If you’ve ever watched The Nightmare Before Christmas, then you know that Jack Skellington fell in love with Christmas. (And who can blame him.) In the Disney classic, Jack learns that Halloween and Christmas just don’t mix. But it seems that Disney may have got it all wrong.
As many old traditions will tell, there’s a darker side to Christmas beyond the twinkling lights, joyful carolers, and stockings filled with treats.
In fact, for some children in the past, a sound on the roof might have them hiding under their beds rather than waiting anxiously for Santa during the longest nights of the year.
The mythical figure of Santa Claus (in one form or another) was around long before the church got a hold of pagan holidays and Christianized them into the Christmas most know and celebrate today.
In fact, most of our favorite Christmas traditions have roots in paganism.
If you’re brave enough, we’ll take a flying trip around the world. Let’s discover the mysterious creatures, frightful legends and ancient customs meant to keep naughty children on their best behavior and mischievous spirits at bay during the most wonderful time of the year. Join me as we explore the dark side of Christmas.
Krampus – The Christmas Demon
We’ll start with a fellow who seems to be enjoying a bit of a moment, Krampus, the Christmas Demon. This horned and furry demon hails from the Alpine regions of Austria and Germany. Depictions of him are truly nightmare-inducing.
Oddly enough, he’s the notorious traveling companion of Saint Nicholas himself. Whereas good ol’ St. Nick rewards the good children with treats, Krampus has the job of punishing the naughty ones. He’s often depicted carrying birch switches. There are even some versions of the tale where Krampus brings along a sack to carry off the truly wicked.
These days, Krampus Night is still celebrated on December 5th. People dress up as Krampus and roam the streets, trying to scare people, especially the younger generations. You can find Krampus Night celebrated beyond the Alps these days in many cities across Europe. This popular Christmas Demon is even enjoying a bit of a moment here in North America.
Thirteen Yule Lads
Dating back to pre-Christian times, you can find the Yule Lads in Icelandic folklore. These 13 mischievous trolls would descend from the mountains in the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. Originally, the Yule Lads were much scarier folkloric figures who would kidnap or terrify disobedient children. But over time, they’ve become portrayed more as playful pranksters.
Although, their mom, Gryla, a child-eating giantess, still gives kids a reason to behave…
Each Yule Lad has his own quirky personality trait and an equally odd name to go along with it. With names like Door Slammer, Sausage Swiper and Spoon Licker, it’s easy to tell what each trickster is known for.
The Yule Lads still play a part in Icelandic holiday celebrations. Children leave their shoes by the window each night, and if they’ve been good, they’ll find a small gift in the morning. Naughty children, however, receive a rotten potato. If you’ve ever smelled a rotten potato, you know to behave.
Frau Perchta – The Christmas Witch
Another petrifying figure descending from the Alps is Frau Perchta, the Christmas Witch. This traditional folk tale comes from Southern Germany and Austria.
She roams the countryside during the Twelve Days of Christmas, checking in to be sure children (and, in the past, servants) have behaved themselves.
Unlike some of the other characters on our list, it seems that Frau Perchta has gone out of fashion. It’s likely due to the horrific punishment she was known for – the lazy and dishonest were cut open, disemboweled and stuffed with straw and rocks.
Gosh, I can’t imagine why everyone was so eager to forget her.
Mari Lwyd
Mari Lwyd – part trick-or-treat, part rap battle. This Creepy Horse-Skull-Caroler thing from Wales seems like it should be straight out of Halloweentown rather than a Christmas tradition. With pagan roots, it became a tradition among the Welsh to cover a horse’s skull with a sheet, decorate it with ribbons and bells and take it with them wassailing.
These revelers would bring the “Gray Mare” to your door, sing traditional songs and sometimes challenge the occupants to a rhyming battle.
Mari Lwyd is supposedly a symbol of hope and wisdom in the darkest nights of the year. There is even a story that the living Mari Lwyd was in foal when Mary and Joseph turned up in the stable, and the horse was driven out to make room for the pair. Mari Lwyd was forced to wander in search of a safe place to birth her foal.
While the tradition is still kept alive in some parts of Wales, you can be thankful you won’t open the door to a floating horse’s skull this holiday season.
Gryla and the Yule Cat
Remember the thirteen lads and their mother, Gryla, from Iceland? Well, it turns out the giantess also has a giant pet cat. Gryla likes to snack on naughty children, while her cat, Jólakötturinn, likes to eat those who did not receive new clothing for Christmas. (I know, I was confused, too.)
Apparently, if you finished all your annual work (usually spinning) before Christmas, you would receive new clothes as a gift. If you didn’t receive new clothes, it was pretty obvious you shirked your duty; you lazy lay about.
The tale of Gryla and the Yule cat is a cautionary tale meant to encourage children to work hard and earn their Christmas gifts.
Kallikantzaroi
Our next stop is Greece and Southeast Europe, where we must keep a lookout for the small, mischievous Kallikantzaroi. These little underground-dwelling goblins come above ground during the Twelve Days of Christmas (the time between Christmas and Epiphany.)
Like most ancient trouble-makers, the Kallikantzaroi were known to play tricks on people and generally make a mess of the holidays.
They aren’t all that smart, though, and it’s easy to ward them off and keep them out of your home. It’s thought that keeping the fire lit will banish them as they fear light. They can’t count past three, so leave a colander outside your door, and the Kallikantzaroi will be stuck trying to count the holes, never getting past “three.”
La Befana
In the Italian Christmas legend of La Befana, the kindly Christmas witch rides a broomstick and delivers treats (or lumps of coal to naughty children) on Epiphany Eve (January 5th). She’s often dirty and smudged with soot since she hops down chimneys to make her delivery. (Sound like someone else you know?) The legend says she is searching for the baby Jesus because she missed an invitation to go along with the wise men to visit the child.
The story of la Befana was another attempt by the early church to turn pagans to Christianity by blending old pagan customs into new ones that focused on the new Christian religion.
You can still find La Befana in parades and Epiphany events throughout Italy, and children still leave out stockings for her to fill. Sorry, Santa, La Befana was here first.
The Tomte
Most of us think of cute little garden statues with red hats when we think of gnomes. And their likenesses are found everywhere these days. In their native Sweden, the Tomte (homestead man) might be cute, but they have a job to do. Said to be the soul of the first farmer, the Tomte guard and protect farms and animals.
They’re known to have very strict standards and a short fuse.
If you upset your farm’s Tomte, you’d better watch out. They’ve been known to play innocent tricks, such as letting the animals out of the barn, or when in a real temper, commit acts of violence, like killing off livestock.
For all of his hard work keeping the farm safe, all the Tomte asks for is a bowl of hot porridge with lots of butter each Christmas, and you’d better not skimp on the butter!
Père Fouettard
In northern France and certain parts of Belgium, you will find not Krampus but Père Fouettard traveling with St. Nick and dealing with the disobedient. Père Fouettard, meaning “Father Whipper,” leaves little doubt what will happen to those who misbehave.
There is one especially grisly version of the tale. It was said that Père Fouettard was a butcher who had a penchant for cooking children. But the good St. Nicholas punished him, and Fouettard was made to serve St. Nick for all eternity as the jolly Saint’s heavy.
If you enjoy things that go bump in the night and you’re looking for Christmas stories that are a bit less saccharin than the traditional fare, I highly encourage picking up either of these books. Both explore the ancient tales and traditions that evolved into the Christmas traditions we know and love today and are my main sources for this content.
“The Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World” by Tim Rayborn
“The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year” by Linda Raedisch
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