Thursday, December 24, 2009

Kertasníkir

I have now been writing the story of the Yule Lads for the last 15 days (I started with Grýla and her spouses). I have a wonderful GIVEAWAY going on right now, I am giving away a copy of the book The Yule Lads. I tried to find the book on Amazon and the cheapest copy I could find was for $66 and then a new one was $214. I was not ready to spend that on my readers...sorry I love you and all but that is crazy expensive even to spend on myself. I was telling my Mamma about wanting to do a GIVEAWAY and she offered to send me an extra book so I could give it to one of you lucky readers. Takk Mamma mín (Thank you my Mamma). The contest ends tomorrow night at midnight and I will announce the winner on Christmas day. If you want to enter the GIVEAWAY just click here or on all the red GIVEAWAYs and leave me a comment or two or three :o)


The 13th and last Yule Lad to arrive is Kertasníkir or Candle Beggar as he is called in English. Let me start by telling you all that in the old days candles were made out of Tallow which is animal fat. Kertasníkir liked to eat the candles and even though they were not the tastiest thing to eat, Candle Begger would have eaten all the candles he could get his hands on.


In the old days there was no electricity and children used to give candles as Christmas presents to brighten someones day. Candle Begger knew about that so that is why he is the last of the Lads to come to town. He wanted to get his hands on as many candles as he could.

Of course the candles today are not made of tallow anymore so Candle Begger can no longer eat the candles but that hasn't stopped him from collecting them.

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know about the 13 Yule Lads of Iceland. I know I have enjoyed sharing a part of my culture with all of you.

Merry Christmas or as they say in Iceland

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