly and lazy Lappalúða. Since that time she has also jólasveinar their sons. They drive, until well into the 19^th century, do evil jokes and steal, but do not eat any more children. The people still are afraid of them, especially the children. They will be more friendly since the people are going better, the times are better. The Icelandic jólasveinar are now 13, of them 80 different names have survived. On the night of 12 december comes the first down to the valley and all his brothers follow him until 24 who then return to the mountains after Christmas gradually again, the last on 6^th January.

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