History Nugget: Christmas Legends & Lore

I’ve always found it interesting that each culture celebrates the holiday season in their own unique way. Our family started a new tradition last year based on an Icelandic tradition. You see, Iceland sells more books per capita than any other country in the world, and the majority are sold leading up to Christmas. In Iceland this is known as the Christmas Book Flood. The tradition is that everyone must receive a book for Christmas to take to bed on Christmas Eve along with some chocolates. Try it!

Anyway, the point of this little (or long, sorry, much longer then I thought it would be) history nugget is to talk about Christmas legends and lore from around the world and of course, I’ve gotta start with Krampus!

Krampus is, for all intents and purposes, Santa Claus’ anthropomorphic counterpart. He goes door to door punishing those unruly children who made the naughty list. Half goat and half demon, Krampus comes around on December 5^thfollowing jolly ole’ St. Nick. Legend has it that during the Christmas season, misbehaved kids are beaten with birch branches or can even disappear. Those kids are stuffed into Krampus’ sack and hauled off to his lair (some think he resides in Hell) to be tortured and/or eaten.

“Nikolaus and Krampus in Austria.” Wikimedia.

In order to save the naughty children, offerings to Krampus are left out around Christmas time. His drink of choice is apparently schnapps. I wonder what flavor? I’m also surprised it’s not something a little harder then schnapps. Haha In homes where particularly naughty children live, Krampus leaves behind bundles of twigs painted gold, which are hung up in the house all year as a reminder of the punishments that await disobedient children. That’s some expert level parenting.

“Greeting From Krampus” Source:
Historie čertů Krampus and Wikimedia.

Although he is Santa’s counterpart, his roots actually don’t have anything to do with the Christmas holiday. His legend actually dates back to pre-Germanic paganism. According to Smithsonian Magazine, “His name originates with the German krampen, which means “claw,” and tradition has it that he is the son of the Norse god of the underworld, Hel.” And because Krampus looks an awful lot like the devil, during the 12^thcentury the Church attempted to eliminate Krampus festivals and parades.

History Nugget: Christmas Legends and Lore. Including Krampus, Yule Goat, and The Thirteen Yule Lads. You don't wanna miss this! Visit www.threelegsoneworld.com/historynugxmanlegendslore

Most who continue to celebrate Krampus today just do it in good fun. Lienz, Austria has an annual Krampus parade. The tradition is for young men in town to dress up as the mythical creature. They parade through the streets in an ancient pagan ritual designed to disperse winter’s ghosts. Of course the parade wouldn’t be complete without fur-suits, carved wooden masks and cowbells. Krampus has seen a resurgence throughout Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. He’s even gained recognition in the United States, where Orlando, Florida is hosting a Krampusnacht Festival (https://www.facebook.com/orlandokrampusnacht/).

PS: There is actually a pretty funny American Dad episode based around Krampus that you should check out. Oh, and don’t forget the Krampus movie that came out a few years ago!

“Glædelig Jul, 1885” Artist Unknown. Wikimedia.

You know all of those cute little Christmas gnomes you’ve been seeing everywhere over the past few years? Those are based on the tomte (Swedish) or the nisse (Norwegian). Both are solitary, mischievous domestic gnomes responsible for the protection and welfare of the farmstead. They are small, only a few feet tall at most, creatures that appear during the Scandinavian Christmas season. Most of these gnomes are dressed in a red pointed hat and sporting a long white beard. The nisse/tomte’s fashion sense is indicative of 17th century rural life.

“*God Jul.”* *Jenny Nyström*. Wikimedia.

The tomte/nisse dwells in the pantry or barn and watches over the household and farm. His responsibilities include caring for the farm animals, especially the horses. He has an immense capacity for work but will not tolerate interference. And these little guys reported having tempers! Although they require very little from the humans they work for they do demand complete trust and respect. Oh, and a bowl of Christmas porridge with butter on Christmas Eve. He considers the porridge his dues and there are consequences if he does not get his dues.

Those who overlook his Christmas Eve porridge supposedly fall victim to malicious pranks. One legend even tells that anyone foolish enough to eat the porridge themselves could land a vicious beating from this spiteful Christmas spirits. So if you have a tomte or nisse please don’t forget the Christmas Eve porridge!! Interestingly, some legends claim that the nisse is the soul of the first person that worked the land, the one who built the house and cleared the farm.

However, the legendary nisse/tomte slowly became more like Santa Claus, delivering presents and having a disposition more cheerful than malicious. In fact, the modern version of the tomte/nisse is quite different from the legends of the domestic gnome. The julenisse is basically Santa Claus and is portrayed as an older, cheerful man with a long white beard and a red suit and hat.

