Hopefully, by now, you’ve seen my post last Tuesday with an overview of the Icelandic tradition of the Yule Lads. If you haven’t, go back and read that first so this will make more sense. According to folklore, today — December 20 — is the day when the ninth Yule Lad arrives.

The ninth Yule Lad’s name is Bjúgnakrækir, which translates as Sausage-Swiper. His particular brand of mischief is hiding in the rafters so he can snatch the sausages that are being smoked.

Here’s how he’s described in the 1932 Icelandic poem, “Yule Lads,” by Jóhannes úr Kötlum:

The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.
Sitting on a crossbeam
in soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.

Sausage-Stealer arrives each year on December 20, and leaves again on January 2.

And here’s a more thorough explanation, by Robert Nelson, on Medium.

Bjúgnakrækir, or Sausage-Swiper, probably has the most lucrative job of the thirteen Yule Lads. He’ll make his way up to your rafters, possibly above the fireplace where his waiting gets him all tarnished in ash and soot (excuse the cross-referencing). From there, he’ll find a moment to make away with your sausage. The calorie-rich reward probably sustains him for longer than the simple bowl- or spoon-lickers of the group.

The sausage in question is an Icelandic “delicacy” called the bjuga, from which the Bjúgnakrækir derives his name. It’s usually made of smoked lamb meat, sometimes combined with horse- and or pork as well. Valur Grettison has done a nice write-up of the bjuga for the Reykjavik Grapevine, and concludes that the only people who continue to enjoy the bjuga are the “alt-right nuts” who are desperately searching for some bygone and pure Icelandic culture.

In other words, it’s not known for being a pleasing meal.

And here’s another, from Iceland24:

Ninth was Sausage Snatcher
Artful and quick.
He hied up to the rafters
And snatched a little there.

On a kitchen beam he sat
In smoke and soot
And ate a smoked sausage,
That was very good.

In contrast with Skyrgámur‘s habit of eating tons of healthy skyr, Bjúgnakrækir (Sausage Swiper), the Yule Lad arriving on the 20th night of December, prefers his snacks high in cholesterol. Nobody knows exactly what his preference is: rumors say he will ravenously eat all kinds of sausages, without any exception. His appetite can make him reckless sometimes.

Smoked sausages are a brilliant way to preserve meat in a place like Berk (or most of the North Atlantic Islands) where it may snow and hail and rain locusts (or whatever Hiccup dreams up in his snarkfest), but it rarely gets cold enough to freeze food. So smoking, pickling, drying, curing are all ways to keep food stashed through the winter.

The rafters are an ideal place to store the lamb meat and fish meat sausages once they are prepared. Then the cook just snags down dinner from the ceiling and dumps it in a pot to boil. Sometimes you have to climb a bit to get dinner. At the Haddock household it´s a good thing there is a tall chieftain and a willing Night Fury to help with this. And a few cleverly designed long hooks for those days when the chief dragon tamer/chef does not want dragon drool on the sausages.

Until December 20, of course. Then Bjúgnakrækir makes his way into the farms and the village, ready to snatch some sausages. It’s a good thing he’s an acrobat so he can climb WAAAY up into those rafters and reach for the prize. He just, unfortunately, is a leeetle bit afraid of heights. But singing usually helps him deal with the situation, and also keeps the watch dragon fast asleep.

So, if you are planning to make sausage stuffing or simply hot dogs between Dec 20 and Jan 2, keep ’em hidden. This guy’s on the prowl!

Luckily for this chap, there’s not much need for recklessness in recent times: in Reykjavík you can find near the harbor the famous Bæjarins beztu pylsur (Best hot dog in town in English) stand, described by many satisfied customers as one of the best in the world. I’m pretty sure Bjúgnakrækir knows very well and he visits the stand regularly during his annual excursions.

The 13 Yule Lads, Mom, Dad and Cat: