When
December 19, 2025
1 pm
where
Lecture hall, ground floor

As Yule approaches, festive spirits and holiday melodies make their presence known and the Yule lads, Grýla, Leppalúði and the Yule cat appearing at gatherings, while Christmas songs play on the radio. However, some holiday spirits and melodies are more common than other. At this symposium, scholars will discuss spirits and beings that emerge during the Yule and winter season, along with rare and seldom-heard Yule tunes. Nornabrunnur hosts a symposium in the lecture hall of the National Museum.

Chairperson: Kári Pálsson
No admission fee.

Program

13:00
Starting time
Kári Pálsson greets guests and talks about the symposium.

13:10-14:10
Riders on the Storm; Riders at the Door: The Nordic Legends of the Wild Ride
Terry Gunnell professor emeritus 

Short break - Coffee and kleinas

14:30-15:00
Grýla calles to her Chrildren - On man eating around yule time.
(Presentation in Icelandic)
Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir Folkore PhD 

15:00-15:20
I saw the reindeer run - The vikivaki games
(Presentation in Icelandic)
Atli Freyr Hjaltason Folklorist

15:20-15:50
Joseph S. Hopkins, linguist and book publisher, discusses Nordic spirits that appear in his books published by Hyldyr

15:50-16:20
Rare tunes set to Icelandic Yule poems
(Presentation in Icelandic)
Þorsteinn Björnsson PhD student

 

 

Watch the lecture here

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Speakers and Topics

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