It is December, the weekend of the year. Time past fast, you eat a lot, you visit the family. And the gifts. In Mexico, we celebrate both Coca Cola's Santa Claus, and the little Jesus gift giver. The latter being a character that I always found funny, having a younger sister, I didn't believe at all that a child could share his things with other children so easily. That and given that my family is atheist, made the Santa Claus my favourite.
I was also a client of the Biblical Magi. There, my atheism was lost. I always found it curious that the handwriting of the Magi was very similar my mother's, more extravagant and with a little crown as a sign of distinction, so I would not doubt the royalness of the Magi. Santa Claus was a punctual man, who knew what I wanted. I did not like to press the Magi, Santa Claus had done his part, I remember that a year I asked them to bring me whatever they wanted. And on January 6 I woke up with several board games. To continue with the spirit of the time, since my sister was still a child, at my puberty Santa rewarded me with cash. Anyway, now as an adult, I understand those who say they hate Christmas, but I have to admit that as a child I really liked it, because this season is more of a children's thing.
So when I got to know that in Iceland they have thirteen Santa Clauses, my inner child felt ripped off. THIRTEEN!
Now, I will make a clarification. One can go with the assumption, since Iceland is a developed country and people here have privileges to spare, the thirteen Santa Clauses give gifts in abundance and that for thirteen days children bathe in toys. But no, usually the first twelve give little details like candy, chocolates, or a small toy. The great gift giver is the thirteenth Santa Claus. In addition, we should consider that Iceland was a fishing country for many years, so the past generations received very small gifts, and not even all thirteen days, and it is until recent generations that, for example, parents are told by the schools to be cautious and not exaggerate with the gifts by giving them 13 luxurious gifts, knowing that not all children have such fortune.
The Santa Clauses have a history that dates back to Icelandic folklore. Over the years, they have changed according to the standards of the time. At first, the Jólasveinar were less related to Coca Cola’s Santa and more with naughty trolls. These Santas used to scare children during the thirteen days before Christmas, until the twentieth century when they blend with the narrative of the "being who gives gifts." Then their image changed, getting much more human features and less of trolls.
According to my research, the first records of the Jólasveinar dates from the 17th century in the so-called "Poem of Grýla". Grýla is the mother of the 13 Santas, who is known, to date, for eating children. In the poem, it is described that these characters frightened children until they obeyed. Rules of the time, I guess.
It is in the year of 1862 when the author Jón Árnason wrote "Icelandic Folklore", where the names of the thirteen Santa Clauses appeared for the first time. However, they are still referred as "Grýla's cruel children" and still had no sign of the gift giving beings. But it is not until John from Kettle (Jóhannes frá Kötlum) in his book “Christmas is coming” (Jólin koma), writes the poem “Santa Clauses” (Jólasveinarnir) where he tells the story of these characters and gives them the peculiar names they have to date. Still at this point, the Santa Clauses had a halo of evil. And in 1932, Tryggvi Magnússon illustrated the Kettle book, which established the image of the Santa Clauses as they are known today.
...the first records of the Jólasveinar dates from the 17th century in the so-called "Poem of Grýla". Grýla is the mother of the 13 Santas, who is known, to date, for eating children. In the poem, it is described that these characters frightened children until they obeyed.
The change of personality of the Icelandic Santa Clauses is thought to be linked to the Icelandic migration to North America. We are talking about the 19th century where correspondence was the only way to contact the family on December dates. And it is believed possible that in some Christmas cards that the migrants sent was the image of the also famous and controversial Sinterklaas, or the Dutch Santa Claus, whose characteristics were taken from. Finally, the Icelandic Santa Clauses were reformed, stopped eating children and became good Samaritans.
The Jólasveinar tradition reflects a period in the history of Iceland, of those times when the island was still dominated by Denmark and that most of its people worked in the primary sector. Each Santa has a peculiar story and pleasures that remind us of how much the island has advanced since then. Among those are the one who steals milk, the one who prefers the smoked meat hanging on the beams of homes, the kitchen utensils that many of these rascals love to steal ... all are pieces of a story that is not only part of folklore, but of the economic situation of the country back then. Now, children worry little to nothing about having their candles or their bowls stolen when they go to sleep. If something, they could worry about the one Santa who looks from the window and might fancy their television or smartphone. Although now that I think about it, an adaptation to our times would be rather interesting ...