Knitting for Christmas 2025

This year, for various reasons, I unfortunately haven't gotten around to knitting Christmas presents as much as I would have liked.

First, I was on the Norröna and the Crime Cruise to Iceland and back in early November (although I had my knitting with me and at least managed to do a bit of knitting!), then I had dental problems, which turned out to be a result of my shoulder problems after my terrace fall in Iceland in the summer, afterwards I caught influenza A from my grandchild and was completely out of action at first... somehow, everything was going wrong!

But at least two Santa Claus sweaters as a gift for the offspring and a Santa Claus pot holder I did manage it for a friend after all – and on the first day of Christmas at noon, mine happened Christmas Slá (poncho) just managed to finish at the last minute...

Christmas sweater for the kids

I do like to knit for all my loved ones, and I also really enjoy knitting for my grandchild - however, the grandchild finds Icelandic sheep wool a bit scratchy and always has to wear something underneath. So this year I made her a Christmas sweater knitted out of Lopi Spuni - this is 100% merino wool, which is also sold by the Icelandic wool factory Álafoss in Mosfellsbær.

The wool has a running length of 95 meters per 50 g, so it is slightly thicker than Léttlopi wool, which has a running length of 100 meters per 50 g, but, just like Spuni, is also mostly knitted with needle sizes 4.5 to 5. So you can knit patterns for Léttlopi wool with Spuni wool as well, even though I somehow find knitted items made with Spuni to be "airier." But in return, they feel much softer and less scratchy – so perfect for the grandchild!

And while I was at it, I also knitted a Santa Claus sweater for my middle son, practically in a 'matching look,' only in dark and light blue instead of pink.

In the pictures, you can see how the pink sweater was created first; I then knitted the blue sweater, among other things, while traveling on the Norröna. The one photo of the child and grandchild wearing it is by the photographer – in the other picture from behind, my husband is wearing the Christmas sweater on behalf of our son. But I also like the picture – and the Christmas sweaters anyway!

A Christmas potholder with Santa Clauses

Besides, I at least still knitted a potholder for a friend for Christmas, in beige and white, with three Santas each on the front and back.

Unfortunately, I don't have a better photo of the potholder than this one with my Laufabrauð iron - but the Christmas present was well received by my girlfriend!

My Christmas-Slá 2025

And this here is my own new Christmas shawl, so my 'shoulder warmer' - knitted from black Icelandic Léttlopi wool and other wool, gold with glitter. I took the golden glitter wool double, then the yardage of the wool at 100 g corresponded approximately to the yardage of Léttlopi wool.

Somehow I was running behind schedule - I finished knitting on the afternoon of the first Christmas holiday, about 5 minutes before the first people arrived for Christmas dinner. Afterwards, my husband wondered why the crochet hook was still lying in the kitchen next to the sink - but I had actually already crocheted off and cut the last threads!

But anyway, it was enough - I was able to wear my golden Christmas Slá on the first day of Christmas!

Translated from here.

Súrmjólkurbúðingur

Sour milk pudding

Today I have a recipe for sour milk pudding for you - in the past this dish (sometimes also known as Áfabúðingur) was actually a very popular Christmas dessert in Iceland.

The dessert was usually served with jam, fresh fruit or raisins and chopped almonds .

It is a traditional Icelandic dish - online you can find a recipe for sour milk pudding in an Icelandic weekly magazine from December 1939, in an article about milk and milk dishes by Helga Sigurðadóttir (1904 - 1962).

Helga, along with her aunt Jónína Sigurðardóttir (1879-1962), was actually the most famous Icelandic cook, cooking teacher, and cookbook author. Both revolutionized Icelandic cuisine in their own way, encouraging Icelandic housewives to grow their own fruit and vegetables and use them more frequently in the kitchen.

Helga was also the first director of Húsmæðrakenneraskóli Íslands, the Icelandic Teacher Training Institute for Housewives, founded in 1942. From 1930 onward, she published numerous Icelandic cookbooks, including "Matur og drykkur" in 1946. For decades, the book became the "matarbiblía okkar Íslendinga", the Icelanders' cooking bible and the most important reference work for recipes and home economics.

By the way, the cookbook was reissued in its original form in the summer of 2009 - I have a copy of it at home, too!

