in the heart of the north where the Arctic winds howl and the Northern Lights dance the story of the Ule takes root born from the imagination of a people as rugged and enchanting as the land they inhabit the Ule Lads are a treasured part of Icelandic folklore in the biting chill of winter these mischievous figures come out to play born of the mountains and The Frigid winds the Ule Lads all 13 of them are the mischievous progeny of Gela a fearsome ogis who calls the Icelandic Peaks her home The Lads like their mother are known for their tricks and pranks their laughter echoing through the icy valleys every year these 13 Ule Lads venture out from their Mountain Home one night at a time for 13 nights to play their pranks and spread their cheers their Antics are a reflection of G's own mischievous nature making the Ule Lads a treasured albeit cheeky part of Icelandic folklore the first of these notorious figures is STAAR or sheep coat CLA this limping lad has a pension for harassing sheep his Antics may be frustrating for the farmers but they add a dash of humor to the frosty Icelandic evenings next comes gilar the Gully gwk he hides in gullies waiting for the opportune moment to sneak into the Cow Shed and steal some milk his cunning is matched only by his insatiable thirst for the creamy liquid stuer or stubby is the third Ule lad shorter than his brothers he compensates by being incredibly agile his favorite pastime snatching pans to eat the crust Left Behind the fourth Ule lad thorus liir or spoon liquor has a strange addiction he pilers Wooden Spoons known as thoro to lick thin as a rail due to malnutrition his story serves as a stark reminder of the harsh Icelandic Winters petasil the pot scraper is the fifth Ule lad always on the hunt for leftovers he steals Potter or pots to scrape and eat whatever remains next in line is Asar lakeer or Bowl liquor this lad hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their asur a type of bowl with a lid used in Old Times which he then steals the seventh fule lad her a scal or door Slammer loves to make noise he slams doors especially during the night causing a ruckus and disturbing people sleep skier gamore the skier gobler is the eighth Ule lad he has an insatiable appetite for skier a type of Icelandic yogurt bunair the sausage swiper is the ninth Ule lad he hides in the rafters and snatches sausages that are being smoked the 10th Ule lad gluger gigar or window peeper is a Voyer who looks through windows in search of things to steal gatha the doorway sniffer uses his abnormally large nose to locate laab Broad Leaf bread K kroer the meat hook Ventures into houses on the 12th night he uses a hook to steal meat depriving the occup an of their next winter meal on the 13th night katnik the candle stealer follows children to steal their candles in the olden days the candles were made of Tallow and thus edible these Ule Lads though rooted in old traditions have evolved with time becoming less fearsome and more mischievous reflecting the changing face of Icelandic culture they serve as a delightful reminder of the magic of winter and the joy of folklore if you'd like to bring the U Lads home this Christmas check out our uads book on Amazon Link in the description below if you've enjoyed this journey through the snowy Landscapes of Icelandic folklore remember to give a thumbs up and share the magic with others and if you want to keep exploring the enchanting world of myths and legends be sure to subscribe and join us on the next adventure until then keep the Ule lad Spirit Alive and let their stories warm your chilly winter nights