“Goes to the storehouse and toolshop doors,
Checking the locks of all,
While the cows dream on in the cold moon’s light,
Summer dreams in each stall.
And free of harness and whip and rein,
Even Old Pålle dreams again.
The manger he’s drowsing over
Brims with fragrant clover.
The tomte glances at sheep and lambs
Cuddled in quiet rest.
The chickens are next, where the rooster roosts
High above straw filled nests.
Burrowed in straw, hearty and hale,
Karo wakens and wags his tail
As if to say, “Old friend, “Partners we are to the end.”
– Viktor Rydberg

“‘Old Christmas’, shown riding a Yule Goat.” “The Book of Christmas” by Thomas Kibble Hervey. Wikimedia.

The nisse/tomte is regularly seen alongside the figure of the Yule goat, another age-old Scandinavian Christmas tradition. According to legend, Thor’s chariot was pulled by Tanngnjostr and Tanngrisnir, a pair of goats. Within each Scandinavian culture the Yule Goat means something different. For instance, in Sweden, the Yule goat was regarded as an invisible spirit that would appear before Christmas to make sure that the Yule preparations were done.

In a Scandinavian tradition similar to the English tradition of wassailing (Christmas caroling), young men in costumes would walk from house to house singing songs, performing plays and playing pranks. This tradition began in the 17th century and continues in certain areas today. This often included the Yule goat, a rowdy and scary creature demanding gifts. By the 19^thcentury the Yule goat’s role in Scandinavia shifted, as the goat became the giver of Christmas gifts. This required one of the men in the family to dress up as the Yule goat.

“Straw goat from Poland, Carpathian Mts foothills, Sanok.” Silar. Wikimedia.

Today the Yule goat is mostly seen as a Christmas ornament. The modern version of the goat figure is usually a decorative goat made out of straw and bound with red ribbon. However, there are still towns and cities that erect large versions of the Yule Goat ornament around the holiday season. An example of this is the Gävle Goat, a giant traditional Swedish Yule Goat made of straw, erected in each year since 1966.

The Thirteen Yule Lads are Iceland’s naughty version of Santa. These cheerful but mischievous fellows take turns visiting children on the 13 nights before Christmas. On each of those 13 nights, it is tradition for children to place a shoe on the windowsill. For good boys and girls, the Yule Lad leaves candy. Unfortunately, for the naughty children, the Yule Lads are not delicate in communicating their disapproval. The Lad expresses dissatisfaction in the kids behavior by filling the shoe with rotting potatoes. Lesson of the story: don’t find yourself on the naughty list in Iceland.

It’s really not good to be a naughty child in Iceland because there is another evil to contend with, Grýla. A giantess who just so happens to be the Yule Lads mother. She’s even mentioned by Snorri Sturluson in the Edda. However, she wasn’t directly linked to the Christmas season until the 17^thcentury. Every year during the holiday season, she goes in search of her favorite meal, naughty children. She leaves her cave and hunts for the naughty children, devouring them as her favorite snack. She also uses them as the main ingredient in her specialty, naught children stew for which she has an insatiable appetite. Um, gross.

The thirteen Yule lads, plus their awful mother and father (Iceland.Is)

Today the Yule Lads are often associated with Santa Claus, however, early versions of the Yule Lads were pretty cruel. In fact, in 1746 parents were officially banned from tormenting their kids with the stories of Grýla and the Yule Lads. Each one was given a name that reflected their creepy actions. For example, Spoon-Licker, Pot-Scraper, Bowl-Licker, Door-Slammer, Sausage-Swiper, Window-Peeper, Doorway-Sniffer, and Meat-Hook. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite here I think it’s a 3-way tie between Window Peeper, Meat Hook, and Doorway Sniffer.

“Askasleikir (Bowl Licker) licks bowls.”

But wait, there is even more to love about this Icelandic legend, Grýla and the Yule Lads have a pet! The Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn), and according to legend, this vicious feline eats anyone who doesn’t get new clothes before Christmas Eve. The threat of being eaten by the ferocious cat was used by farmers as an incentive for their workers to finish processing the wool from autumn before Christmas.

The Grinch and Max.
Dr. Seuss. Wikimedia.

No, this one isn’t based on legend or lore but it just so happens that December 18, 1966 was the day the Grinch first aired. Being that it’s December 18, I just couldn’t miss the opportunity to bring him up. Almost a century after it’s first airing, How The Grinch Stole Christmas! has exceeded any and all expectations and has become a Christmas classic. I know I love it!

Jim Carey and Taylor Momsen in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

I never knew this but the story of the Grinch, set in Whoville, was based on Ted Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss’) hometown of Easthampton, Massachusetts. The mountain that the Grinch calls home, Mount Crumpit, was actually based on Mount Tom. The cartoon version of the Grinch was the most expensive animated program made by CBS at the time.

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)” Source.

So this holiday season take a lesson from the Grinch:

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!” – Dr. Seuss, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” – Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!