Icelandic Yule Lads (Jólasveinar) (12 Variations)

[Yule Lads] (C) Copyright Bill Buckels 2025. All Rights Reserved.

[Inspired by a social media post by The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba "Islendingadagurinn"] (as follows);

"December 11 is the first evening of the Jólasveinar (Icelandic Yule Lads). The Yule Lads are the sons of Grýla, the ogress, and Leppalúði.

They come down from the mountains where they live to visit the children of Iceland. Children leave shoes on their windowsills, from now until Christmas in anticipation of the Yule Lads visit. If a child has been good the Yule Lads leave a small gift in the shoes, and if they have been naughty they receive a rotting potato!"

Eve of December 11: Stekkjarstaur (Sheep-Cote Clod): Harasses sheep, but is impaired by his stiff peg-legs" ~Quote

Image adapted (derived) "from Yule Lads Iceland by Brian Pilkington"

Find a particular song or audio section by clicking on its start time (Key Moment - Chapter) below:

00:00:00 Yule Lads 1
00:05:19 Yule Lad Blues 1
00:10:28 Yule Lads Bluegrass 1
00:15:47 Yule Lads Boogie 1
00:20:04 Yule Lad Blues 2
00:24:55 Yule Lads 2
00:29:36 Yule Lads Bluegrass 2
00:33:55 Yule Lads Boogie 2
00:38:31 Yule Lad Blues 1 Ext 1
00:45:06 Yule Lad Blues 2 Ext 1
00:51:36 Yule Lad Blues 1 Ext 2
00:58:12 Yule Lad Blues 2 Ext 2
01:05:04 Total Running Time

[Lyrics]

[Instrumental]

[1]
Stekkjarstaur, I'm the first one to descend
Down from the mountains, this journey has no end
My wooden legs are stiff, hard to keep my balance true
Gonna bother those sheep, not much else to do
It’s December eleven, and my watch has begun
(Oh, the mischief has begun)

[Ch]
We are the Jólasveinar coming down tonight
Grýla's sons are on the move stepping into the light
Sneaking through the darkness checking every sill
Gifts for the good ones if you did your parents' will

[2]
December twelfth, the second son is here
Giljagaur, from the gulley, overcoming fear
Hiding in the cowshed, waiting 'til they go to sleep
Skimming the fresh milk, secrets I will keep
Gotta find the butter churn, that's where I want to be
(Stealing cream is free)

[Ch]
We are the Jólasveinar coming down tonight
Grýla's sons are on the move stepping into the light
Sneaking through the darkness checking every sill
Gifts for the good ones if you did your parents' will

[3]
Today is the thirteenth, with a grumpy mood
Stúfur's on the prowl, short and misunderstood
Steals pans from the kitchen, scrapes the burnt bits off the side
Loves those crusty leftovers nowhere left to hide
He's small but he is hungry nothing gets thrown away
(Eat it all today)

[Instrumental]

[Ch]
We are the Jólasveinar coming down tonight
Grýla's sons are on the move stepping into the light
Sneaking through the darkness checking every sill
Gifts for the good ones if you did your parents' will

[4]
Thirteen's passed and now it's Þvörusleikir, the next in line
Spoon-Licker's his name, a truly hungry sign
He darts to the rafters where the long-handled spoons are hung
Waits for the cook to turn before his work is sprung
Licks those wooden ladles a sticky sweet delight
(Spoon-Licker's appetite)

[Ch]
We are the Jólasveinar coming down tonight
Grýla's sons are on the move stepping into the light
Sneaking through the darkness checking every sill
Gifts for the good ones if you did your parents' will

[5]
The fifteenth arrives, it's Pottaskefill on the scene
Pot-Scraper he's called, lean hungry and mean
He taps on the window then rushes right inside
Snatching up the leftovers nowhere left to hide
He scrapes every container leaving nothing to be found
(Hear that scraping sound)

[Ch]
We are the Jólasveinar coming down tonight
Grýla's sons are on the move stepping into the light
Sneaking through the darkness checking every sill
Gifts for the good ones if you did your parents' will

[Instrumental]