Christmas in
ICELAND
Christmas in
ICELAND
from ICELAND on CHRISTMAS
Note: The following comes from Yule in Iceland
A celebration of the winter solstice has been held since time immemorial in the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout the ages the festival has had many names. It is certain that a mid-winter festival called Yule was celebrated in the Nordic countries well before the year 1000.
Though challenged by some scholars, the fact that Yule/Jól was celebrated here in Iceland and throughout the Northern Hemisphere well before the advent of Christianity is now widely accepted. The exact date, or dates, that Yule was celebrated is not certain, but it was probably connected to the full moon nearest the winter solstice. The calendar has been changed many times since, and it is impossible to reconcile the references to an exact date.
The name itself has been retained in many languages--
Yule - Jól - Jul
even if the cause for celebration has shifted from the sun reversing its downward path, shining ever longer each day, to the birth of Jesus. This linguistic retention of the name should be proof enough that the festival has always been an important one. For close to a thousand years people have tried to explain the meaning of the name "Yule" to no avail. Some scholars believe it comes from one of the names of Óđinn, others have even theorized that it came from the name of Julius Caesar. It has also been suggested that Jól is derived from the Old-Nordic word for wheel: Hjól, the theory being that the wheel of the year has come full circle, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been more attempts at explanations than one can shake a stick at. Certainly the exact meaning of the original word is something we shall never know.
This ancient festical is shrouded in mystery, but has left us a beautiful word describing a delightful occasion.
Good Yule - Gleđileg Jól
The Yuletide season today is very much a family affair. The family decorates the house and tree together and spends a great deal of time at home. Family gatherings are a main feature of Icelandic Yule. The season consists of:
Traditional Yule food is Hangikjöt, smoked mutton. In times past a sheep was often slaughtered before the beginning of the Yuletide season and a rich Kjötsúpa or mutton soup served. Another traditional delicacy, the Rjúpa or rock ptarmigan, started out as the poor man's dinner but is now an expensive meal. Grautur, Porridge, on the other hand, was in past times a delicacy in Iceland because of the scarcity of grain. Another Yuletide specialty is Laufabrauđ or leaf bread. This is very thin sheets of dough cut into intricate patterns and fried.
Christmas gifts, Yule presents, were rare until late in the 19th century. Summer presents were much more common, though everyone in the family received a new item of clothing either before or at Yule. The new clothing was a sort of bonus for work well done. Tradition has it that those who did not receive a new garment would be captured by the Jólaköttur or yule cat.
A traditional greeting to the Elves was:
Let those who want to, arrive Let those who want to, leave Let those who want to, stay Without harm to me or mine.
Elfin gold could be obtained from the Elves by sitting at a crossroads waiting for them to pass by.
Bonfires on New Year's Eve have been lit in Iceland since the late 18th century. In this century the custom of "sprengja út áriđ", "blowing out the year" has been observed by detonating fireworks, and many families spend a small fortune on them. It is usually a night of great merriment, with the family spending the first part of the evening together. However, dances start a little before midnight and young people usually go to a dance.
For more on iceland visit Jul in Iceland
Central Valley Christian School's Christmas Page