Will the cows speak human language?
From a Thirteenth bonfire at Ægissíða in the capital. Morgunblaðið/Árni Sæberg
Today, the sixth of January is the last day of Christmas. The day is often called the Thirteenth and many places hold bonfires and various entertainments for the occasion.
Three-day celebrations or thirteenth-anniversary bonfires have been announced around the country today and tonight, including Akranes, Borgarnes, Fjallabyggð, Dalvík, Hörgársveit, Egilsstaðir, Reykjanesbær, Hafnarfjörður and Mosfellsbær. In some cases, celebrations for the thirteenth anniversary have been completed, such as in the Westman Islands.
The Yulelads in Grafarvogur
In Reykjavík, a Thirteenth bonfire will be held at Gufunesbær from 18-19. Langleggur and Skjóða will perform at 18.25, and the Yule Lads will arrive around 18.40, but they will, as you know, head back to the mountains after the holidays. A fireworks display will be held at 19 at the end of the holiday season.
Note that no formal announcement of the thirteenth-anniversary bonfire can be found on the website of Reykjavik City, but last year a thirteenth-day celebration was held at Ægisíða.
Elves move and cows speak
On the subject of national religion associated with the thirteenth day of the year, most people apply the same rules as they do on New Year’s Eve, according to the University of Iceland’s Science Web, which contains some interesting information related to this day:
“These include seals shedding their coats, graveyards will rise, elves will be moving, and cows will speak human languages. It is dangerous to listen to the cows speak because they try to infuriate those who do so.”
Therefore, Icelanders should be careful about the cows today and tonight or until the thirteenth day is over. All things are good.
