Gifts left in shoes, milk disappearing from the fridge, mysterious figures whisking into the shadows … at Christmas time in Iceland this can mean only one thing – the Yule Lads are back in town!

Over the centuries the Icelanders have developed a highly unusual set of Yuletide traditions, from the food they eat – smoked lamb, rotten skate and leaf bread – to their colourful folklore featuring the giant troll Grýla, her thirteen rascally sons, and that huge, hungry feline – the Yule Cat.

The Yule lads gives readers of all ages a delightful insight into the history, customs and characters of Christmas in Iceland.