Kallikantzaroi, Christmas Goblin's 🎄🇬🇷

 

The Kallikantzaroi is a goblin like creature from Greek folklore.

 They live underground most of the year and spend their time sawing away at the world tree trying to bring it down and the world with it,  only coming out during the twelve days of Christmas, from December 25th to January 6th. 

They are small creatures  most often described as goblins or tiny demons with tails,  long, shaggy hair and hooves for feet.

 Despite their monstrous appearance, they are mostly prankster not good, but not entirely evil, however their mischievous behavior during the Christmas season can be troublesome similar to the pranks played by the Yule lad's.

 

 They're pranks usually involve stealing peoples belongings, and messing with  food. 

 There are several customs and rituals to keep them away,  including leaving a fire burning in the hearth throughout the night to prevent the Kallikantzaroi from entering through the chimney,  hanging holly and garlic, and placing a colander on the doorstep are some methods  believed to keep the Kallikantzaroi at bay.

 

They're pranks will continue until the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th. As the waters are blessed during the Epiphany service, the Christmas goblins return to they're underground home only to resurface the following year when the holiday season arrives once again.

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⛄Merry Christmas 🎄

And 

Happy New Year

🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇

The Yule Lads, Iceland's 13 Santa's.

     

Iceland does not have a Santa Clause instead they have Christmas troll's .

The 13 Yule Lads  take turns to visit kids on the 13 nights leading up to Christmas. 

Instead of a Christmas stocking hung by the fire place children in Iceland keep one of their shoes on the windowsill where the Yule Lad will either leave candy or old  potatoes  depending on whether the kids have been good or bad.

The Yule Lads were originally either some what violent or just normal  pranksters depending on the region or who was telling the story. 

Iceland outlawed frightening children's stories in the 1700s after that the Yule Lads took on a more Santa like roll and are now a type of Christmas Troll's.

 They all have special name, that describes their favorite kind of mischievous behavior. 

Their names are:

Stekkjastaur- Sheep-Cote Clod

Giljagaur - Gully Gawk

Stúfur - Stubby

Þvörusleikir - Spoon Licker

Pottaskefill - Pot Scraper

Askasleikir - Bowl Licker

Hurðaskellir - Door Slammer (he loves waking people up by slamming doors)

Skyrgámur - Skyr Gobbler

Bjúgnakrækir - Sausage Swiper

Gluggagægir - Window Peeper

Gáttaþefur - Doorway Sniffer

Ketkrókur - Meat Hook

Kertasníkir - Candle Beggar

They are the children of  Grýla and Leppalúði

Two trolls you don't want to meet, especially Grýla.  You should also try to avoid their family pet the Yule Cat as it has been known to eat people.. Grýla is also well known for kidnapping and eating kids.

The Yule Lads live I northern Iceland in Myvatn at Dimmuborgir in an natural volcanic cave. They spend most of the summer sleeping there and seldom ever leave until winter.

The name of the cave translates to Dark Cities or Dark Fortress.

It seems at one point in the far past there were around 70 children of Grýla but these 13 are all that's left, or at least the ones most remembered.

Hope you've been good this year, you Really don't want Grýla showing up 👹

Have a great Christmas and New Year

🎄⛄