Scurrilous Icelandic Christmas traditions in a year-round, kitschy Christmas wonderland.
Älgbert Elgson
Dieser Artikel ist auch in Deutsch verfügbar.
Jólahúsið is a small year-round Christmas wonderland near Akureyri. Spread over several floors and buildings, Christmas ornaments, decorations, toys, food and many other things related to the Christmas season are offered and the extraordinary Christmas traditions of the Icelanders are brought closer to the visitors.
Jólahúsið | In den weihnachtlich dekorierten kleinen Häusern wird alles rund um das Weihnachtsfest angeboten. – Everything related to Christmas is offered in the small decorated houses. 
Jólahúsið | Auf dem Gelände befindet sich sogar ein kleines Bed&Breakfast für durchreisende Elfen und Weihnachtsälgs. – There is even a small bed and breakfast on site for traveling elves and Älgs. 
Jólahúsið 
Jólahúsið | Älgberts Gegner scheint etwas abgelenkt zu sein. – Älgbert’s opponent seems a bit distracted.
The trail of history
In Iceland, Christmas is celebrated from Christmas Eve to Epiphany. Because of the lack of trees in the country, trees used to be built from pieces of wood, painted green and decorated with evergreen branches and Christmas decorations. Today, fir trees are mostly imported to Iceland from Scandinavia.
Icelandic Christmas traditions are among the most interesting and unusual in the world. Instead of a Father Christmas, Iceland has thirteen trolls whose pranks range from mischievous to malicious. Their mother, Gryla, is a giantess who eats naughty children and hunts for children during the Christmas season with her giant pet, the Christmas cat.
On Christmas Eve they usually eat „Jolaar“ (Christmas lamb), smoked meat, sausages and home-brewed beer. The thirteen Christmas dwarfs from the mountains, who resemble Father Christmas in appearance, bring the presents to the children. The first arrives twelve days before Christmas Eve and the thirteenth on Christmas Eve. Accordingly, the first one disappears on Christmas Day and the last one on Epiphany.
Jólahúsið | Die Auswahl der Weihnachtsdekoration reicht von traditionell bis kitschig. Uns war bei unserem Besuch jedoch nicht ersichtlich, ob das Angebot eher Einheimische oder Touristen ansprechen sollte. – The selection of Christmas decorations ranges from traditional to kitschy. During our visit, however, it was not clear to us whether the offer was intended to appeal more to locals or tourists. 
Jólahúsið | Die Auswahl der Weihnachtsdekoration reicht von traditionell bis kitschig. Uns war bei unserem Besuch jedoch nicht ersichtlich, ob das Angebot eher Einheimische oder Touristen ansprechen sollte. – The selection of Christmas decorations ranges from traditional to kitschy. During our visit, however, it was not clear to us whether the offer was intended to appeal more to locals or tourists. 
Jólahúsið | Aber auch traditionelle Dekorationen und Weihnachtsartikel können erworben werden. – But traditional decorations and Christmas items can also be purchased. 
Jólahúsið | Finnische Mumin-Geschirrtücher, dänische Holzfiguren und schwedisches Porzellan warten auf ihre Käufer. – Finnish Moomin tea towels, Danish wooden figures and Swedish porcelain await their buyers.
Useful Information
In the Christmas-decorated buildings, many products for Christmas are on sale. Among the many kitschy Christmas decorations, you will also find traditionally made and local products from genuine handicrafts.
There is a spacious car park directly in front of the Christmas House.
How to get there?
The Christmas House is easy to reach from the capital of the north, Akureyri. Route 821 leads south out of town and after about ten minutes Jólahúsið is on the right, just before the village of Hrafnagil.
Conclusion
Jólahúsið vacillates between kitsch and tradition. However, if you are in Akureyri and have some time to spare, you should make a short detour. The Christmas house is not only popular with tourists, but also with locals.
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