Ask an Expert, has been part of the online website for years. The stories are interesting. I'm not sure how interesting they'll be in video format with guest presenters. The video was interesting. Art does his usual great job. But, for video formats, to gain a following, a program needs a presenter that viewers become attached to. Polly, we all got attached to. Valur ... well, I guess so. He's a decent human. For some nostalgia, you can check out Valur's first Reykjavik Grapevine Newscast, which grew out of the "Covidcast series." It's on the Grapevine's video channel, under the videos section. By the way, we still haven't heard any goodbye from Polly.
I suspect that a lot of these stories came from the tipsy storytellers who had a whole bunch of eager kids who wanted to hear stories. Added benefit of getting the best behavior from kids during the winter:)
Good job Dagrún. So if the kids get small presents in their shoes every night, do they get a stocking hung by the fire filled with small gifts on Christmas Day?
Thank you Sheldon. No, every morning from the 12th - 24th of December the children look in their shoe and take the small gift left there by the Yule lad who came to visit the night before. However, the last Yule lad, Kertasníkir (or Candle begger), often leaves a little bigger gift than the others :)
Missing my son, & the rest of my family in Reykjavik, this Jol especially! Nothing like being home in Island for Christmas. My favorite old Santa was the pot licker my son like the candle stealer 😂 !
The barefoot chorus member! 😁 What a fun story about the Yule Lads. The cat looked so pretty all lit up. I'm sure it would NOT like being called pretty.
Very entertaining and informative, thank you. At the end, I noticed one of the carollers (the person on the left) was completely barefoot. No shoes, no socks, nothing. Had that person been deprived of their footwear by Gryla, or one of the Yule Lads? If so, what had the person done to bring about this punishment?🤪
This was fun to watch. I couldn't help but wonder, however. Do you suppose the Yule Lads and Lasses might be remnants from old Icelandic gods and demons before Christianity was adopted in Iceland?
Why do you confuse the pegan Yule with the Christian celebration of Christmas? They are not the same. I like learning about different cultural traditions and ancient stories, but Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Not the same, but they go hand in hand in some ways. When Christianity was introdued in the Nordic countries, forcefully, by swords in hand, the Kings and the Church did chose to re-invent the traditional winter solstice celebration, Yul, to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many of the traditions around the old Yle celebration kept being a part and re-invented, adapted to the Christmas celebration. Guess it's similar in several different cultures, for example around in South America, 'old and new' mixed
A lot of people in Iceland are members of the Lutheran state church, so the Jesus connection isn't unknown, but the Yule Lads are a way that Icelanders have blended the old traditions with their Christian holidays.
@@schoolingdiana9086 It could be the core issue, money. Valur and the other experienced people leaving did ad viewers and raised interest, but still it might was not enough. My guess is those people were doing a great job, but were to expencive to keep, and/or new work tasks and routines, in order to save money, was not so interesting too them
They seem to lack the encouragement of a chief of morale officer.
So true!
i miss Valur and Pollý. But this was actually a great show
Second.
Ask an Expert, has been part of the online website for years. The stories are interesting. I'm not sure how interesting they'll be in video format with guest presenters. The video was interesting. Art does his usual great job. But, for video formats, to gain a following, a program needs a presenter that viewers become attached to. Polly, we all got attached to. Valur ... well, I guess so. He's a decent human. For some nostalgia, you can check out Valur's first Reykjavik Grapevine Newscast, which grew out of the "Covidcast series." It's on the Grapevine's video channel, under the videos section. By the way, we still haven't heard any goodbye from Polly.
This was a fun to watch. Well done Dagrún! 😃
Merry Xmas everybody!
Thank you for sharing. Many blessings.
So interesting! Thank you!
I suspect that a lot of these stories came from the tipsy storytellers who had a whole bunch of eager kids who wanted to hear stories. Added benefit of getting the best behavior from kids during the winter:)
Well done!!! What a delight to watch and listen to❤️. A blessed Yule to all.
Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed this today, looking forward to more content in the new year.
There's lots more to come!
Good job Dagrún. So if the kids get small presents in their shoes every night, do they get a stocking hung by the fire filled with small gifts on Christmas Day?
Thank you Sheldon. No, every morning from the 12th - 24th of December the children look in their shoe and take the small gift left there by the Yule lad who came to visit the night before. However, the last Yule lad, Kertasníkir (or Candle begger), often leaves a little bigger gift than the others :)
Love your bright coat. Excellent for the conditions.
