Because of Him, Icelandic Pans are Disappearing! (Stúfur)

Step into the enchanting world of Icelandic folklore and Christmas traditions with this deep dive into Stúfur, one of Iceland's beloved Yule Lads! The Yule Lads (Jólasveinar) are mischievous trolls who visit Icelandic homes during the 13 days leading up to Christmas. Each one has a unique personality, and Stúfur, known as the "Short One," is the smallest and perhaps the most endearing of them all.

In this video, we explore the fascinating Icelandic Christmas traditions surrounding the Yule Lads, their legendary mother Grýla, and their connection to Icelandic mythology. These troll-like figures have been delighting (and sometimes scaring) Icelandic children for centuries, bringing gifts—or potatoes, if you've been naughty!

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You'll learn the story of Stúfur, his quirky personality 🎄

Unlike the traditional Santa Claus, the thirteen Yule Lads each have distinct traits that reflect Iceland's rural culture and storytelling traditions. From stealing sausages to slamming doors, their mischievous antics are sure to entertain and surprise you.

You'll also get a glimpse of the Icelandic Christmas spirit, where the darkness of winter is lit up with folklore, festive lights, and warm traditions. The stories of the Yule Lads connect generations of Icelanders and make Iceland one of the most unique places to celebrate Christmas.

Whether you're curious about Icelandic holiday myths, love Christmas folklore, or want to learn about Iceland’s trollish Santas, this video is your ultimate guide!

💡 Fun Fact: Did you know that Stúfur’s name translates to “Stubby” because of his tiny size? He’s often seen as one of the friendliest Yule Lads, bringing smiles to kids who find treats in their shoes.

If you’re planning a winter trip to Iceland or just love learning about the unique traditions of this incredible country, this video is for you! Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into Icelandic culture, mythology, and travel tips.

Time stamps:
00:00 - 00:54 - About Icelandic Yule Lads
00:54 - 01:39 - Iceland & English Poem
01:39 - 03:18 - Thoughts about Stúfur and other Yule Lads

[jjinwien]

So glad you are continuing your Youtube videos. I'm not on any of the social media, so this is the only time I can enjoy your impressions of Iceland.

[boondoggy]

Wow, I’m so impressed by how well you speak Icelandic. Not that I know any of it, but what a difficult language to wrap your head around. Great job. 👍

[jenniferpersinger]

Jewells I’m so glad you’re doing these…I’m a teacher and I’m sharing each day of these with my high school students in America ❤️🎉

[willandastephenson]

🫶🏽🇮🇸🌲🗻🧌🥘🗻🌲❄️🩵
Oh these poetic Icelandic stories are the BEST ! 💙🤍♥️

[boldfacedtruth]

I am with you!! Love the little bits!!
Thank you for sharing with us. I love learning about different cultures and traditions.

[darriendastar]

I'm so enjoying this series. Thank you so much for doing it. It's really lovely learning these stories.

[richardrybicki]

Mary in Fla here im sharing this with a neighbors daughter.

[breandanmaguire]

Another really nice video.
Crusty/next day leftover bits I like are from lasagne (the bits around the edge), macaroni cheese and colcannon (I bake mine).
Incidentally, if you like mythology there are two channels I find interesting – Crecganford, which has a wide focus on foundation myths of Eurasia (often looking at the global links, too), and Story Crow – primarily the folklore of the British Isles and Ireland as well as some Germanic and Norse. He has just done one on Odin vs Father Christmas.
Merry Christmas, cool Yule and all that.

[jenniferpersinger]

Also we both have this in common with Stúfur!! 😂

[Halli]

Stubbur likes what the famous writer Terry Pratchett called the BCB (the Burnt Crunchy Bits!).
Jewells, do NOT worry about you slight imperfections in pronouncing Icelandic, they are insignificant.

[HrRezpatex]

lol
Since i really hate doing the dishes, i would let the window open for this yule every single day of the year. 🙂 (or if you was my neighbour.. lol)

[Curtis]

OK, you know what that story actually, sounds like it’s kinda cute, not scary.

[johnsimon]

This sounds more like a wish of whoever cleans those plates. Someone to help with the dishes. Stufur or overnight soaking? Hm.

[TheEmpressgoth]

Stealing pans lol 😂 shame Thanks for sharing

[NoWay-uz]

Thank you for doing this amazing series. We really enjoy how you share the poems in both languages. Picture it: Fort Myers, Florida, …2024, …Mom is Kosher AF, …Dad is Evangelical, Brother is Muslim, and my spouse was formerly Jehovah’s Witness. Our holiday dinners can get interesting. We adopt Icelandic Jól every year to round out the mix. 
It’s fun to watch our family members faces when they realize BYLGJAN radio has an Icelandic version of nearly all their favorite holiday songs. Everyone is cool with the Appelsín, pickled cabbage, laufabrauð, sugar potatoes, & they even love the smoked lamb since Mom shut down pork and shellfish years ago. (We will never tell her about the 16 year fermented sheep dung in the coals)
I always make skyrterta with a chocolate Biscoff crust & blueberries topped with shaved Icelandic Chocolate. It’s helpful to have a sweet treat on hand in case a strange neighbor knocks on the door to ask why we have the 8 foot tall black cat inflatable with glowing eyes on our roof despite the HOA’s restrictions on displaying Halloween decorations at Christmas time.
This year, we will definitely include your series when presenting our Jólasveinar collection to explain which lad is which. Holidays can get messy, so the deep cleaning preparations for “Window Peeper” are my personal OCD favorite. 
We will cherish rewatching this series many times over with friends and family. Wishing you the warmest Gleðileg Jól.