If she finds a child who has been well-behaved, then she may feel inclined to leave him a small gift. It may be that this lump of coal is related to the pagan burning of women to bring in the new year. Every year in the Swedish town of Gavle, they erect a very large Yule Goat. In Sweden, Father Christmas did not always have a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Men dressed as Krampus run through the streets armed with bundles of birch twigs to beat bad people. With his round big belly and iconic long white beard, Old Saint Nick has brought joy to millions of children around the world. Each of the Yule Lads has a name that relates to his obsession. Constantly tinkering the broken furnace and swearing all the time, he is caring but also stern and overall a really loveable character. Within the movie, The Old Man is one of the best characters, playing a classic father from that time period. If La Befana finds you have been good, she will fill your socks with goodies. According to one tradition, La Befana was visited by the Wise Men on their way to see the infant Jesus. The Little Drummer Boy is a famous character from a Christmas song composed by Katherine Davis that was originally known as "Carol of the Drum." She declined. As if Gryla was not sufficiently wicked, she also has a bad-tempered Yule Cat, Jolakotturinn, that acts as a fashion critic at Christmas. If those outside can verbally beat those inside, then the Mari Lwyd will enter the home and supposedly bring luck. Throughout Britain, there are many ancient traditions of “hooded animals” being used in parades. However, her name is derived from Epiphany, the Christian feast during which she appears. Needless to say, the changing standards of the modern world have led to this tradition being reinterpreted as outrageously racist. And each year, someone sets fire to the goat. Frau Perchta tours homes during the 12 days of Christmas. A Christmas Story is one of the most iconic holiday movies ever made and is one that is often run on cable during this time of year. Where once the half-goat demon was hardly known outside of Central Europe, he can be found now in horror films, novels, and TV programs throughout the English-speaking world. In 1746, Icelandic parents were banned from scaring their children with stories of the Yule Lads, suggesting that these characters used to have more than rotting vegetables in their arsenal. This cantankerous and greedy old businessman, whose favorite line is "Bah, humbug," cannot fathom why he should give his employee the day off simply because it is Christmas.Dickens describes Scrooge as "A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, … Every year, you can be sure of one fight at Christmas: Is Zwarte Piet a racist caricature? Five magical Christmas characters: 1. Santa Claus – The most popular of all Christmas characters is, you guessed it is Santa. To avoid the Kallikantzaroi wreaking destruction in your home, you can employ a number of tactics. When the Yule Cat spots a child in old clothes, it eats the poor kid.[5]. The occupants of the house will respond with witty verses of their own. In Wales, that costume is just a fleshless horse skull. How does Perchta judge the naughtiness of a child? She looks at your spinning. As with another Christmas character who spends his time distributing gifts and coal, it is traditional to leave out some food and drink for La Befana. Or at least as much luck as a skull on a stick can offer. Just off to the side of the Holy Family will be a figurine explicitly shown with his pants down in the act of pooping. Frau Perchta may have her origins in the pagan religions which dominated the area before the coming of Christianity, but she has maintained a role in the modern world. At some point, she became more associated with Christmas and has put her nasty talents to festive use. But no matter how odd it seems to receive gifts from a jolly fat man on a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, Santa is not the strangest character who pops up in Christmas folklore. The role of Dutch traders in the slave trade is an aspect of their history that many Dutch people seem unwilling to examine. While Saint Nicholas visits people to spread cheer and gifts, his companion Krampus comes to punish the wicked or even carry off wicked children.[9]. All the characters are familiar—Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, the shepherds, and the animals. If she discovers a naughty child, then she gets out her knife. She also has a fearsome cat. La Befana from Italy is another guest who would probably appreciate it if you swept your chimney. This is not because it supports the commercialization of Christmas. And that role is horrific. One way to ward off the attention of Krampus is to offer him strong alcohol. Later changing her mind, she never could find them or Jesus. Sophia Ihlefeld. Gryla is a troll who has been mentioned in Icelandic folklore since at least the 13th century. A reveler hides underneath a cloth with an animal costume above. Stubby is a short lad who will steal food from the frying pan. If she finds any bad children, she stuffs them in her sack and carries them away to devour later. Dec 08, 2015. 