Icelandic winter may seem bleak, depicted as a time of harsh snows, storms, and relative isolation from much of the world. In today’s age, of course, this is less prominent, though here on this frozen Arctic rock, the weather can change quickly, and without a little preparation, you could find yourself stuck out alone in the cold. Luckily, we now have the internet and can stay in nearly constant contact with our loved ones and communities. Of course, this wasn't always the case. In the past, the Icelandic winter was feared and respected, and many of the spirits and ideas of the season have endured, trickling down to modern traditions and children's stories. We don’t have to look far back in the modern age to find tales of the Yule lads, their mother Grýla, and her terrifying Christmas Cat. And while these more contemporary tales and blends of nineteenth- and twentieth-century folklore are fun, there is a lot more to this season for those of us who practice, read about, and remember the old ways.