The 13 Icelandic Yule Lads and What We Eat While We Wait for Them
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In Iceland, Christmas doesn’t arrive all at once. It sneaks in little by little, carried on the laughter of children and the crunch of snow. Starting on December 12th, thirteen mischievous brothers known as the Yule Lads make their way down from the mountains, one each night, leaving small treats in the shoes of well-behaved children.
When I was a boy in Ísafjörður, we’d line our shoes up on the window ledge before bed, hoping for candy and dreading the disappointment of a raw potato. Some mornings, we’d wake up to chocolate, other mornings to laughter when one of the Lads had been especially tricky.
Each Yule Lad has his own personality. Stekkjastaur steals sheep’s milk, Giljagaur hides in gullies, and Stúfur is so short he can barely reach the pans he’s trying to lick clean. Then there’s Skyrgámur, who loves skyr, and Bjúgnakrækir, who steals sausages. Every child has a favorite. Mine was Kertasníkir, the Candle Beggar, because he always arrived last and signaled that Christmas had truly come.
While we wait, we snack
The nights leading up to Christmas were filled with small moments that tasted like happiness. My mother always kept a bowl of jólanammi — Christmas candy — on the kitchen table. It was a mix of chocolate, licorice, and whatever she’d found at the store that week.
There were always Góu Hraunbitar, little chocolate-covered wafers that never lasted long, and Þristur bars with soft licorice centers. When cousins came over, we’d trade candies and argue over which Yule Lad was the funniest.
Those same candies are still the taste of Icelandic Christmas.
🍫 Góu Hraunbitar – Lava Chocolate Wafers
🍬 Sambó Þristur – Licorice & Chocolate Candy Bag
If you’re abroad, a bowl of Icelandic candy is all it takes to bring that feeling back.
The Christmas drinks: Appelsín and Malt
Every Icelandic family has their own way of mixing Malt og Appelsín, the traditional Christmas soda blend. My mom always reminded us of the golden rule: pour the Appelsín first, then the Malt. The Malt is fizzy, and if you do it the other way, you’ll lose the bubbles.
Half orange soda, half malted drink. The result is dark, sweet, and a little tangy — the taste of Christmas itself. Some families save it for the 24th, but we always started early, pouring glasses while the Yule Lads made their nightly rounds.
🥤 Appelsín – Icelandic Orange Soda (500ml)
🍺 Egils Malt (500ml)
Even today, I can’t hear the sound of fizz without thinking of those nights.
Something for the grown-ups
These days, I’ve swapped some of the sugar for Collab, Iceland’s collagen-infused energy drink. It’s become a bit of a December ritual — something to sip while wrapping presents or watching the snow fall outside. It gives you just the right boost to make it through a long day of shopping or chasing kids hyped up on candy.
⚡ Collab Raspberry & Apricot (330ml)
🍋 Collab Passion Fruit & Lemon (330ml)
A mix of mischief and sweetness
The Yule Lads might sound odd to outsiders, but for us, they’re part of what makes Christmas magical. They remind us that the season is about laughter, small surprises, and the joy of sharing treats with the people you love.
When I think back on those nights — the snow falling, candles flickering, a bowl of candy between us — I realize that’s the real heart of Icelandic Christmas.
So put your shoes in the window, pour your Appelsín first, and keep your candy bowl full. The Yule Lads are on their way, and they’re just as hungry as we are.