6 Gryla And The Yule Cat. The origin of the Caganer is not known. 5567 One of the best parts about Christmas is snuggling up with a mug of hot chocolate and watching all of your favorite holiday movies! In recent years, local officials have tried to stop this arsonist tradition by making the straw used in the Yule Goat’s construction less flammable, putting cameras nearby to catch any attempts, and even posting guards. As with another Christmas character who spends his time distributing gifts and coal, it is traditional to leave out some food and drink for La Befana. The feast of Saint Nicholas, one of the original sources of Father Christmas, falls on December 6. While the original Caganer was a farmer, you can purchase modern figurines caught in the act of defecation which represent a variety of famous people and fictional characters. In parts of the German and Austrian Alps roams a terrifying character who can be either somewhat friendly or brutally mean. Having pulled out your innards, she will stuff you with straw and sew you back up. Some defenders of the Zwarte Piet character say that his dark skin is caused by his climbing in and out of chimneys. This allows the World Tree to heal so that the Kallikantzaroi will never actually destroy the world. Subcategories. The food varies across the regions of Italy, but every house leaves her a glass of wine. Boston College. On the night of January 5, La Befana, a hideous old witch, will descend the chimney and judge all the children of the home. This category is for mythical and/or fictional characters who play a role in Christmas. Christmas is coming, and children are writing their letters to Father Christmas or Santa or Pere Noel depending on where the kids live. [2] Gives a different meaning to feeling stuffed after your Christmas dinner. Here’s a list of the classic Christmas characters that we wait all year to watch. Often, the quality of the singers’ voices is mocked and both sides are accused of drunkenness.[10]. So now she spends her time giving gifts to all the children in the world.[4]. Door Slammer loves to make noise and chaos by slamming doors. Category:Christmas characters. Photo credit: guidetoiceland.is. As they like to enter via the chimney, the coziest way to keep them out is to keep a roaring fire burning for the 12 days of Christmas.[3]. Not only is it huge, but it has the unfortunate habit of catching fire. But in Wales, you get the tradition of the Mari Lwyd. Some iconic and some not, Empire's 24 Best Christmas Characters is the definitive list. In Iceland, children who had done all their chores would be given new clothes. These subterranean ghouls are small, black, impish creatures. At Christmas and New Year’s, bands of people will celebrate by leading the Mari Lwyd to doors while these people sing and perform verses. In Catalonia, though, there may be someone lurking whom you did not expect—the Caganer (aka “the Defecator”). Small straw goats are very popular Christmas decorations in Scandinavia. Though the Catholic Church attempted to put down any celebration of Krampus, the festival survived. So here are, in no particular order, the 12 Best Christmas Movie Characters — and for the record, I omitted those puppies from “Santa Buddies” in the interest of fairness. So Gryla and her equally monstrous husband produced 13 sons—the Yule Lads. Hang up some flax, and they will get too busy counting the strands to be a nuisance. Krampus is undergoing a renaissance. Others have names like Door Sniffer, Spoon Licker, and Window Peeper.[6]. Instead of bringing thunder and lightning, the Yule Goat helps Santa to bring his presents to good children. According to the myth, the world is held up by a World Tree. She offered them hospitality for the night, and in the morning, they suggested that she join them on their journey to visit the newborn Christ. Christmas visitors appear to love entering homes via the chimney. Possibly a visit from the police in most countries. What could be more traditional at Christmas than a nativity scene of the infant Jesus? One theory is that the Caganer is a representation of a farmer fertilizing his field, if more personally than most agricultural workers. Whenever we hear "pa rum pum pum pum," we immediately sing along. The Yule Cat is a huge beast that looks for children who are not wearing new clothes.
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