Iceland's Dark Lullabies

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 LW

Documentaries

Factual

BBC Radio 4 - Iceland's Dark LullabiesSearch BBC

Storyteller Andri Snær Magnason is dreaming of a dark Christmas in Iceland.

4 Extra Debut. Andri Snær Magnason is dreaming of a dark Christmas in Iceland – thanks to a tradition of telling terrifying tales. From 2017.

At the darkest time of the year in Iceland scary creatures come out to play. 

Storyteller Andri Snær Magnason used to be terrified by his grandmother's Christmas tales of Gryla the 900 year old child eating hag and her 13 troll sons - the Yule Lads - who would come down from the mountains looking for naughty children in the warmth of their homes. These dark lullabies partly hark back to a pre-Christian Christmas when people worshipped the Norse gods. 

As Iceland opens up to global influences after centuries of isolation Andri travels from farmstead to lava field and reflects on these traditions: whether the elves still crash your house to throw a Christmas party or the cows still talk on New Year's Eve; and what happens when you have to spend Christmas alone, locked inside Ikea?

Featuring the Graduale Nobile Choir conducted by Árni Heiðar Karlsson 

Additional sound design by Phil Channell.  

Producer: Neil McCarthy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2017.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Iceland's Dark Lullabies

Genres

Formats

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4