Ingredients for 4 servings

500 ml sour milk

80 g sugar

1 pinch of vanilla / vanilla sugar

3 - 4 Tbsp cold water

7 sheets of gelatin

150 ml whipped cream

2 - 3 Tbsp jam

2 Tbsp chopped almonds

Preparation

Soak the gelatin in cold water for about 10 minutes.

Then squeeze the gelatin leaves well...

.... and heat gently in a water bath or in the microwave.

In a bowl, mix the sour milk with the sugar and the ground vanilla or vanilla sugar.

Add the sour milk mixture to the warm gelatin spoon by spoon, stirring thoroughly.

Finally, whip the cream until stiff...

... and fold into the sour milk mixture.

Pour the sour milk pudding into the dessert glasses and let it set in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours.

Then heat the jam until it melts, then decorate the pudding with the still-liquid jam, the chopped almonds, and, if desired, some fresh fruit.

Bon appetit!

[Translated from here.]

Jólaskeiðar

Icelandic Christmas spoons

Many Icelandic households own these silver Christmas spoons ("jólaskeið").

Since 1946, a special limited-edition Christmas spoon has been released each year during the holiday season.

Today, many Icelandic families have collections of these spoons. We first came across them thanks to Sabrina from Bitesized Iceland and her Icelandic mother-in-law’s collection. Her mother-in-law has purchased a spoon almost every year and proudly brings them out for Christmas celebrations so that each family member can enjoy dessert using the jólaskeið from their birth year.

The history of Icelandic Christmas spoons

The tradition of Icelandic Christmas spoons began with master goldsmith Guðlaugur A. Magnússon, who designed and sold the first silver spoon in 1946.

Guðlaugur Ásberg Magnússon was born on December 16, 1902, the son of a farmer in the municipality of Fellsstrandarhreppur, in Dalabyggð, located in the Vesturland region in western Iceland.

From childhood, Guðlaugur had a deep love for music and musical instruments.

It is said that his sisters, Hansína Magnúsdóttir (1895–1971), who married a merchant in Ísafjörður, and Borghildur Magnúsdóttir (1894–1963), who married a Danish machinist and later ran a restaurant in Ísafjörður after his death in 1920, decided to support their brother’s musical ambitions—but only on the condition that he also learned a proper craft. So Guðlaugur began an apprenticeship in goldsmithing in Ísafjörður under Einar Oddur Kristjánsson and Karl Ó. Runólfsson. Runólfsson, who had studied trumpet, violin, and composition abroad and was a member of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, also taught Guðlaugur to play the trumpet.

After completing his apprenticeship, Guðlaugur spent a year in Denmark to continue his trumpet studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Lauritz Sørensen.

In 1924, Guðlaugur opened his first fine metal workshop in Ísafjörður. He later moved the business to Hafnarfjörður, and finally to Reykjavík in 1927.

Alongside his goldsmithing career, Guðlaugur remained an active musician in Reykjavík. He played the trumpet and flugelhorn in the Reykjavík Brass Band and was involved in founding the Icelandic Musicians’ Association, serving on its board for several years. He also played in various trumpet and symphony orchestras, as well as dance and jazz bands such as the Blue Boys.

Blue Boys - Icelandic jazz band (1935 - 1938)
Source: glatkistan.com

Despite his busy life as a craftsman, musician, and entrepreneur, Guðlaugur managed to balance it all - and was even a family man. In 1929, he married María Hermannsdóttir (September 4, 1905 - May 15, 2001). Originally from Ketilseyri in Dýrafjörður in the Westfjords, María had moved to Reykjavík at the age of nine to live with her aunt and cousin in Skólavörðustígur.

Maria Hermannsdóttir, Guðlaugur Magnússon
Source: mbl.is Source: ismus.is

Guðlaugur and María had four children: their eldest son Reynir (born 1930), who trained as a goldsmith under his father and took over the business ERNA ehf. in 1952; Óttar (born 1931), who became a businessman; Jónína (born 1933); and their youngest son, Magnús (born 1943), who also became a goldsmith and took over the former workshop in Skólavörðustígur in 1963 at the age of just 20.

The couple had a total of 18 grandchildren. Two of their granddaughters now run the jewelry stores that originated from Guðlaugur’s business. One grandson is a musician who has worked with artists such as Bubbi Morthens and Björk.

The first Christmas spoon 1946

Guðlaugur began producing silver tableware and cutlery in his Reykjavík workshop in 1936. One of his most iconic pieces is the traditional silver Christmas spoon, which has been issued annually in limited editions since 1946. These spoons are made from 925 sterling silver, with the spoon bowl plated in 24-carat gold.

