Christmas is just around the corner and people of the world start celebrating, each in their own way. Most of us consider the Christmas holidays to be a time of joy, filled with song and light and love. In some countries, this merriment has a dark side as well. Let’s take a look at some of the Christmas Frights and Freaks from around Europe and the world.
- Grýla
Grýla is an important Christmas tradition in Iceland. She is a terrifying and hideous ogress who feasts on naughty children. She is the mother of the 13 Yule Lads. Grýla can detect misbehaving children year-round but during Christmas time she travels from her cave in the mountains to search nearby towns for a meal. She rampages homes and puts naughty children into her big sack to carry them back to her cave where she devours them. She most enjoys eating the children in a stew. According to legend, there has never been a shortage of food for Grýla.
- The Yule Cat
The Yule Cat is another Icelandic Christmas fiend. Some say it is the house cat of Grýla and that it lives with her in her cave. The Yule Cat is huge and vicious and lurks about during Christmas time and eats people who have not received new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. Another interpretation is that the cat merely eats away the food of those who did not receive new clothing. To this day Icelandic children wait in fear of not getting new clothing and hoping that they will not be eaten by the cat.
- Krampus
In Austria you will find the delightful tradition of Krampus, the Christmas demon. He is a beast-like creature who punishes misbehaving children during the Christmas season, in contrast with Saint Nicholas who rewards the good boys and girls. Children who are particularly naughty should be very afraid, as Krampus might drag them off into the black forest. On the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicholas Day) it is custom for young men to dress up as Krampus and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. They wear scary devil masks and hit people with sticks.
- Belsnickel
Is another creepy looking figure hailing from Germany. Belsnickel wears torn, tattered and dirty clothes and a coat of fur. He is typically very ragged and mean looking. The Belsnickel shows up at homes 1-2 weeks before Christmas and he carries a switch in his hand with which he beats naughty children. He also bears gifts for the well-behaved children.
- Le Père Fouettard
This character can be seen during Christmas in Belgium and France. His name translates to ‘Whipping Father’ so you can imagine the joy accompanied with him. It is said that Le Père Fouettard began his career as an innkeeper, kidnapper and murderer. One day three rich boys came to stay at his inn. Le Père Fouettard decided to capture and murder the boys and take their money. He apparently tried to cook up some dead boys stew with the bodies, but lo and behold, enter Saint Nicholas. Nicholas resurrects the boys and asks the Whipping Father to become his companion. Which he accepted, and now he is the official whipper of naughty boys and girls during Christmas.
- The Caganer
The Nativity scene is a popular Christmas tradition around the world. There you have Baby Jesus, Maria, Josef and the rest of the entourage. In Catalonia, they do it a bit differently. They add in a figurine depicting The Caganer, which means ‘Shitter’. Traditionally this is a figurine of a peasant, wearing the traditional Catalan red cap and with his trousers down, showing a bare backside, and defecating.
- Caga Tió
As if the pooping guy is not enough, in Catalonia they also have the Tió de Nadal aka Caga Tio, a Christmas log that poops out presents. The log stands on two stick legs and has a very happy face painted on one end and it is wearing a red Catalan barretina hat. The tradition goes as follows: From Dec, 8 until Christmas Eve on Dec, 24 children feed the log, pamper it and look after it. The Caga Tio even gets a blanket to keep it warm at night. On Christmas Eve the Caga Tió is put very close to the fireplace. Children then sing a special song to get the log to poo some presents like nuts, and dried fruit. While they are singing the happy song, the kids hit the log with a stick.
Here are English lyrics to the Caga Tió song:
Poop Log,
Poop tourrón (nougats),
Hazelnuts and mató cheese,
If you don’t poop well,
I’ll hit you with a stick,
Poop log!
- Spiders in the Christmas tree.
Ukranian Christmas trees are not covered in glittering ornaments and tinsel. Instead they are covered with artificial spiders and cobwebs. This tradition is based on a local folklore about a poor woman who could not afford decorations for her Christmas tree. When her children woke up the next morning, they saw that the tree was covered in webs and when the first light of Christmas morning touched the threads of the webs, they turned into gold and silver and the family was never left for wanting again. Seeing a spider wed on Christmas morning is thus considered a sign of luck.
