What is Iceland's Christmas monster called?

The Yule Cat, known as Jólakötturinn, a huge and vicious cat who is described as lurking about the snowy countryside during Christmas time and eating people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve.

Does Iceland have Krampus?

As many countries do, Iceland celebrates Chrismas mostly with good food and gifts to loved ones, but unlike most countries that have a single Father Christmas / Santa Claus character, Icelandic children are fortunate enough to be visited by 13 Yule Lads.

What is the Iceland Christmas myth?

Icelandic children get to enjoy the favors of not one but 13 Father Christmases. Called the Yule Lads, these merry but mischievous fellows take turns visiting kids on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. On each of those nights, children place one of their shoes on the windowsill.

What are the Christmas trolls in Iceland?

The Yule lads (Jólasveinar) are trolls who live in undisclosed locations in the mountains or highlands, but come to town, one by one, during December. The total number of the Yule lads varies in old stories, but in the 19th and early 20th century the tradition of 13 lads became universal.

What is the legend of Grýla?

Grýla in Norse mythology is a mountain ogre with ill intent towards humans and her name in Icelandic means “growler”. The first recorded reference to her came in the 13th century in the Icelandic book, Prose Edda, at which point she was not yet associated with Christmas.

What is Iceland's Christmas monster called?

How do you pronounce Grýla?

Who is the evil Christmas monster?

Krampus

Krampus is perhaps the most feared creature in all Christmas folklore. Half-goat, half-demon, he's Santa's evil counterpart and punishes the naughty children, while Santa leaves gifts for the nice ones. But unlike Santa, he doesn't just appear on the 25th of December.

What are the 13 trolls of Iceland?

On the 13 nights leading up to Christmas, Icelandic homes are visited by the 13 Yule Lads ("Jólasveinar") – creatures from festive Nordic folklore. Starting on 12 December, they descend one by one from the mountains. According to legend, the Yule Lads are the sons of a troll named Grýla.

What is the Christmas cat in Iceland?

The Yule Cat, known as Jólakötturinn, a huge and vicious cat who is described as lurking about the snowy countryside during Christmas time and eating people who have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. He is the house pet of Grýla and her sons.

What is the Viking Christmas called?

The celebration included drinking, feasting, songs, games, banquets, and sacrifices for the gods and the ancestor spirits for 12 days straight. They called it “Yule” which is pronounced the same as the word for Christmas in Norway today “Jul”.

What's the name of the Christmas witch?

The Befana or La Befana, who enlivens the holiday of Epiphany at the beginning of the New Year, is also known as Italy's Christmas Witch.

What is the name of the Christmas monster?

Krampus, in central European popular legend, a half-goat, half-demon monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. He is the devilish companion of St. Nicholas. Krampus is believed to have originated in Germany, and his name derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw.”

What do Icelanders call elves?

Elves in Iceland are called álfafólk and are more like the elves you imagine. Think little beings with pointed shoes and colourful dress, complete with jingling bells bouncing off their hats. Huldufólk means 'hidden people', and nowadays refers to a different type of elf that are closer in resemblance to humans.

What is the top predator in Iceland?

Are there any dangerous animals in Iceland? Not really, the island is thankfully free of large predators. The only native mammal in Iceland is the Arctic fox, which due to its isolation in Iceland for 10000 years is now its own species called Alopex lagopus fuliginosus.

What are 3 Christmas traditions in Iceland?

Icelanders need to be sure that their houses are clean, the Christmas decorations are taken down, and the tree is no longer in the living room. There are also bonfires on this night as well to say farewell to this holidays season.

What is Santa called in Iceland?

What is Santa Claus called in Iceland? The short answer is: There is no Santa Claus, but there are 13 Yule Lads! They're called "Jolasveinar" in Icelandic and named after their characteristics. The Icelandic Yule Lads live in the highlands with their troll parents, Gryla and Leppaludi.

What is a female gnome called?

De Villars used the term gnomide to refer to female gnomes (often "gnomid" in English translations). Modern fiction instead uses the word "gnomess" to refer to female gnomes.

What does a Nisse look like?

They are generally described as being short, having a long white beard, and wearing a conical or knit cap in gray, red or some other bright colour. They often have an appearance somewhat similar to that of a garden gnome.

Are elves and trolls the same?

The Main Categories of Mythical Beings in Iceland

That being said, Trolls and Hidden People/Elves are distinct entities. Trolls are the only ones who have corporeal bodies, meaning they exist in the flesh. The others only exist in the spirit. In other words, Trolls are invisible while the others are invisible.

Why do Icelanders believe in trolls?

According to Icelandic folklore, trolls lived in the mountains and only came down from them to forage for food. Trolls can only survive in the darkness of night (guess they just stayed home for the endless daylight in summer then) and if they were caught in the sunlight they would immediately turn to stone.

What did Norse trolls look like?

Trolls of the mountain and of the forest

They're generally depicted as large, dumb, brutish creatures akin to a large neanderthal.

What is Krampus real name?

In most parts of Slovenia, whose culture was greatly affected by Austrian culture, Krampus is called parkelj and is one of the companions of Miklavž, the Slovenian form of St. Nicholas.

What are the creepy Santa names?

Those names include Knecht Ruprecht, Certa, Perchten, Black Peter, Schmutzli, Pelznickel, and Klaubauf.

What is the evil Santa's name?

The ancient goat-demon from Germany has become more and more popular in recent years.