The witch Frau Perchta, the demon Krampus… are among the terrifying creatures associated with Christmas.
Monsters of Christmas
In many countries, the Christmas tradition encourages children to do good deeds to receive gifts from Santa Claus. At the same time, it serves as a warning that they may face punishment for their wrongdoings.
The characters in Christmas tales are not limited to the kind Santa Claus but also include villains—monsters that instill fear in children, making them more obedient. These antagonists come with various names, appearances, and are found in different regions…
1. The Yule Cat
The Yule Cat is a creature from Icelandic folklore. This massive and malevolent cat lurks in snowy rural areas during the Christmas season, preying on those who do not receive new clothes before the holiday.
According to the customs of many Icelandic families, those who complete their tasks on time are rewarded with money to buy new clothes for Christmas, while the lazy receive nothing.
To encourage children to work hard, parents often tell stories about the Yule Cat, claiming it knows which children are lazy and will eat them. The fear of being devoured by the Yule Cat serves as motivation for Icelanders to work diligently during the harvest season before Christmas.
Additionally, it acts as a reminder for children to assist their parents to acquire new clothes. Thus, it is no surprise that many note Icelanders tend to spend more time working than other Europeans.
2. The witch Frau Perchta
Stories from Germany and Austria depict a witch named Frau Perchta. She has the power to “grant” both rewards and punishments during the 12 days of Christmas.
Frau Perchta is also known for her peculiar method of punishing wrongdoers—by removing their internal organs and replacing them with garbage.
The tale of Perchta is believed to originate from a mythical Alpine goddess – the goddess of nature, who remains hidden in the forest all year round and only interacts with humans during Christmas. This goddess observes human behavior throughout the year and punishes those who commit many offenses during the Christmas season.
3. Zwarte Piet the chimney sweep
Zwarte Piet, also known as Black Peter, is Santa Claus’s assistant in Dutch tales. Although not a monster, he punishes those with bad attitudes or misbehavior during the Christmas season.
Historical accounts suggest that around the 1850s, naughty children were warned that Zwarte Piet would kidnap them from their parents and take them to faraway Spain. He is portrayed as a large figure with a face as black as coal.
Additionally, other versions suggest that he is a chimney sweep, which explains his darkened appearance.
4. The grumpy Belsnickel
Belsnickel is a male character in the folklore of southwestern Germany. About 1-2 weeks before Christmas, Belsnickel often appears outside homes to frighten children, especially those who misbehave and do not listen to their parents.
He usually dresses in ragged, dirty clothes and has a grumpy, stern expression. He carries a stick or a branch, ready to punish naughty children.
In some versions, to test children’s honesty and behavior, he often asks them to sing or answer questions. If they are good, he will throw candy on the ground; if he encounters naughty children, they won’t escape his stick.
Although they are not physically harmed, children always feel terrified and strive to be more obedient to receive gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. The tradition of children trying to be good and listening to their parents also exists in some regions of Newfoundland (Canada) and among some Brazilian communities in Santa Catarina.
5. The demon Krampus
Krampus means “claw”, and this creature is described as a demon. It originates from German folklore, but its influence has spread far beyond Germany, reaching Austria, Hungary, Slovenia…
For those living in the Alps, alongside Santa Claus, he is an indispensable figure during the Christmas season. Krampus is depicted as a demonic figure with a half-human, half-goat body, long horns, and a beard. He carries chains and a bundle of birch branches to whip naughty children (as opposed to Santa Claus, who gives gifts).
Krampus’s appearance varies by region and country: he may have a face reminiscent of a demon, goat, or bat, but can also be… as cute as a Snowman.
However, the depiction of this demon always features some distinctive traits: dark fur, one leg resembling a human and the other a horse’s, along with a long, dangling tongue.
Originally, Krampus was not associated with Christianity. He is said to be the son of the goddess Hel in Norse mythology.
However, there are no verified records regarding the origin of this demon. According to some information, the legend of Krampus is believed to have originated from oral stories before the Common Era. But it wasn’t until the 17th century that Krampus was incorporated into Christmas celebrations alongside Saint Nicholas (the embodiment of Santa Claus) and was considered his “evil version.”
Why is it called the evil version? This is because the feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on December 6 in many European countries. And just before this holiday, December 5 is the day when Krampus reigns.
