Not the merriest season for all children
Food distribution at the mother's Aid fund. . Mbl/ Ernir Eyjólfsson
The Icelandic tradition of putting a shoe in the window from December 12th onwards to receive presents from the Yule lads can prove difficult for those with little funds to spend. In a lecture at the Icelandic Church Aid, social worker Vilborg Oddsdóttir explained that children often resort to lying about the presents they receive.
The Icelandic Yule Lads
In Iceland there are thirteen "jólaveinar" or Yule lads that bear little similarity to Santa Claus. The Yule lads are thieving pranksters and their parents are the terrifying trolls Grýla and Leppalúði. The original role of the Yule Lads was to frighten children into good behaviour but in the last century they became friendlier and started to bear more of a resemblance to Santa.
From December 12th until December 23rd the Yule lads descend one by one from the mountains and place a gift in children's shoes at night. The gifts can be anything from a tangerine or a small toy to more lavish gifts of late such as I-pads. On December 24th, Icelanders place presents to each other under the tree and open them following a Christmas dinner.
Children subjected to marketing
Not all children are fortunate enough to receive more than a candy or a tangerine in their shoe at night and Oddsdóttir explains that children often lie about what they receive and smaller children will sometimes push or hit another child during discussions about what present they received to divert attention from the subject.
Many seek the help of the Church Aid Fund at Christmas. Last year 2181 people received help, most of them invalids or disabled with families living in Reykjavík aged 31- 40 years old and on the rental market.
The public has a chance to help families in need by placing presents under the tree at the city's shopping centres, which are in turn collected by the Icelandic Church Aid and distributed. "All year round children are subjected to these norms and to marketing forces. "It can really dampen their joy to compare themselves to other children and to want things that they are not able to receive."
An Icelandic Yule Lad in traditional clothing getting up to mischief. Mbl/ Eggert Jóhannesson
