On the lookout for Sheep-Cote Clod Dec 12, 2019

You"re looking at one of the oldest breeds of sheep in the world. Icelandic sheep are descended from short-tailed sheep brought to the island from Norway in the 9th and 10th centuries with the first waves of settlers. These sheep, with their dual-layer woolly coats, thrive in this harsh environment, outnumbering people in Iceland by more than 2-to-1. But on December 12, Icelandic sheep, especially the ewes, will have to contend with something more fearsome than the wind chill factor. Sheep-Cote Clod, the first of the 13 Yule Lads, is due to visit. Who"s that and what"s he up to? Take our quiz to find out.

© John Porter LRPS/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Dec 12, 2018The story of the poinsettia
Dec 12, 2020What are we looking at?
Dec 12, 2021Wicker fields in Cañamares, Spain
Dec 12, 2022Poinsettia Day
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Dec 12, 2024Poinsettia Day
Dec 12, 2025National Poinsettia Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 8, 2020An underwater rainbow
Mar 19, 2025A black heron canopy feeding in Botswana
May 19, 2019High trekking season in Upper Mustang
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Oct 6, 2024Ancient town of Sorano, Tuscany, Italy
May 31, 2018Leaves of Grass
Jan 18, 2026White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Nov 21, 2024Lion cubs, South Africa
Jun 19, 2023Juneteenth
Apr 9, 2023Happy Easter!
Feb 28, 2022Winter in England s Cotswolds
Apr 22, 2018Have a ‘beary’ good Earth Day
Mar 5, 2020The desert blooms
Aug 9, 2024International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
Oct 22, 2019Bobbing for crab apples
Jun 8, 2022World Oceans Day
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Feb 21, 2024Yosemite National Park, California
May 10, 2019Looking back on 150 years of rail travel
Jul 16, 2022American goldfinch
Dec 16, 2019Cape Town at dusk
Nov 17, 2021Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Sep 30, 2022Southern right whale
Mar 30, 2022Belted Galloway cows
May 15, 2025Palace of Westminster, London, England
Nov 22, 2023Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Aug 5, 2018Friendship Day in the City of Brotherly Love
Oct 15, 2022International Archaeology Day
Jun 2, 2021The dry days of winter in Etosha