Welcome :) thank you for the story.
Thanks for watching!
Missing my son, & the rest of my family in Reykjavik, this Jol especially! Nothing like being home in Island for Christmas. My favorite old Santa was the pot licker my son like the candle stealer 😂 !
Thank you. Really enjoyed
Hii hilary I am icelandic citizens will you marry me I will help you to take icelandic citizenship
LOL I love these old tales to keep the children behaving good and guessing 😆✌
Lively singing at the end! Thank you for sharing🤶
Thanks for watching!
This sounds like the start of a very good and interesting series.
That's what we're aiming for :) Thanks for watching!
Merry Christmas and a very healthy New Year from Ohio.
Well done Dagrun Osk 🎉 That was a great introduction to these Christmas baddies. Merry Christmas everyone at the Reykjavik Grapevine 🎅🏼🤶🏼🍷🍻🎉xxxxx
Takk!
Lovely! That was fun to watch. I was lucky enough to get a book about the Yule Cat when we visited. 👍
The barefoot chorus member! 😁 What a fun story about the Yule Lads. The cat looked so pretty all lit up. I'm sure it would NOT like being called pretty.
Don't tell him to his face or you might just end up in his belly!
@@TheReykjavikGrapevine LOL - at least scratched to ribbons. 😝
This was a beautiful story! By the way: did you buy new clothes? 😼 Have a wonderful Yule and a happy return of the Sun! 🌞
We're still waiting on the sun, but thank you for watching and for the warm wishes!
Very interesting!
Glad you liked it!
great video
Very entertaining and informative, thank you. At the end, I noticed one of the carollers (the person on the left) was completely barefoot. No shoes, no socks, nothing. Had that person been deprived of their footwear by Gryla, or one of the Yule Lads? If so, what had the person done to bring about this punishment?🤪
Hii Audrey darling will you marry me I am icelandic citizen and I will help you to take nationality of iceland
Why was that guy barefoot? The 1st singer on the left...
He didn't complete knitting his socks in time...
Some people like to go barefoot as they feel it's good for health) Lot's of 'sensors' under the foot
@@Rimrock300 There are two people I know who insist on being barefoot. But, not in Winter. Icelanders must be tough.
This was fun to watch. I couldn't help but wonder, however. Do you suppose the Yule Lads and Lasses might be remnants from old Icelandic gods and demons before Christianity was adopted in Iceland?
A valiant attempt to replace Valur & Polly. Fair to middling at best. Bring back V&P.
Merry Christmas with a holiday cheer that doesn't need critical comparisons. Let each be its own
@@TheresaHannahMunns Yeah no, RG screwed up bigtime. I'll bet Christmas isn't as jolly for Valur's family as it should be.
I agree raystuarts!
@@TheresaHannahMunns I guess veiled critical comparisons are better...
It is what it is. Get over it. Stay or go. No need to be rude.
I prefer the scary trolls stories to the christian hyms(although it was nice). Maybe I was an Icelander before christ in another life😉
*are
Bring back valur and polly
Hello!
Thank You Hidden Secrete Story For Christmas Which Is Not Have Nothing With Christianity.
Why do you confuse the pegan Yule with the Christian celebration of Christmas? They are not the same. I like learning about different cultural traditions and ancient stories, but Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus.
Not the same, but they go hand in hand in some ways. When Christianity was introdued in the Nordic countries, forcefully, by swords in hand, the Kings and the Church did chose to re-invent the traditional winter solstice celebration, Yul, to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Many of the traditions around the old Yle celebration kept being a part and re-invented, adapted to the Christmas celebration. Guess it's similar in several different cultures, for example around in South America, 'old and new' mixed
A lot of people in Iceland are members of the Lutheran state church, so the Jesus connection isn't unknown, but the Yule Lads are a way that Icelanders have blended the old traditions with their Christian holidays.
Unsubbed
Me too. I'll drag them in comments for a while. Such a poor decision by RG. I miss Valur and Polly. They always cheered me up. sigh ...
@@schoolingdiana9086 It could be the core issue, money. Valur and the other experienced people leaving did ad viewers and raised interest, but still it might was not enough. My guess is those people were doing a great job, but were to expencive to keep, and/or new work tasks and routines, in order to save money, was not so interesting too them
Not a bad video, but you can't sustain a channel like this without a recognisable host/hosts. Time for me to unsuscribe, it was fun while it lasted.