Page 46 of Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
I’d only ever talked about the Yule Lads to members of my family so began my explanation a little hesitantly but I was spurred on by Lily’s obvious interest and encouraging smiles.
‘Children leave a shoe out on the windowsill in the hope of the Yule Lads leaving gifts, just like our tradition of leaving out a stocking on Christmas Eve. And in the same way a naughty child here might get a piece of coal, a naughty child in Iceland might find their shoe contains a potato – perhaps even a rotten one.’
I laughed as Lily wrinkled her nose.
‘My pabbi told us that, when they checked their shoes one morning, his younger brother had some sweets but Pabbi had been naughty and there really was a potato in his – a manky one with shoots springing off it. Pabbi was mortified and, of course, his brother dined out on that one for years. I believe it still gets mentioned to this day, and not just at Christmas.’
‘My brother and sister would do the same,’ Lily said, smiling. ‘I’m loving the sound of the Yule Lads. So this happens for thirteen consecutive nights?’
‘Yes. It’s a different troll each night. The gifts are mainly sweets and small toys but occasionally something bigger gets left. Like all traditions, each family will have a slightly different take on it. And each family will also decide on the version they share with their kids because there’s a less family-friendly variation where Grýla also comes down with her big stick, packs misbehaving children into her gigantic sack and cooks them in her favourite stew.’
‘Oh, gross!’
‘Yep! And apparently she has an insatiable appetite but that’s okay because there are plenty of naughty kids around for her to eat. The cat – Jólakötturinn or Christmas Cat – also has a penchant for eating children but, if you’ve had some new clothes or shoes before Christmas Eve, you’re safe from being his dinner.’
‘How have I never heard about this before?’ Lily’s eyes were shining, conveying her excitement. ‘It’s storytelling genius. So what?—’
But she didn’t get to finish her question as the door opened and Mr Bryant arrived for his Poirot books. I moved out of their way and adjusted a few book stacks while Lily chatted to him about the most recent cosy crime book he’d read and what he thought of it. As soon as he left, Lily called me back to the till.
‘I have to know more. If the trolls put gifts in the shoes but Icelanders don’t put stockings out for Santa on Christmas Eve, what happens on Christmas Day? Do children get presents then or not?’
‘No. They get them on Christmas Eve instead which is alsoJólabókaflóð– the Christmas book flood.’
‘I’ve heard of that. We’ve included it as a fun fact in the Christmas newsletter before. You exchange books, right?’
I nodded. ‘It’s a big thing, dating back to World War II when Iceland was occupied. Very little got imported so domestic books were pretty much the only Christmas gifts available and, with books and reading being such a strong part of the Icelandic culture, it stuck.’
Lily looked thoughtful. ‘We’ve never done anything to celebrateJólabókaflóðin the shop but, with you being half-Icelandic, it would be lovely to do some sort of promotion or celebration of it this year. Any idea what we could do?’
‘That would be amazing. Can I have a think and come back to you?’
‘Of course.’ She glanced at her watch and grimaced. ‘I’d love to hear more about what an Icelandic Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look like but it’s almost closing time. Another day?’
‘I could chat for ages about it so just shout when you want the next instalment.’
Fifteen minutes later, we were locked up and finished for the day. Lily walked me to the front door and asked whether I’d be spending Christmas with Nanna now that she’d moved into Bay View.
‘I don’t actually know. She hasn’t mentioned Christmas, which isn’t like her, and that makes me think she probably wants to spend it with her friends but doesn’t like to say because it means I’ll be on my own. I’ll have to ask her next time I see her.’
‘If she does want to be with her friends, don’t even think about being on your own. We can always make space for an extra body, assuming you can cope with eleven of us.’
Her tone had been jovial but her smile faded as she added in a softer voice, ‘I’ve never felt so lonely as that Christmas Day when Justin let me down and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.’
We stood by the door, holding eye contact, and I could feel a crackle of something in the air between us. My throat felt very dry as I pushed back the urge to hold her tightly and tell her I’d make sure she never felt lonely again because, if she’d have me, I’d be by her side forever.
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. I was usually hopeless at spotting signals but even I couldn’t miss that Lily felt something too. If only I wasn’t so hopeless at all this stuff.
Someone shouting on the street outside made us both jump and Lily turned the key. ‘I’d better let you escape.’
I didn’t want toescape. I wanted to stay with her but, being me, I didn’t share that. A cold blast hit me as the door opened.
‘I really do want to hear more about Christmas in Iceland,’ Lily said. ‘It’s fascinating.’
‘Happy to share everything I know.’
Conscious I’d already lingered in the doorway far too long, I stepped onto the cobbles.
‘Don’t let Grýla and the Christmas Cat gobble you up,’ I said and, for reasons I’ll never comprehend, I saluted her. I actually raised my hand to my forehead and saluted.Kill me now!
