by Snorri, age 8, asks the Yule Lads do all 13 of you come on separate nights before Christmas?, about Iceland’s volcanoes and glaciers, and its ancient Althing parliament
Dear the Yule Lads,
My name is Snorri and I am 8 years old. I live in Reykjavik, Iceland, where thirteen different visitors come one at a time in the thirteen nights before Christmas, and I leave my shoe on the windowsill every single evening to see what they bring.
First, do all 13 of you come on separate nights before Christmas?
Second, a geography question: is Iceland more famous for its volcanoes or its glaciers?
Third, a school question about my country: why is Iceland’s parliament considered one of the oldest in the world?
I left out laufabraud, thin fried bread, and milk.
Love, Snorri, age 8, Reykjavik, Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
From the Desk of the Yule Lads
Dear Snorri, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do all 13 of you come on separate nights before Christmas?
Yes, one of us visits each night for the thirteen nights leading up to Christmas, taking turns in a fixed and ancient order.
Is Iceland more famous for its volcanoes or its glaciers?
Iceland is famous for both, often called the Land of Fire and Ice, because it sits on a very active geological hot spot with numerous volcanoes, while at the same time huge glaciers cover a large part of the island.
Why is Iceland’s parliament considered one of the oldest in the world?
Iceland’s parliament, called the Althing, was founded in the year 930, making it one of the oldest continuously running parliaments anywhere on Earth. It began as an outdoor assembly where free men gathered to make laws, and its long, unbroken history remains a source of great pride for Icelanders.
Gledileg jol, Snorri.
Ho ho ho, the Yule Lads