The first Christmas spoon was crafted in 1946, designed by Guðlaugur Magnússon in collaboration with master woodcarver Karl Guðmundsson. Since then, many renowned Icelandic artists have contributed to the annual designs.

The first spoon from 1946
Source: GAM

The 1946 spoon features Reykjavík’s Cathedral Church (Dómkirkjan).

Dómkirkjan í Reykjavík (photo from Jan. 2025)

In 1947, Guðlaugur expanded his business, acquired new machinery, and outsourced the production from a sole proprietorship into a limited liability company: ERNA ehf.

It is said that Guðlaugur’s wife, María, often worried about how much he took on. He once promised her that he would slow down once he turned 50. Sadly, he could not keep that promise: Guðlaugur A. Magnússon passed away on November 13, 1952, just weeks before his 50th birthday.

Today, there are two lines of Christmas spoons that trace their origin to Guðlaugur A. Magnússon:

The Christmas spoons from ERNA

The gold and silversmith ERNA ehf., located at Skipholt 3 in Reykjavík, was taken over by Guðlaugur’s eldest son, Reynir Guðlaugsson, in 1952. The term "ehf." stands for einkahlutafélag, meaning limited liability company. Reynir led the company as master goldsmith until 2001. Today, ERNA is managed by his daughter, goldsmith and designer Ragnhildur Sif Reynisdóttir. The fourth generation, Reynir Már Ásgeirsson, now also works in the family business as a goldsmith.

Since 2015, Ragnhildur Sif has been in charge of designing ERNA’s Christmas spoons.

ERNA’s spoons follow a themed series lasting 12 years. Since 2015, the theme has been music. Fittingly, the first spoon in the series featured a trumpet - Guðlaugur’s favorite instrument. The back of each spoon features musical notes. During each 12-year cycle, the spoon bowl remains the same, but the handle design changes annually.

After the trumpet (2015), instruments like the violin, tuba, and saxophone have followed. All spoon bowls are 24-carat gold-plated, with the handles made of 925 silver.

The current Christmas spoon costs 29,500 ISK (just over €200 resp. $240).

The Christmas spoon from ERNA 2024
Source: erna.is

The Christmas spoons from GAM

The GAM (Guðlaugur A. Magnússon) store is located at Skólavörðustígur 10 in Reykjavík. After Guðlaugur’s death in 1952, the business was initially continued by his brother-in-law Hermann Hermansson, and later taken over by Guðlaugur’s youngest son, Magnús Haukur Guðlaugsson, in 1963. Since 2005, his daughter Hanna Sigríður Magnúsdóttir has run the store.

GAM typically keeps the spoon bowl consistent, while allowing the handle design to vary each year.

These spoons are made from 92.5% sterling silver and 7.5% copper, with the copper serving to harden the spoon. The spoon bowl is gold-plated.

Like ERNA, GAM also follows themed series - e.g. featuring biblical motifs, churches, or national heritage symbols.

The 2024 spoon from GAM costs 26,900 ISK (just under €190 resp. $220). Spoons from earlier years are somewhat cheaper, ranging from 24,900 ISK for recent ones to 18,900 ISK for the oldest still available.

For the 2024 edition, Hanna Sigríður designed a spoon featuring an eagle on a white shield within a blue cross - an homage to the Icelandic flag, marking the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Iceland. Surrounding the cross are white mountain avens (holtasóley), Iceland’s national flower since a 2004 vote. These symbols celebrate Iceland’s 80-year journey as a republic.

Source: gam.is

I personally find this Christmas spoon tradition very charming! Ever since learning about it, I’ve been checking secondhand shops to see if I might stumble upon one at a reasonable price. But at around €200 for a new silver spoon - no matter how beautiful or steeped in tradition - my husband thinks I’m crazy. And honestly, I can understand him.

But the spoons are beautiful!

[Translated from here.]

Jólaskyrmús

Christmas Skyr Mousse

I just realized that I haven't shown you this quick recipe for a Christmas cinnamon skyr dessert yet. Okay, Christmas is over now, but before the poor recipe ends up lying dormant in the vault for the next 12 months, I'd better show it to you now.

Maybe you want to use up a few last gingerbread cookies or other Christmas cookies and I think cinnamon is always delicious anyway!