According to legend, on the night of December 5, this demon visits each home—just like Santa Claus. However, instead of giving children gifts and candy, Krampus punishes naughty children with a stick.
He might even stuff them into a sack and throw them into a river, or simply take them straight to hell.
On this day, people in Austria and several European countries dress up as Krampus demons and participate in the Krampuslauf race.
They typically wear intricately designed Krampus costumes, complete with carved wooden masks, bells, and chains, as they race through the town.
A unique aspect of this race is that participants are allowed to… hit the spectators. Much like the figure of Krampus who punishes naughty children with birch branches, festival participants on this day can do the same. They usually target the legs and thighs, with teenagers being the primary victims.
In the spirit of the festival, any bruises and fright experienced by the onlookers are often overlooked.
Another tradition in Styria (a region in southeastern Austria) that continues to this day is that those dressed as Krampus visit homes carrying painted birch branches to give to children.
Families hang these branches on their walls for the entire year as a “reminder” for their children to behave if they don’t want to be punished by Krampus.
Today, the wooden masks used in Krampus races are considered a traditional art form worthy of preservation. They are often meticulously hand-carved and feature unique designs.
In the cities of Kitzbühel and Stallhofen in Austria and Germany, there are museums dedicated to Krampus, showcasing traditional costumes and historical masks used for this festive celebration.
Krampus is one of the iconic figures with significant cultural meaning across many European countries. This mythical creature is becoming increasingly recognized in the United States and Asia, serving as a “unique twist” for those tired of the typical “indulgent spirit” of the holiday season.
The Krampus Demon is the opposite counterpart to Santa Claus, tasked with punishing all naughty children. When he discovers misbehaving kids, Krampus will stuff them into his sack and take them to his lair, where he administers various terrifying punishments. As a result, children fear Krampus, prompting them to behave better.
6. Gryla the Troll
According to Icelandic legend, Gryla is a female troll living in the mountains. This wicked character has cloven hooves, horns, 13 tails, a large nose, and is covered in warts.
Gryla’s origins trace back to pagan times, later evolving into a figure used to scare children. On Christmas Eve, Gryla descends from the mountains to visit towns and cities, seeking out naughty children. The troll then returns to her cave with a sack full of crying children, boiling and eating them.
7. Hans Trapp
Hans Trapp is a character from the Christmas folklore of the Alsace and Lorraine regions of France. Legend has it that Trapp was a wealthy, greedy, and wicked man who worshipped Satan and was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. He was banished to the forest, disguising himself as a scarecrow wrapped in clothes to hunt children. He appears in December before Christmas to frighten naughty kids while rewarding the well-behaved with gifts.
This character shares similarities with other monsters such as Belsnickel (Southwest Germany), Houseker (Luxembourg), Knecht Ruprecht (Germany), Krampus (Tyrol, Alto Adige, and Trentino), Père Fouettard (various regions of France), Schmutzli (Switzerland), and Piet (Netherlands).
8. Père Fouettard
French folklore tells of Père Fouettard, a wicked butcher who craved to eat children. He and his wife lured three boys into his butcher shop to kill, dismember, and prepare them as meat. Saint Nicholas arrived to rescue them, reviving the boys and claiming the butcher as his servant. The imprisoned butcher became Père Fouettard, tasked with dispensing punishment to naughty children on Saint Nicholas Day.
9. Yule Lads
The Yule Lads, also known as Jólasveinar, are 13 mischievous trolls from Iceland, each with a distinct name and personality. In ancient times, they would steal and cause trouble during Christmas, often scaring children into behaving, much like the Christmas cat. However, since the 20th century, these trolls in Norway have been known to bring gifts to well-behaved children while being fierce and frightening to the naughty ones.
10. Mari Lwyd
The Mari Lwyd (Horse Skull) from Wales is typically draped in a long cloak, accompanied by a group of people chanting, creating an eerie atmosphere. This character often appears on New Year’s Eve.
11. Kallikantzari
These are trolls that usually dwell underground, choosing the period about 12 days before Christmas to emerge and disrupt the peaceful lives of humans.
In Greece, there is a belief that an underworld truly exists, inhabited by a plant known as the “tree of the dead” called Kallikantzari.
This tree can extend its branches above ground, seizing those it desires to bring to its world, from which they can never return.
