Gully Gawk, the 2nd Yule Lad (Giljagaur)

Introduction

In the rich tapestry of Icelandic Christmas folklore, the second of the thirteen Yule Lads is Giljagaur, known in English as Gully Gawk. He is traditionally said to arrive on the night of December 12th, meaning children may awaken on December 13th to his playful (or mischievous) visit. Arctic Adventures+1In this blog, we’ll explore his origins, character, and how he, and the broader Yule Lads tradition, are celebrated today.

Historical Origins & Character of Giljagaur

• Giljagaur (Icelandic: Giljagaur) literally means something like “gully-gawker” or “ravine-lurker”, his name derives from gil (ravine, gully) and gaur (fellow, guy). icelandicyulelads.com+2Guide to Iceland+2

• According to the legend:

  • He hides in the gullies or ravines around farms, waiting for the moment when no one is watching. All Things Iceland+1

  • His preferred mischief: sneaking into the cow-barn (or animal shed) and stealing the froth from the milk buckets. icelandicyulelads.com+1

  • Historically this would have been a serious matter in a farming society where milk and dairy were precious during the long winter months. Guide to Iceland

• In early folklore, the Yule Lads (including Giljagaur) were not purely benevolent figures. They were tricksters, sometimes even frightful beings used to encourage good behavior in children. Wikipedia

• Over time, the depiction of Giljagaur and his brethren softened and became more festive and playful. Today he is more a fun figure of the season than a sinister one.

Symbolism & Cultural Meaning

• Giljagaur’s particular focus on milking barns and milk froth points to the importance of livestock and dairy in Icelandic agrarian life. Protecting the barn and the milk supply was a key concern in cold valleys and long winters.

• His lurking in gullies and ravines emphasises the dangers of winter, the isolation of farm life, and the unseen wilderness around human habitations. The idea of “something hiding in the gully” is quite evocative of the nighttime winter landscape.

• His mischief serves as a kind of moral or cautionary lesson: guard your provisions, look after your animals, be vigilant in the dark season.

• For storytellers (including those working in your vein of mythic and semi-Christian winter tales), Giljagaur offers a rich motif: the darkness around the light, the barn threatened in winter, the hidden visitor.

• In the transformation from old to new (as in your overarching theme of old ways meeting new Light) he can stand for the old wild world of barns and gullies, awaiting the stir of something deeper.

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How Giljagaur & the Yule Lads Are Celebrated Today

• In modern Iceland, the Yule Lads arrive one by one: Giljagaur is the second in sequence. He is acknowledged on December 13th (meaning his “visit” is considered on the night of December 12th). Arctic Adventures+1

• One popular custom: Children place a shoe or small boot on the windowsill each night in the run-up to Christmas. If the child has been well-behaved, a gift may appear; if not, a rotten potato might be left instead. Giljagaur may leave such a token on December 13th morning. Wikipedia

• He appears in Christmas decorations, storybooks, and tourist materials. For example, figurines and ornaments of Giljagaur are sold in Icelandic gift-shops. The Icelandic Store

• While his original mischief (stealing milk in barns) is seldom taken literally today, the tradition remains as part of the larger Yule Lads mythology: the mixture of playfulness, folklore roots, and a bit of “watching you” for good behavior.

• In the book, The Saga of Belsnickel, Ulvie and the Advent of The Yule Lads, Ulvie (or his reindeer) must guard the barn or the herd from the stealthy Giljagaur, and redirect his mischief into blessing rather than thievery.

Conclusion

Giljagaur, or Gully Gawk, is more than just the “second Yule Lad” on the December calendar. His story echoes the realities of winter-farms, hidden ravines, and the thin line between mischief and survival. In the modern world, his legend remains as a witty, gentle reminder of tradition, vigilance, and the delight of folklore.