The Christmas Cat is a well-known evil figure in Icelandic folklore. He was best known for eating children who did not receive new clothes for Christmas.
The 2022 Christmas Cat is designed by Ragna Ragnarsdóttir
The design is inspired by the phrase "you are what you eat" and they are hand-turned on a lathe and each has its own unique shape, imagined by the characters the cat ate.
The Christmas cat is a well-known evil figure in Icelandic folklore. He was best known for eating children who did not receive new clothes for Christmas. Although the cat has long since been abandoned, it is still a strong part of Icelandic Christmas tradition. Rammagerðin started the tradition of entrusting an Icelandic designer with the creation of the Christmas cat in 2020. Two Christmas cats have seen the light of day, the first was by Stúdíó Flétta and then it was Hanna Dís Whitehead who designed it in 2021.
This year, designer Ragna Ragnarsdóttir was chosen to participate in this fun project to create the third Christmas cat, but only 25 numbered Christmas cats are produced each year, making them a unique collector's item.
"When I was making them, I listened to a lot of random playlists on Spotify and was influenced by Johnny Cash, Ginger Spice and Beyoncé, to name a few," explains Ragna. "For me, the Christmas cat is a creature of darkness in the form of a cat sent from Grýla. During the darkest time of the year, she lies in hiding, pricks up her ears, sticks out her snout and sees equally well in the dark as in the light. In this way, she spies on us humans and if her demands for adequate Christmas preparations are not met, there is a very high risk that this will be one's last Christmas. I don't take any risks and, for example, have already decorated, bought myself new clothes, baked cookies and started listening to Christmas songs in October."
Rammagerðin's Christmas Cat is available in a limited edition at Rammagerðinn Skólavörðustígur but will also be on display at Rammagerðinn's store in Harpa. Photos: Sunna Ben
This is the third year that Rammagerðin has worked with Icelandic designers to create the Christmas cat.
Comments
Hi!
My daughter & I are coming to visit for NYE. I always take a piece of art home whenever I travel internationally. Can you please tell me the price range for the cat pieces you’ve created? Thanks :)
Marcie
Hello! Hope you’re having a wonderful day! I was in the Reykjavik airport and came across one of your candles and fell in love! I haven’t been able to find them anywhere else and was wondering if you would ship them to me in the United States? Completely understand if you can’t, but it never hurts to ask.
Thanks! :)