Meet The Yule Lad, Sheep Cote Clot (Stekkjastaur)

Introduction

As part of the rich tapestry of Icelandic Christmas folklore, the first of the thirteen Yule Lads is Stekkjastaur, known in English as “Sheep-Cote Clod, or Clot.” He traditionally arrives on the night of December 11th, meaning children awake on December 12th to his advent. The Icelandic Yule Lads | Arctic Adventures

In this blog, we’ll explore his origins, his mischief, and how he, and the broader Yule Lads tradition, is celebrated today.

The Folkloric Origins & Character of Stekkjastaur

Stekkjastaur comes from the old Icelandic folklore of the Yule Lads, sons of the trollish pair Grýla and Leppalúði. Stekkjarstaur - Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið

His name in Icelandic, Stekkjastaur, literally refers to a “sheep-fold post” or “sheep-cote stake,” hence the English moniker “Sheep-Cote Clod.”

According to tradition:

He lurks around sheep-barns (sheep-cotes) during the long winter nights. The Icelandic Yule Lads and their Mother Gryla | Guide to Iceland

His mischief: harassing the sheep, in particular trying to suck the ewes’ milk when no one is watching. Icelandic Yule Lads - Authentic Christmas Ornaments & Folklore

He is hindered by having two stiff peg-legs, making his movement limping and awkward. Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote-Clod) - Arctic Portal

In older times, sheep were central to Icelandic farm-life, providing wool, meat, milk. Thus a figure who threatened sheep was more than mere mischief: he represented the cold, precarious winter, and the vulnerability of isolated farm steads.

His arrival date is often cited as the night before December 12th. Some sources say he departs on December 25th (Christmas Day). Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote-Clod) - Arctic Portal

In the original telling, the Yule Lads were not necessarily benign gift-givers, they were often the stuff of cautionary tales told to children: behave, or one of these lads might visit your barn or your home. Stekkjarstaur - Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið

Symbolism & Cultural Meaning

Stekkjastaur’s targeting of sheep and ewe’s milk ties into the agrarian reality of Iceland’s winter months: livestock must be sheltered, barns must be watched, nothing wasted. In a society where winters were long and harsh, the stories of the Yule Lads carried implicit moral or practical lessons: be vigilant, protect what you have, look after your animals, and stay indoors when storms rage.

His peg-legs or stiff legs might symbolize the harshness of winter terrain, the difficulty of moving in deep snow, or the crippled form of a ghostly figure in the bleak mid-winter darkness.

His mischief is not purely destructive: we could interpret the act of “sucking milk from ewes” as a violation of hospitality, of family provisioning, of the farmstead’s self-sufficiency. By hearing of Stekkjastaur, children and adults would remember the value of what they have and the danger of neglecting it.

Over time, the Yule Lads, including Stekkjastaur, have softened in cultural memory. What were once terrifying figures have become less menacing and more whimsical—though the old layer of folklore remains beneath.

How Stekkjastaur & the Yule Lads Are Celebrated Today

In contemporary Iceland, the Yule Lads arrive one by one from December 12th onward, each night a new one visits until Christmas. Stekkjastaur is first in that sequence. The Icelandic Yule Lads | Arctic Adventures

One popular modern custom: children place a shoe (often on the windowsill) each evening during the run-up to Christmas. If the child has behaved, a gift may appear in the shoe; if not, a rotten potato might be left instead. Stekkjastaur being the first means that on the morning of December 12th a child might find their first small reward or “warning” from him. Stekkjarstaur - Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið

The terrifying aspects of the Yule Lads have been largely sanitized: in many portrayals they wear cheerful red and white, look Santa-claus-like, and bring small treats rather than torment. But many Icelandic homes and cultural programs remember the older versions. The Icelandic Yule Lads and their Mother Gryla | Guide to Iceland

Stekkjastaur’s specific theme—the sheep barn, the milk-stealing—is sometimes referenced in children’s books, decorations, and seasonal storytelling in Iceland. For example, tourism blogs and folklore websites mention him as part of the folkloric “countdown” from December 12th.

In educational or folkloric presentations: children might be told the story of Stekkjastaur while visiting Icelandic museums or heritage sites; there might be illustrations of him limping with peg-legs near a sheep-fold.

For those adopting the Yule Lads tradition internationally, families might choose to celebrate December 12th as the “first Yule Lad day,” placing the shoe, sharing the story of Stekkjastaur, maybe reading a short folktale about him.

Some modern variants may encourage children to check their sheep (metaphorically: their chores, their responsibilities) or be vigilant about their “barns” (their responsibilities at home) in a playful way.

Stekkjastaur, Sheep-Cote Clod, is more than just the “first Yule Lad” in the sequence; he is a figure steeped in the ancient winter culture of Iceland. a symbol of the fragility of life in cold lands, of the unseen watchers in night-barns, of the boundary between childhood fear and holiday magic.

American Culture

In America he is a reminder of our pets, to take care of them and bring them inside when the winter gets cold. So, include the old Sheep-Cote Clod in your holiday celebrations. Bring your pets in, let them curl up by the fire and be a part of the Yuletide.

His legacy endures in shoes by windowsills and little treats (or warnings) on December 12th. For storytellers, he offers a rich mythic motif to weave into tales of snow-lit woods, reindeer, and the passage from old to new.