Scroll to the bottom of the post for an Icelandic Christmas story!
(Grýla's 13 sons - who were only called Jolasveinar - soon in the second part.)
Grýla is one of the best-known figures in Icelandic folklore, a powerful and terrifying troll woman who gathers bad children around Christmas time to cook them. It lives in the mountains, and its grotesque appearance - wrinkled skin, horns and a giant cauldron - makes it even more terrifying.
Jólakötturinn is Grýla's pet and one of the best-known figures in Icelandic Christmas folklore. According to legend, this huge and terrifying cat kills those who don't get new clothes before Christmas.
Leppalúði, Grýla is the troll woman's lazy husband.
The giant worm is a mystical and terrifying creature of an Icelandic lake, Lagarfljót, which is also referred to as the country's Nessie.
The Huldufólk are the mysterious people of the Icelandic fairy-tale world, who live as invisible but human-looking creatures in nature, especially in rocks, caves and mountains. Their name means hidden people, and according to ancient belief, they live in a parallel world, but occasionally interact with humans.
Draugar are the undead of Icelandic and Norse mythology who return from the grave to roam the world and cause terror.
Skugga-Baldur is a mysterious and terrifying creature in Icelandic tales who looks like a large fox but always brings bad luck when he appears.
According to ancient stories, selkies live in the sea and when they come ashore, they can shed their skin and take human form.
According to legend, Hafgufa is a giant creature that lives in the depths of the ocean and can cause huge storms when it comes to the surface. In the Icelandic sagas, Hafgúfa is often depicted as a kind of sea giant, so huge that it can swallow an entire ship with a single sniff.
Móri is the spirit of Icelandic tales who haunts deserted, dark places. According to legends, a dead soul who could not find peace and now walks among the living.
Grýla and the Christmas Trolls
The Great Mountain Cave
Far away, in the snowy mountains, there was a big cave where Grýla, the troll mother, lived. Grýla was very scary with her huge claws and messy hair. She lived with her lazy husband, Leppalúði, and her 13 mischievous sons, called the Jolasveinar.
Grýla's Plan
Every Christmas, Grýla searched for naughty children to catch. She was helped by her giant Christmas Cat, Jólakötturinn. This cat punished lazy kids who didn’t get new clothes because they hadn’t worked hard enough.
Mischievous Boys
Grýla's sons caused new trouble every day. One scared sheep, another stole milk, and one even peeked through windows. But the good children received small gifts from them, while the naughty ones only got a rotten potato.
The Villagers' Trick
The villagers worked together to outsmart Grýla and her cat. Every child got new clothes so Jólakötturinn couldn’t come for them. The children also promised to behave well.
Grýla's Defeat
Grýla went home angrily to her cave because she couldn’t find any naughty kids. "Maybe next year we’ll have better luck!" she grumbled. The villagers celebrated happily because teamwork had protected them.
The Story Today
Today, Grýla's sons are no longer troublemakers but bring gifts at Christmas. However, the tale reminds us that hard work and cooperation can overcome any challenge.
