In 1932 Jóhannes úr Kötlum’s book of poems Jólin koma (Christmas Is Coming) was published, with verses about the Icelandic Christmas spirits. The book was illustrated by Tryggvi Magnússon, then the best-known illustrator in the country. The book came out during the struggle for independence, when the national heritage was being given new life. Motifs from folk tales were brought closer to the people, and at the same time the distinctive character of Icelandic culture was marked out. In the first half of the 20th century the Icelandic Yule Lads were seen as trolls, but Tryggvi’s Yule Lads are more like farmers. They are of normal size and their clothes looked familiar. In this way Tryggvi brought the Icelandic Yule Lads closer to children, and gradually a compromise grew up between the Icelandic trolls and the American Santa Claus. The Yule Lads were allowed to stay thirteen in number and keep their old names. On the other hand, they gradually began to wear the same clothes as the American one and to give presents, while keeping their own characteristics and pranks. Jóhannes úr Kötlum mostly used the same names for the lads as Rev. Páll Jónsson of Myrká (1812–1889) had done seventy years earlier in Jón Árnason’s collection of folk tales. With this poem Jóhannes can be said to have fixed the names of the Yule Lads, their number and the order in which they come to the settlements. The National Library acquired the original drawings for Jólin koma in 1989.
