Pottaskefill

Also known as “Pot-Scraper” in English, Pottaskefill is one of the Icelandic Yule Lads, who makes his appearance on 16 December as part of the Yuletide tradition. These Yule Lads are a group of thirteen mischievous characters, each with their own distinct personalities and behaviour. Let’s explore the specific characteristics and folklore associated with Pottaskefill.

Pottaskefill is often depicted as a peculiar and scruffy-looking figure. He is known for his scraggly appearance, which includes unkempt hair and clothing. His attire is typically ragged, reflecting his dishevelled nature.

His mischievous behaviour revolves around Pottaskefill‘s obsession with food, particularly the remnants of food left in pots and pans. He sneaks into households during the night to scrape the leftover bits of food from cooking utensils, especially pots. His goal is to enjoy any tasty morsels that may be clinging to the cooking implements. Households may find their kitchenware cleaned to an unusual degree or with telltale signs of Pottaskefill‘s late-night visits.

Similar to many of his Yule Lad counterparts, Pottaskefill tends to be cautious and avoids direct contact with humans. He operates quietly and discreetly, sneaking into kitchens under the cover of darkness to carry out his pot-scraping activities.