Do you believe in elves? Icelanders say it's risky not to!

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In Iceland, the Christmas holiday tradition includes not one, but 13 Santa Clauses — brothers who live in the mountains with their parents, creating all manner of mischief, including giving naughty children rotten potatoes.

Though perhaps only children believe those tales, there’s another belief held among those of all ages in the country — that elves are real. Not only do many people claim to have seen them, but they’re cited for protecting the rocks, trees, cliffs and mountains where they reside, and punishing intruders and developers with pranks and accidents.

Here & Now visited Iceland before the pandemic, touring the elf country, taking a class in elf school, and talking to locals about their encounters with the magical creatures.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.