Hexmas Advent - #2 Meet The Yule Cat

Yule Cat

Photo: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)


Hexmas is just around the corner, and this year we will present four different Yule demons on each of the four Advent Sundays - this Sunday we present the gigantic Icelandic Yule Cat known on Iceland as 
Jólakötturinn.

Better put some clothes on that Hexmas wishlist!

Don't like reading? Scroll down to watch the video instead.

By Mikl Pis, WEIRD KULT
In a dark cave somewhere in the Dimmuborgir (yes, just like the Norwegian black metal band) lava fields on Iceland lives the giants Grýla and her husband Leppalúði. They live with their 13 sons known as the Yule Lads.

Figures of Grýla and her husband Leppalúði

Photo: Figures of Grýla and her husband Leppalúði on the main street of Akureyri, Iceland by David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada - Folklore Figures, Akureyri, CC BY 2.0.

The Yule Lads are known as mischievous pranksters who steal from or otherwise harass the population of Iceland. Each of their names describes their favourite way of causing mischief (Like Spoon-Licker or Door-Slammer). 

They leave small gifts in shoes that children have placed on window sills, but if the child has been disobedient they instead leave a rotten potato in the shoe.

The Yule Lads' names, arrivals & departures:

Icelandic name English translation Description Arrival Departure
Stekkjarstaur Sheep-Cote Clod Harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs. 12 December 25 December
Giljagaur Gully Gawk Hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk. 13 December 26 December
Stúfur Stubby Abnormally short. Steals pans to eat the crust left on them. 14 December 27 December
Þvörusleikir Spoon-Licker Steals and licks wooden spoons. Is extremely thin due to malnutrition. 15 December 28 December
Pottaskefill Pot-Scraper Steals leftovers from pots 16 December 29 December
Askasleikir Bowl-Licker Hides under beds, waiting for someone to put down their askur (a type of bowl with a lid used instead of dishes), which he then steals. 17 December 30 December
Hurðaskellir Door-Slammer Likes to slam doors, especially during the night, waking people up 18 December  31 December
Skyrgámur Skyr-Gobbler Has a great affinity for skyr (similar to yogurt) 19 December 1 January
Bjúgnakrækir Sausage-Swiper Hides in the rafters and snatches sausages that are being smoked 20 December 2 January
Gluggagægir Window-Peeper A snoop who looks through windows in search of things to steal 21 December 3 January
Gáttaþefur Doorway-Sniffer Has an abnormally large nose and an acute sense of smell which he uses to locate leaf bread (laufabrauð) 22 December 4 January
Ketkrókur Meat-Hook Uses a hook to steal meat 23 December 5 January
Kertasníkir Candle-Stealer Follows children in order to steal their candles (which were once made of tallow and thus edible) 24 December 6 January
From Wikipedia.

But what about the cat??

Oh yeah, sorry about that! 

You see, the Yule Cat actually lives with Grýla, Leppalúði and the Yule Lads in the cave. And while the lazy husband, Leppalúði stays at home, Grýla searches nearby towns for naughty children to steal in a sack and cook at home, The Yule Lads harasses people - and the cat, Jólakötturinn, walks about the snowy countryside on 25 December, looking through windows to spot and eat people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. 

Better put on that ugly Christmas sweater from grandma!

Photo: https://www.lifewithcats.tv/jolakotturinn-the-christmas-cat-of-iceland/

In the Dark Ages, all family members were tasked with chores related to wool production, and since the only thing a family could afford for Christmas was woolen clothes, it was only possible if everyone completed their tasks fast enough. Thus the legend of Jólakötturinn was born, to scare children and lazy adults into completing their work in time.

Watch Air.tv's video story of the Yule Cat:

Not everyone enjoys reading, and some just like the additional info that comes in a video. Whatever your reason, the video is awesome and worth a watch!

As seen on TV!

  • The Yule Cat called Jola appears in the 2020 Netflix movie The Christmas Chronicles 2.
  • Grýla and the Yule Lads appear as central figures in the 2018 holiday episode of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Learn more about pre-Christian Yule demons next Sunday! 

Read about Krampus from 1st Advent.

Thank you for reading! As a treat for reading this, you can use the code  YULECAT  the rest of the year to get 20 % OFF your order.