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Artists

Ocelot II

(128,995 posts) Tue Dec 23, 2025, 09:20 PM Dec 23

46

The Yule Cat, gouache [View all]

Last edited Tue Dec 23, 2025, 11:37 PM - Edit history (2)

Gleðileg jól!

The Yule Cat, Jólakötturinn, is a creature of Icelandic folklore. He is the pet of the troll woman Grýla, her husband Leppalúði, and their thirteen troll sons, the Yule Lads. The cat is enormous, bigger than a house, and he prowls around on Christmas Eve looking for people who didn't get new wool clothing for Christmas, whom he eats. "The Yule cat was used as a threat and incentive for farm workers to finish processing the wool collected in the autumn before Christmas. Those who took part in the work were rewarded with new clothes, but those who did not would get nothing and thus would be prey for the Yule cat."

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The Yule Cat, gouache [View all] Ocelot II Dec 23 OP

Love it samplegirl Dec 23 #1

Lovely! mwmisses4289 Dec 23 #2

Wow, that's cool wendyb-NC Dec 23 #3

The eyes look like crescent moons. 3catwoman3 Dec 23 #4

Love your story and illustration! Diamond_Dog Dec 23 #5

I love this, especially the scarves blowing in what I imagine is a very... littlemissmartypants Dec 23 #6

Thank you SuzyandPuffpuff Dec 24 #7

Jolaktturinn - Christmas Cat - Bjork xocetaceans Dec 24 #8

I love that song. Ocelot II Dec 24 #9

That is really cool. Performing the song had to be a lot of fun. xocetaceans Dec 24 #10

It's a tongue-twister, but I am proud of the fact that now I can sing in Icelandic. Ocelot II Dec 24 #11

This song is not Icelandic, but if you were exposed to Swedish culture in the US, you may have heard this one . . . xocetaceans Dec 24 #12

Exposed to Swedish culture? Dude, I live in Minnesota! Ocelot II Dec 24 #13

I thought that likely from your description in your profile but did not want boldly to make assertions about you or MN! xocetaceans Dec 25 #16

As to cuisine: Ocelot II Dec 26 #17

Neat stuff. Thanks for the introduction to that market and for the mention of those places. Were I ever to travel . . . xocetaceans Dec 26 #18

Interesting custom MustLoveBeagles Dec 24 #14

Really nice! bif Dec 24 #15

eggscllent. purrrfect. AllaN01Bear Dec 28 #19

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