random fact of the day

did you know that in iceland, they believe in thirteen different santa clauses? they are all brothers, and they come one by one, the thirteen days before christmas, and are known for stealing things and causing general mischief everywhere they go. kids hang their shoes out their windows and if they were good, they get small presents from the jólasveinar (yule lads, as they're called) every night, but if they were bad, they get a potato.

because i know you're dying to find out what they're all named, you can look here, if you want.

i know this valuable piece of information because i did a presentation on icelandic holidays in my icelandic 101 class on friday. they also celebrate beer day on march 1, in honor of the 1989 lifting of the 79-year ban on beer. this makes me proud of my 1/4 icelandic heritage.