Europe's Scariest Christmas Witches and Monsters

Like this video? Watch my video tour about the Eeriest UK Christmas Traditions, including the hooden horse and Mari Lwyd – and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe:    • Eerie UK Christmas Traditions - Folk ...  

Leave a comment and tell me about your favourite strange Christmas tradition. You know I want to know!

In this video, Jessica the Museum Guide (that’s me!) takes you on a tour of the Christmas witches and monsters found throughout Europe. We’ll explore the pagan origins of Christmas, learn about fearsome beasts and ghouls, and discuss the connection between fear and the holidays.

0:00 – Introduction to the tour
0:54 – The connection between fear and Christmas
3:12 – The pagan origins of Christmas
4:50 – Krampus – The anti-St Nick
7:01 – Belsnickel – A reluctant gift-giver
8:18 – Père Fouettard, aka “Father Whipper”
9:25 – Hans Trapp and Christkindl
10:50 – La Befana, a kindly Italian witch
12:15 – Frau Perchta – The belly slitter
14:12 – Gyre Carling, a Scottish spinning witch
14:47 – Gryla, the troll mother of the Icelandic Yule family
16:37 – The Yule Lads, up to no good
19:04 – Jólakötturinn, the bloodthirsty Yule cat

First, we start with a brief introduction to the pagan origins of modern Christmas and wax philosophical about the connection between being scared and Christmas traditions. Next, we meet Krampus, the anti-St Nicholas, who drags children to hell in a sack slung over his shoulder. We then learn all about some of Krampus’s colleagues – Belsnickel, Pere Fouettard, and Hans Trapp.

Next, we meet a relatively sweet Christmas witch, La Befana, followed by the evil Frau Perchta (and her alter ego Frau Holle) and Gyre Carling, from Scotland. Finally, it’s on to Iceland for their wonderfully strange Christmas traditions – the troll witch Gryla, her sons, the thirteen Yule Lads, and jólakötturinn, the giant Yule Cat who eats you if you don’t wear new clothes on Christmas.

As always, thanks for watching. Be sure to leave your comments and questions below. If you enjoyed this virtual tour, then please consider leaving me a tip at paypal.me/jessicatourguide or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JessicaG...

Remember – if you’re planning a trip to London, you can book a tour with me. Email me at [email protected].

Planning a trip to Iceland this Christmas? Check out these activities and tours to learn more about Gryla and the Yule Lads:
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