Yule lad

English

Grýla and Skyrgámur (a Yule Lad fond of skyr) depicted in a sculpture at Keflavík International Airport in Iceland

Etymology

Calque of Icelandic jólasveinn. Compare also Yule swain.

Noun

Yule lad (plural Yule lads)

1. One of several trolls, children of the ogress Grýla, who, according to Icelandic folktales, arrive one each day from December 12th through December 25, and leave one each night from December 25 through January 6. The Yule lads are associated with tricks and mischief, but also with carrying off naughty children in a burlap bag and eating them.