In Iceland, December 12 marks the arrival of the first of the Jólasveinar (Yuletide lads). From now until Christmas, Icelandic children will leave a dish in their windows, and every night a different troll will come and leave a small gift, like a toy or fruit, for good boys and girls. Unfortunately, Jólasveinar like to eat bad boys and girls.

December 12 is the birthday of Russian painter KARL BRYULLOV (1799-1852). Referred to by his friends as 'Karl the Great,' Bryullov was a Russian painter. He is regarded as a key figure in transition from the Russian neoclassicism to romanticism. To see samples of his work, CLICK HERE.

December 12 is the birthday of Norwegian Expressionist painter EDVARD MUNCH (1863-1944).

"I was walking down the road with two friends when the sun set; suddenly, the sky turned as red as blood. I stopped and leaned against the fence, feeling unspeakably tired. Tongues of fire and blood stretched over the bluish black fjord. My friends went on walking, while I lagged behind, shivering with fear. Then I heard the enormous, infinite scream of nature."

Munch's "childhood was overshadowed by illness, bereavement and the dread of inheriting a mental condition that ran in the family. Studying at the Royal School of Art and Design in Kristiania (today's Oslo), Munch began to live a bohemian life under the influence of the nihilist Hans Jæger, who urged him to paint his own emotional and psychological state ('soul painting'); from this emerged his distinctive style." (Wikipedia) To see more examples of Munch’s work, CLICK HERE.

December 12 is the birthday of Ukrainian-French painter ZINAIDA SEREBRYAKOVA (1884-1967).

"From her youth onwards, Zinaida Serebriakova strove to express her love of the world and to show its beauty. Her earliest works, Country Girl (1906, Russian Museum) and Orchard in Bloom (1908, private collection), speak eloquently of this search, and of her acute awareness of the beauty of the Russian land and its people. These works are études done from nature, and though she was young at the time, her extraordinary talent, confidence and boldness were apparent." (Wikipedia)

To see examples of her work, CLICK HERE.

December 12 is the birthday of American tough-guy actor EDWARD G. ROBINSON (1893-1973).

"In addition to his well-known portrayal of gangsters in films like 'Little Caesar' and 'Key Largo,' Robinson's other roles included an insurance investigator in the film noir Double Indemnity, Dathan (adversary of Moses) in 'The Ten Commandments,' and his final performance in the science-fiction story 'Soylent Green.' Robinson received an Honorary Academy Award for his work in the film industry, which was awarded two months after he died in 1973. He is ranked number 24 in the American Film Institute's list of the 25 greatest male stars of Classic American cinema." (Wikipedia)

December 12 is the birthday of Japanese film director YASUJIRŌ OZU (1903-1963).

"Marriage and family, especially the relationships between the generations, are prominent themes in Ozu's work. His most lauded films include Late Spring (1949), Tokyo Story (1953), Floating Weeds (1959), and An Autumn Afternoon (1962).

His reputation has continued to grow since his death, and he is widely regarded as one of the world's most influential directors. In the 2012 Sight & Sound poll, Ozu's Tokyo Story was voted the greatest film of all time by world directors." (Wikipedia)