Untold Christmas Tales

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Peak Student Media Leave a comment

Christmas time is usually a time for joy, giving, and family. It’s a cheerful season made for people to enjoy themselves. However, many cultures take a darker approach to the holiday. There are many untold stories of creatures who punish those who do not please them.

Krampus

Krampus is a creature from German folklore. His appearance varied from tale to tale; however, there was a motif of him having dark hair/fur, cloven hooves, and large horns. On Christmas he would assist Saint Nicolas, who would deliver treats to all of the well behaved children. On the other hand, if a child was ill behaved, Krampus would punish them, usually with a birch rod.

Nisse

Nisse are small creatures associated with winter and Christmas time from Norwegian culture. They were usually depicted as elderly men, half the size of an adult man, displaying a full white beard, and farmer’s clothing. They are said to have immense strength, shapeshifting abilities, and a short temper. This short temper causes them to wreak havoc amongst those who displease them. It is believed that if you leave a bowl of porridge, with the butter on top, on your porch, on Christmas Eve, the Nisse will take the gift. However, if they are displeased or do not receive the gift, they often destroy property and/or kill livestock in a fit of rage.

Hans Trapp

Hans Trapp was a German/French tale of an evil demon man. He was inspired by a medieval knight who had a land dispute with the church. He’s dressed as a devilish scarecrow and roams the roads looking for children to feast on.

Yule Cat

The Yule Cat is an Icelandic monster, portrayed as a giant cat that towers over houses. During the holidays children are rewarded with new clothing for completing their chores and being well behaved. The Yule Cat prowls through the town checking to see what children have received for Christmas. If they do not receive any new clothes, the Yule Cat assumes they’re ill behaved and lazy and eats them.

Frau Perchta

Perchta is the legend of a pagan goddess from Germany. She’s associated with the Feast of Epiphany and the Twelve Days of Christmas. She goes around during the holiday season ensuring that people are properly celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. If they weren’t, she would punish them.

Christmas is a time of celebration and joy. We should especially remember to celebrate the fact that Christmas is a lot lighter and cozier, compared to these dark spooky tales.

Sources:

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/12/20/scary-christmas-stories-krampus-belsnickel-yule-lads/10897645002/