Ingredients for 2 servings

250 g vanilla skyr

250 ml whipping cream

70 g gingerbread or other cookies

1/2 tsp cinnamon

caramel sauce

chopped nuts

raspberries

Preparation

Whip the cream until stiff.

Mix half of the cream with the vanilla skyr and cinnamon.

Crush the gingerbread...

... and divide between two glasses.

Divide the Skyr mixture between the glasses.

Add a tablespoon of caramel sauce to the skyr in each glass.

Pour the remaining cream onto the dessert.

Decorate the cream with the chopped nuts and raspberries and then serve immediately.

Bon appetit!

[Translated from here.]

Þrettándagleði

Farewell to Christmas

In Iceland, “Þrettándagleði” is the name given to the festival that marks the end of the Christmas season on the 13th day of Christmas.

On the 13th day after Christmas ("Þrettándi" = "Thirteenth"), i.e. on Epiphany, January 6th, the Christmas season officially ends here in Iceland. People pack up their Christmas decorations and Christmas decorations - and the last of the 13 Icelandic Santa Clauses (jólasveinar) goes back to her troll parents Grýla and Leppalúði in the mountains.

Blysför á Selfossi

Here in Selfoss there is a big torchlight procession ("blysför") through the town every year (weather permitting).

Shortly before 8 p.m. the procession gathers at the parking lot at the Krónan supermarket, next to the Trygnaskáli at the bridgehead. The 13 Santa Clauses light their large torches at a large fire. And then a police car blocks the main street and the torchlight procession starts moving.

In the front, the tractor drives with the wagon in which several large trolls sit and perhaps one or two elf who doesn't want to mix with the crowd.

Behind them march the 13 Santa Clauses, with their shaggy long white hair and beards, wrapped up nice and warm with thick woolen gloves, cuffs and thick shoes. And every Santa Claus has his big torch in his hand.

As soon as the train passes them, the people on the side of the road join the procession and move along from the bridgehead...

.... first along the main road for a bit, then left into Reynivellir Street and finally along Engjavegur to the entrance to the campsite. During the parade there are heaven and people and, above all, lots of children.

Jólin verða kvödd í Gesthúsum á Selfoss með glæsilegri þrettándagleði

Christmas ends with a magnificent celebration on the 13th day of Christmas, as is the slogan on the community's homepage. Behind the reception at the campsite in Selfoss there is a large pile of wood with old pallets on the lawn. When the torchlight procession arrives here, the brenna, the bonfire, is ceremoniously lit in the presence of Santa Claus.

Of course, the Santa Clauses live up to their nature as trolls, they are a bit wild, loud and unexpected and like to play practical jokes. Unfortunately, I don't know why this Santa Claus tried to roast his ass while singing wildly. But he probably doesn't know it himself. It must have been really hot!

After the fire has been lit, the large fireworks display is set off in collaboration with the local rescue teams (Björgunarfélag Árborgar).

A special rack has been set up for the torches of the 13 Santa Clauses, in which the Santa Clauses place their torches so that they can finish burning here. I still think it smells like burning kebab skewers - but it doesn't smell like that.

And after the fireworks, on the way back to our house, the northern lights danced across the sky again behind the Ingólfsfjall and accompanied us all the way home. Yes, I know, the photo here is terribly blurry, I only had my cell phone with me and nothing to rest it on, but it just captures the mood a bit... We then had to unpack our shopping and... then the northern lights disappeared. They came back around midnight... but by then I was already lying warm in my bed.

How could the farewell to Christmas end more beautifully than with the Northern Lights!

Christmas is over

And after January 6th, the Christmas lights are taken down again, the Christmas decorations are put back in the boxes and the last Santa Claus collects his washed laundry from the line and heads off into the mountains.

The illuminationin the cemeteries will also be switched off again. The electric crosses will be dismantled again or at least the electricity will be switched off - after all, Christmas is now over. Even in the cemeteries.

Only the Christmas fairy lights ("jólaseríur") usually remain switched on for a bit; light in the dark is often important and comforting here in wintry, dark Iceland.

Even if you can clearly see that the days are getting longer again... From the latest sunrise at 11:16 a.m. we are now at sunrise at 11:02 a.m. and the day is already 41 minutes longer today than at the winter solstice on December 21st. So it's getting brighter...!

Here's a photo of the dawn of January 7th, taken at 10:40 a.m.

So then - let's start a new year!

[Translated from here.]