SPECIAL SPECTACULAR the Reykjavík Grapevine Xmas Special Spectacular 2010 2 Issue 18
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Issue 18 Xmas 10 SPECIAL SPECTACULAR www.grapevine.is The Reykjavík Grapevine Xmas Special Spectacular 2010 2 Issue 18 Xmas | Icelandic Christmas gifts to children who put their shoe in their windowsill for thirteen days before Christmas. However, their job descrip- tion didn’t expand to gift giving until the second half of the 20th century when the practice became widespread. “It comes from an old European tradition prac- ticed in port cities, such as Hamburg and Amsterdam,” Árni says. “In those cities, Saint Nicholas, who is really the prototype of the American Santa Clause, was naturally a popular figure as the patron saint of both sailors and kids. It happened that kids put their shoe, which symbolized a “ship,” in the window on December 6, and the protector Saint Nicholas would visit them in the night and leave them a small gift.” When Icelandic fishermen saw the cus- tom around 1930, they started doing it for their own kids in Iceland. Soon, they started doing it every Sunday of the Ad- vent. “As you know, Icelanders can be pretty crazy,” Árni adds, “So by 1960, it exploded as a widespread phenomena wherein some kids received gifts every night in December.” REIGNING IN THE YULEtiDE LADS However, the excessive practice led to problems in play schools around Iceland. “I started working at the National Mu- seum in 1969 and old women—grand- mas—would call me and complain that this thing with the shoe was terrible,” Árni recalls. “Kids would show up to school and compare gifts, leading some kids to go home crying, ‘why isn’t Santa nice to me?’” Árni told the grandmas that he wasn’t a policeman and he couldn’t ban anything, but that he would get in touch with the The Yuletide Lads Rise To Christmas Stardom day care workers association and pre- school teachers to discuss whether In Iceland, Santa Claus doesn’t live on ally trolls anymore, but they are still ugly. THE CLASH OF THE SANTAS be a Christmas programme for kids,” he something could be done. “We decided the North Pole. He doesn’t come to town They don’t eat children, but they still explains. “There was a lot of discussion that we would try to change the practice, on a sleigh guided by flying reindeer. He steal food.” Then finally, in the 20th cen- The story of how the Yuletide lads came about what to do and the question arose, which had grown out of control,” Árni doesn’t squeeze down chimneys deliv- tury, they are still mischievous, but they to be the semi-nice, red-clad, gift-bearing if the Yuletide lads come on the radio, says. “On my weekly radio show about ering presents, and he doesn’t eat milk begin leaving small gifts for kids who put staples of Christmas can be explained by should they be the old mean Yuletide folklore, I suggested that the Yuletide and cookies. In fact, in Iceland, there is their shoe in the window. some major changes in Icelandic society. lads? Or should they have the new jolly lads only bring gifts during the thirteen no Santa Claus. On the contrary, there The first of which is when Denmark’s variety of Santa?” days before Christmas, and that the gift are thirteen jólasveinar, which is more monopoly on trade with Iceland was should always be something small, like accurately translated to “Yuletide lads” “Today, the Yuletide lifted in the mid 19th century. About half Árni continues: “It was out of these dis- chocolate.” rather than “Santa Clauses”. These mis- a century later, as a result of their new- cussions that the Icelandic Yuletide lads chievous country bumpkins live in the lads bring small gifts to found free trade, commerce in Iceland formally became thirteen and not one, “Our effort was successful, and since mountains and walk to town, one by one children who put their took off. Christmas markets sprouted up and although they weren’t malicious or then, they have remained fairly estab- for thirteen days leading up to Christmas in Reykjavík and Icelanders began sell- dangerous as they had been in the past, lished in their ways,” Árni says, adding Eve. While in town, they peep into win- shoe in their windowsill ing Christmas goods for the first time. they were still mischievous.” that every year since 1988, the Yuletide dows, slam doors, gobble up skyr, steal It was then that Icelanders were also lads have visited the National Museum sausages and candles, scrape leftovers for thirteen days before exposed to pictures of the Danish and BECOMING GIFT BEARING CELEB- of Iceland in their everyday woolen garb, preserving their pre-1930 image for fu- from pots, lick bowls and spoons, and German varieties of the Santa Claus who RitiES harass sheep. Christmas. However, carried