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The Icelandic Yule Lads
The 13 Yule Lads were originally portrayed as being mischievous, or even criminal, pranksters that would steal from, or in other way harass the population (at the time mostly rural farmers). They all had descriptive names that conveyed their modus operandi.
The Yule Lads are traditionally said to be the sons of the mountain-dwelling trolls Grýla and Leppalúði. Additionally, the Yule Lads are often depicted with the Yuletide Cat, a beast that, according to folklore, eats children that don't receive new clothes in time for Christmas.
In modern times the Yule Lads have been depicted as taking on a more benevolent role comparable to Santa Claus and other related figures and putting small gifts (or potatoes if the child has misbehaved) into shoes placed by children into their windows the last thirteen nights before Christmas Eve. They are occasionally depicted as wearing the costume traditionally worn by Santa Claus, but are otherwise generally shown wearing late medieval style Icelandic clothing.
[edit] List of Yule Lads
The Yule lads are said to "come to town" during the last 13 nights before Christmas, each staying for two weeks before departing.
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So our first Yule Lad came to town today! This year, our horses will be introducing each of them, one per day until Christmas.
Stjarna (Star), is the sweetest horse in our Riding Centre. She takes very good care of her riders and absolutely loves children. Stjarna (with our chef, Ásta) likes Stekkjastaur.
The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
He came stiff as wood,
to pray upon the farmer’s sheep
as far as he could.
