It has long been a tradition in Iceland for children to leave a shoe in the window of their room before Christmas in hopes that the Yule Lads bring them a little present when they come from the mountains, one by one. On Wednesday, a three-year-old boy ran out of patience during a bus with his mother and younger sibling. When no one was looking, he took of one shoe and placed it in the bus window, mbl.is reports.
The mother, with the other child in her arms and loaded with groceries, did not notice until she arrived home that her son was only wearing one shoe. He told her he was convinced the Yule Lads would be riding the bus.
She called Strætó, the bus company, and explained the situation. To the boy’s disappointment, the shoe was empty when it was found in the window. That was to be expected, since the first Yule Lad, Stekkjastaur (Sheep-Cote Clod), never arrives in town until December 12. Then the brothers arrive, one by one, all 13 of them, until the last one, Kertasníkir (Candle-Stealer), comes to town on Chrismas Eve.
The boy’s patience will, therefore, have to be tested for more than two weeks.
