The Icelandic Yule Cat
Description
We bring the Yule spirit of Iceland to the world
Who is the Icelandic Yule Cat?
The tale of the Yule Cat might surprise you. It tells of a giant cat that prowls the winter nights, devouring those who don’t get new clothes for Christmas. Not exactly festive, right?
Yet underneath lies a beautiful reminder to care for one another and to share warmth when it’s needed most. And that’s why the story of the Yule Cat, however un-Christmassy it seems at first glance, deserves to take flight.
The Yule Cat's alarming appetite
Jólakötturinn (the Yule Cat) is a mythical beast said to eat those who have nothing new to wear for Christmas Eve. There's a longstanding Icelandic tradition of children receiving an item of clothing as a gift to ward him off.
There's also an Icelandic saying: Ekki fara í Jólaköttinn. Literally, it's a warning: 'Don't go into the Yule Cat', or 'Don’t end up in the belly of the Yule Cat'. It's used as a playful reminder (to both adults and chldren) in the lead-up to Christmas to not get caught unprepared – and to stay festive, and maybe treat yourself (and others) to something new for the season.
The Yule Cat’s Christmas roast
We asked the Yule Cat to taste traditional Icelandic Christmas food. Maybe a professional chef would have been better suited for the job...
(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by the Yule Cat don't represent the views of Icelandair. We love our Christmas traditions and festive flavors.)
This professional campaign titled ' The Icelandic Yule Cat' was published in Iceland in December, 2025. It was created for the brand: Icelandair, . This Film medium campaign is related to the Travel and Tourism industry and contains 5 media assets. It was submitted 12 minutes ago.
