Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December as the birth of Jesus Christ. For children, this is the time of the year when they are visited by Santa Claus to receive gifts and candy. But what happens to the ones that misbehave? Who visits them? As the carol goes:
‘He knows if you’ve been good or bad,
So be good for goodness sake!’
1. Krampus
Origin: Believed to be Germany
Depicted as a half-goat, half-demon being, Krampus is one of the more popular creatures in Christmas folklore, with a well-received movie Krampus released in 2015. Alongside Santa Claus, he visits children, only to punish them. The disobedient children receive coal, get beaten by branches, are eaten, or are placed in his satchel and taken to hell.
Krampus also holds some festivities to his name. Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) is celebrated on the 5th of December when people dress up as the creature. One of the events held is Krampuslauf (Krampus Run): A procession of men and women dressed up as Krampus gather on the streets, dancing, stealing hats, and distributing Krampus schnapps to adults.
2. Babushka
Origin: Russian
Also known as La Befana in Italy, Babushka resembles an old witch in search of Jesus Christ ever since she missed his birth. The story goes that she was visited by the three kings, also known as the wise men, who invited her to join them on their journey to find Jesus Christ’s birthplace. However, she had refused because she had chores to complete which she later came to regret.
Babushka is one of the more harmless Christmas figures who only delivers light punishments. She enters homes and leaves gifts for the good and coal for the unruly. If you awaken during her visit, expect to be smacked by her broom.
3. Perchta
Origin: Germany
Existing in two forms, Perchta both rewards and punishes. She appears as a beautiful woman with skin as white as snow or as an old and haggard woman with one large foot. If a child misbehaved, she arrived to gut out their intestines and fill their stomachs with garbage.
4. Grýla
Origin: Iceland
This giant ogress has an unquenchable thirst for the meat of mischievous children. Grýla resides in her cave in the mountains with her large (literally) family consisting of her husband, her 13 sons and her house cat.
Every Christmas, she leaves her home in the mountains to seek out misbehaving children. Once found, she kidnaps them to be taken back to her cave. Here, she cooks them into her favourite meal, a stew.
Grýla’s sons are known as the Yule Lads, with their names describing their favourite method of harassment.
5. The Yule Lads
Origin: Iceland
Despite hailing from a rather ghastly mother, the Yule Lads do not resort to violent measures. For the 13 days until Christmas, children are visited by one Yule Lad each day. In their wake, they leave behind a gift for good children or a rotten potato for bad children. Typically, these are placed in a shoe that the child leaves on their windowsill.
The names of each Yule Lad correspond to their favourite pranks. My personal favourites are ‘Spoon-licker’; ‘Pot Scraper’ who steals unwashed pots to lick clean; ‘Skyr Gobbler’ who eats all the Icelandic yoghurt; and ‘Sausage Swiper’ who steals sausages.
6. The Yule Cat
Origin: Iceland
The Yule Cat is Grýla and her family’s house cat. With family, it is simply a pet. To anyone else, child or adult, the Yule Cat is a giant monster who lurks in the towns during Christmas. Otherwise known as Jólakötturinn, it hunts down and devours anyone who has not received a new article of clothing.