This is Why Christmas in Iceland is Awesome

Christmas in Iceland is the best. Seriously. Let me explain.

First of all, they have not one Santa Clause but 13. YEP, THIRTEEN. These Santas are trolls called Yule Lads or Yulemen (or just Santas), and their role is to come down from the hills starting 13 days before Christmas and leave presents for children who leave their shoes on the window sill (or in my host family's case, Christmas stockings hung on their closet). Thirteen days of gifts, people. Thiiiiirteeeeen.

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As you can see, each one of the Yule Lads has a unique and mischievous personality, but the kicker is their mom, Grýla. Grýla is an ogress who eats the bad kids. Don't be fooled by that caricature of her above with her lazy husband, the following portrait is much more horrifying:

And if that nightmare isn't enough for the kids, Grýla also has a Yule-Cat (or jólakötturinn) who eats anyone who doesn't receive an item of clothing for Christmas. What? Man eating cat? Don't worry, here are some socks.

On December 23rd, all the shops in downtown Reykjavik stay open until 11pm for all the last minute Christmas shoppers. There is a quaint Christmas village, carolers, and all other manner of holiday loveliness that would make anyone's heart grow three sizes that day. My favorite part were the incredible male opera singers whose duets could be heard echoing in between the buildings. Be still my heart! I'm a sucker for opera. Doubly so when a male duet is involved. 

My beau and I snogging by a Christmas tree. Aaawe.

Then comes December 24th. At exactly 6:00pm, everyone (I'm talking the entire country) sits down for a formal Christmas Eve dinner with their family and friends to officially start Christmas. After dinner you exchange and open all your presents. Yep, you open everything on Christmas Eve, not just the pair of pajamas your Mom bought you. The rest of the evening is spent relaxing (and most likely drinking... this is Iceland after all).

After sleeping in on Christmas Morning, since there is no reason to wake up early, one might attend a Christmas service at one of the many churches. or watch a movie, or even start a game of Monopoly (spoiler, we did all three!). Whatever you do, round it off with more family time and more food. 

Ah, what a good Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I wish it could last longer. GOOD THING YOU'RE IN ICELAND! Haven't you ever heard of the third days of Christmas? That's what the 26th is for. Another day of Christmas, guuuuuys. Another day spent cuddling up to your boyfriend, watching whatever on TV, finishing the Monopoly game (and dominating everyone), and of course eating like calories and guilt and shame don't exist! 

So let's recap for a second as to why Christmas in Iceland is awesome:

- 13 Santas meaning 13 days of gifts for the kids (it's amazing how great this incentive is for putting a 6 year old to bed!).

- Terrifying folklore including a ogress who eats babies and a cat who eats anyone unless they get clothes as a present. 

- Adorable Christmas festivities on the 23rd before all the shops close for the next few days.
- 6:00pm dinner on Christmas Eve followed by opening all presents (aka, 1st day of Christmas).

- Christmas day. No fat man and a chimney, just sleeping in and relaxing with friends and family (aka, 2nd day of Christmas).
- Third day of Christmas! Just in case you need to relax from your relaxing Christmas day. 

And to top it all off, word on the street is the official Christmas season doesn't end until January 6th (er, 7th?). Most shops will start to open back up by the 27th, and I'm sure things will start to de-Christmas-ify, but perhaps not in such a stark way I'm used to in the States. Cool, right? I'm a fan.

Anywho, if you'd like to learn more about Iceland and Christmas stuff, a local newspaper wrote a great article. You can find that here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!