a bag full of gifts. “Those images ture generations of youngsters. were much debated in Iceland because The Yuletide lads really gained their -ANNA ANDERSEN While they may seem grim in compari- their job description those good guys who brought gifts for Christmas fame after their appearance son to the jolly grandfather-like coun- didn’t expand to gift the kids were called ‘jólasveinar,’ and the on the radio. “Although they couldn’t see terpart who cheerfully “Ho ho hos,” old people in Iceland said this couldn’t the Yuletide lads, kids could hear them the Yuletide lads have actually softened giving until the second be right because the ‘jólasveinar’ were talking to and singing with other kids considerably from their far more sinis- mean and ate kids.” who got to be guests on the programme,” ter past. Iceland’s leading authority on half of the 20th century Árni says. “It was then that parents start- Christmas, Árni Björnsson, explains So began the tug of war between the dif- ed ordering them for Christmas parties that folktales naturally change. “When when the practice ferent Santas, a debate, which culminat- and the decision was made to dress them the Yuletide lads are first mentioned in ed in another revolution, Árni says, when in the red outfit of the European version the 17th century, they are child-eating became widespread." the Icelandic National Broadcasting Ser- of Santa.” trolls,” he says. “Then two hundred years vice was founded in 1930. “Christmas later, in the 19th century, they aren’t re- was coming, and there was supposed to Today, the Yuletide lads bring small HAUKUR S MAGNÚSSON JULIA STAPLES Holiday Whale Watching Daily Winter Whale Watching tours with Elding are scheduled from Reykjavík in December: - Free entry to the Whale Watching Centre: Icelandic Christmas IIIdocumentary and music in addition to information about whales IIIand birds - Complimentary Holiday Punch and biscuits on board the Whale IIIWatching Centre on your arrival - From December 12th to December 24th you’ll get a gift from the IIIYule Lads - Warm overalls and blankets free of charge on board - Sighting guarantee: No sightings – you will get another IIIcomplimentary tour Pick up service is provided in the capital area Notice: Weather permitting tours. Closed on December 25th and January 1st. Call us on 555 3565 or visit www.elding.is Make sure it’s Elding! Tour Operator Environmental Award Icelandic Tourist Board EarthCheck Authorised by SILVER CERTIFIED Icelandic Tourist Board elding.is 2011 The Reykjavík Grapevine Xmas Special Spectacular 2010 4 Issue 18 Xmas | Disco Xmas | Shopping Disco Christmas FUN 1 2 3 The Professor knows how to do it! animals, werewolves, mummies and all sorts of cool entities you can expect to find in golden pyramids. When he’s not disco dancing, The Professor runs a refining academy for well-behaved and uninteresting children. The curriculum consists of dressing snazzy, strutting 4 5 their stuff and talkin’ jive, and is especially recommended for offspring of lawyers and marketing experts. But how do they celebrate Christmas? “Ah, Christmas on Disco Island,” quips Bragi. “Well, The Professor and the dwarf The Professor knows how to do it! start by searching the island for a perfect Everyone knows the Disco Island is the Christmas cactus. They bring it to the place to be. The fictional, tropical island pyramid and decorate it with mirrorballs 6 7 was conceived by our cover star Bragi and hang a Eurovision star on top. Then Valdimar Skúlason and is the framework they wax their pyramid and turn on the for his ambitious concept children’s disco wind machine to bring the mood. pop fun record ‘Diskóeyjan’ (performed by Prófessorinn and Memfismafían). Everyone on Disco Island gets a new studded collar and a disco cape in time Bragi tells us that Disco Island is located for the holidays, and then they just disco off the coast of Greenland, and that it is dance. It’s the perfect way to celebrate where a character called The Professor Christmas as far as I’m concerned.” lives, in a golden pyramid, which is also inhabited by a dwarf, some disco Your Fancy Christmas Gift List It’s the quintessential 3. CLASSIC CHRISTMAS TUNES goes to fun humanitarian projects Xmas | Retro Christmas quandary. What to buy Every nation has its album of classic, in Colombia. You can thus buy some for the ones you love, the ones quintessential and somewhat gorgeous gifts and help heal the world at cringeworthy Christmas songs that they the same time. Double win. you like, and the ones you always hum along to while wrapping presents, Available from ‘59’, Hverfisgata 59. 700- “A Very Retro Christmas” end up buying something for out sing along to at office parties, and get 3.000 ISK of obligation.