I’m sure some of you know by now, that my children are half-Icelandic. Even though we no longer live in Iceland, it’s always fun to participate in the traditions. Sure the Jólaköttur is not going to come all this way and eat either child because they didn’t get new clothing to wear before Christmas…because obviously I’ve bought them new clothes to wear! But still. I looked through my stuff and came across the Jóla Spil card deck, and decided to take a picture each of the 13 nights with the yule lad who’s said to visit. Tonight it’s Stekkjarstaur, or the sheep worrier.
- Stekkjastaur kom fyrstur,
- stinnur eins og tré.
- Hann laumaðist í fjárhúsin
- og lék á bóndans fé.
- Hann vildi sjúga ærnar,
- —þá varð þeim ekki um sel,
- því greyið hafði staurfætur,
- —það gekk nú ekki vel.
Gimpy was the first,
Stiff like a tree.
He snuck into the stables,
And fooled the farmer’s sheep.
He wanted to suck milk from them,
– They did not care for that,
And because he had peg-legs
– It did not go too well.
