The Yulemen, A Weird Icelandic Christmas Tradition

Children in Iceland leave their shoes on their window sill for the 13 nights before Christmas Eve. This is because for the 13 nights before Christmas they will be visited by one of Icelands 13 Santas - the Yule Lads (or yulemen).
If the children have been good, they may be left a small treat, a sweet or a chocolate - but if they are bad, they will be left a raw potato in their shoe.
But the children of Iceland are not lucky having 13 santas. Each Yule Lad is is the son of the evil troll woman,Grýla The Child Eater - each Yule Lad has his own speciality, and will try to steal and cause mischief for the children and their families.
In addition to the 13 Yule Lads, the children should also be careful of Grýla's pet - the Yuletide Cat, which will eat any child who does not recieve new clothing for Christmas.

See the yuleads.com for more details.  

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