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MITMH2022
Public Access

Solution to Rotten Little Scamps

Whoston

Answer: THE POTATO EATERS
by Mark Halpin

In each grid can be found seven items from a particular category, read left-to-right, with extra squares interspersed. All but one of the extra squares can be used to assemble the name of one of the thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads, whose English names relate to the categories.

A A Á AD A G AL
E AN EF AT HE GH B
F CK L C I M D
G E PL E JA O E
H SC R N S OL M
KI ST RA R SH ON RM
T TH UT TT Þ UR T
Doorway Parts / Gáttaþefur
A AR A AU AT A CA
B EV EA C E BE D
C HA ER JA IL G E
CR R G L M N H
N T L N O S L
S TR N O R UR O
WA U R RA S Y SE
Gullies / Giljagaur
A C AI IE BA Á A
B H KO LE R C HT
C OI MU SG HI EE I
MA ON O R LD FA K
SK PL P T N I LL
ST RG TI V TL IG OW
YO RO YF W Y N RM
Yogurt (Skyr) / Skyrgámur
AB C A C E B D
CO M H IN EA E E
DE O I L FR EI HE
GR OU RU PE I N IR
KI R T T R SL IT
S RT UN TA SS T LE
SL S Þ V VÖ U R
Spoons / Þvörusleikir
AN AC BJ AD B A A
BL Æ EL AF EG AS E
KI DO K I KI DI I
KN O PE KP KR EL LA
M OC RT NA ON LL NG
MA P U R UD ST R
PE UR ZZ W UR ÚG TO
Sausages / Bjúgnakrækir
AR AS D CC A EA CE
D DE E FO AY EN CH
IN EI IC IN EB N E
K ME ND KA GT O EE
LE QU PE KL I R ES
M SI SL SM LU RC IR
MU UK YR TL ND T Y
Bowls (College Bowl Games) / Askasleikir
B A A BO CO ER AN
BI ES EA C ET ÖF AS
C L L D HO OK EN
D R LE K IE ON ER
DO TT PO RE IL R FI
PR UB SU YC LL T KE
T UT UL Z R V LE
Pots / Pottaskefill
BE DE KE BR IC AS AN
CI E ON H NG C NG
ED FE R L NI EE SE
HA MO RR LI NS I SS
LI NÍ SA OR OU IO US
R PP TE RI TC KI VE
WA RT YM YL WE O ZE
Candles (Yankee Candle brands) / Kertasníkir
C AL CU AG C A AM
L CK DO EA EH HO IL
PO E ER I FL LE IN
RA ET N K KR N K
TE ND O KU L O MB
V O R Ó NB R P
VE ON TT T SO RO T
Meat / Ketkrókur
D A Æ BL DG H CK
DI AI GL L E I G
G AS IL LO GA IA IE
GL IR K M IG LA N
GU O LE NE OT NA NE
J OC R T UG O SS
ST S S YL US R T
Windows / Gluggagægir
DI AL E CU F ED E
H D EN F IZ EN N
L LL IP NU L I NG
LI NU MI RS PI IA R
MI O S SY SL KA SY
TE S U T T N T
UN Ú W UT WE U VE
Stubby (synonyms) / Stúfur
E A AS LE CA BL E
M E BO RI H DA ER
ME EK JA S MA IR ES
RA M NS T N K ET
SH RO P UI ST LL LE
WE UR R WH TA O RE
Z WA T Y Y ST RS
Sheep / Stekkjarstaur
KE Æ ð C AD A EN
LI HU EM IT CH AS LY
LO N GH LL ED BL ME
RU OU HE NG IN FI RE
SO ST LK OS QU H TO
T U N RM R I UE
TH VE RA TM Y IR YS
Doors (Songs by The Doors) / Hurðaskellir

There is one unused square left in each grid, and putting those in the canonical visitation order of the Yule Lads spells the clue "WHAT KARTÖFLUÆTURNAR MEANS"; that Icelandic word translates literally as THE POTATO EATERS.

Visitation Day Yule Lad English Name Unused Square
1 Stekkjarstaur Sheep-Cote Clod WH
2 Giljagaur Gully Gawk AT
3 Stúfur Stubby KA
4 Þvörusleikir Spoon-Licker RT
5 Pottaskefill Pot-Scraper ÖF
6 Askasleikir Bowl-Licker LU
7 Hurðaskellir Door-Slammer Æ
8 Skyrgámur Skyr-Gobbler T
9 Bjúgnakrækir Sausage-Swiper UR
10 Gluggagægir Window-Peeper NA
11 Gáttaþefur Doorway-Sniffer RM
12 Ketkrókur Meat-Hook EA
13 Kertasníkir Candle-Stealer NS