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b'Tonight Giljagaur, the 2nd Yule Lad, comes to town. This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the first Yule Lad and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1 and Day 2. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Giljagaur by J\\xf3hannes \\xfar K\\xf6tlum.
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\\nBelow is the Icelandic and English version of the poem by J\\xf3hannes \\xfar K\\xf6tlum.
\\nIcelandic version of the Poem about Giljagaur
\\nGiljagaur var annar, 
\\nme\\xf0 gr\\xe1a hausinn sinn. 
\\n-Hann skrei\\xf0 ofan \\xfar gili 
\\nog skaust \\xed fj\\xf3si\\xf0 inn. 
\\n
\\nHann faldi sig \\xed b\\xe1sunum 
\\nog fro\\xf0unni stal, 
\\nme\\xf0an fj\\xf3sakonan \\xe1tti 
\\nvi\\xf0 fj\\xf3samanninn tal.
\\nEnglish version of the Poem about Giljagaur
\\nThe second was Gully Gawk,
\\ngray his head and mien.
\\nHe snuck into the cow barn
\\nfrom his craggy ravine.
\\n
\\nHiding in the stalls,
\\nhe would steal the milk,
\\nwhile the milkmaid gave the cowherd
\\na meaningful smile.
\\nIcelandic Christmas Tradition
\\nJ\\xf3lab\\xf3kafl\\xf3\\xf0i\\xf0 - Icelandic book flood
\\n
\\nThis is according to jolabokaflo\\xf0.org
\\n
\\n"This tradition began during World War II once Iceland had gained its independence for Denmark in 1944. Paper was one of the few commodities not rationed during the war, so Icelanders shared their love of books even more as other types of gifts were short supply. This increase in giving books as presents reinforced Iceland\\u2019s culture as a nation of bookaholics \\u2013 a study conducted by Bifr\\xf6st University in 2013 found that half the country\\u2019s population read at least eight books a year.
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\\nEvery year since 1944, the Icelandic book trade has published a catalogue \\u2013 called B\\xf3kat\\xed\\xf0indi (\\u2018Book Bulletin\\u2019, in English) \\u2013 that is sent to every household in the country in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair. People use the catalogue to order books to give friends and family for Christmas.
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\\nDuring the festive season, gifts are opened on 24 December and, by tradition, everyone reads the books they have been given straight away, often while drinking hot chocolate or alcohol-free Christmas ale called j\\xf3labland."
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