In 1932, Jóhannes úr Kötlar published a collection of poems entitled Jólin komá méd væis om ísleksiskár yólavættir ( Christmas Comes with Verses about Icelandic Christmas Spirits). The book was illustrated by Tryggvi Magnússon, who was then the country's most famous illustrator. The book was published during the struggle for independence, when the national heritage was undergoing a renewal of life. Folklore was brought closer to the nation and at the same time the uniqueness of Icelandic culture was highlighted.
At first, the Santas were considered troll-like, later human-like, but large, ugly and mischievous, and retained their own unique characteristics and pranks. Originally, they bore no resemblance to the international Santa Claus as he appears today, long-bearded, dressed in red clothes and giving gifts to children. But in the 20th century, they gradually merged with him over time, and today they are not the same trolls as they were originally described.
It is likely that Tryggvi Magnússon's illustrations of Jóhannes úr Kötlar's Santa Claus poems somewhat reflect people's ideas about them during this period of transition. Tryggvi Magnússon's original drawings for the poem collection Jólin koma have been preserved in the National Library of Iceland since 1989. The National Library of Iceland - University Library's Christmas exhibition is on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the first publication of the poem collection Jólin koma and is in collaboration with Forlagíð, which is publishing the collection in a festive edition on this occasion. The exhibition runs until the thirteenth of December 2013.
