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 Tra...
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.
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[@TheMuseumGuide]

Like this video? Watch my video tour through the ten decorated Christmas rooms at the Museum of the Home - kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX_cnoZ7jNVsn6s - and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.

[@cortrichards8179]

Lmao! The Krampus thing with him smacking bad children, or any children for that matter, with birch sticks, and then stuffing them into his bag, absolutely cracks me up to no end. That is almost just demented. Poor children in Austria.....learning about that when they're very little. That'll make you behave! I have to say, I love that you cover things like this in your videos. It is totally my type of humour. It should go without saying that Edward Gorey is one of my hero's and a definite favourite, as well. Keep up the excellent, informative and very interesting videos, Jessica. All the best to you and your family.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thanks Cort! A few really strange videos in the queue. ;)

[@ikkelimburg3552]

Same for the Dutch and Flemish tradition of Sinterklaas. The Pete’s (formerly known as ‘black Pete’) would listen in on how children were behaving. In the weeks before dec 5th, children are allowed to leave one shoe at night for ‘Sinterklaas en Piet’. The next morning, a good child receives a small present or sweet, a badly behaving child could expect a scolding letter or a little bunch of birch sticks in the shoe. Children knew (songs with ‘wie zoet is krijgt lekkers wie stout is de roe= good children get sweets, bad children get a smack with birch sticks’) that if you behaved really bad, Pete would snatch you, put you in a bag and drag you to Spain. In the late eighties it was considered too scary so Pete became more of a fun loving helper instead of the judge for Saint Nicolas.

[@Rye_Toast]

Today is the day I realize I must be engaged to marry Spoon Licker, my fiance can NOT be trusted around spoons. Should I be worried? This video was amazing, I love learning about the different older traditions! As a knitter myself I was chuckling about the ones regarding gettting your spinning done and new socks. I will have to tell my mother about the socks, we always knit each other socks for christmas (just a funny tradition we have because we both knit) so now we have a reason! Side notes: I'm of Italian-German-Swiss heritage who grew up in PA and I never heard of the Italian witch, the German-Swiss one you mention or the PA guy. It's so sad how so many traditions just fade and we're left with the boring sanitized modern one-size-fits-all traditions.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you for watching! My DNA report showed 8% Swiss - you could have knocked me over with a feather.

[@tishamorgan8388]

Yes please visit the museum in Iceland! So interesting to hear about Christmas traditions from other countries

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Done! I’ll visit next year. I can’t wait!

[@amb163]

Yay! I've always preferred the creepiness of European Christmas celebrations over the saccharine-sweet (and heavily commercialized) North American traditions.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

It's so strange and creepy in a wonderful way!

[@salamanderavem3782]

The darker and spooky side of things can have a deeper rabbit hole

[@daveandgena3166]

"Spoon Licker: He Licks Spoons!!" 🤣🤣🤣 Honestly, I can absolutely feel the fear of someone licking my stirring spoon when I'm not looking! Ew!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

It’s so creepy! I love it.

[@danieldale7320]

Not only entertaining, This episode (As well as all your others) Have the magic of Teaching so much in such a short time. Thank you.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You’re very welcome!

[@crustywafflechunks]

Finlands Rare Exports is my favourite film of scary Christmas

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I love that one!

[@juliabenny]

absolutely love spooky christmas traditions!🥰 i live in the north-east of italy and we do have krampus as well! i never personally participated in the krampus run, but i had many friends growing up who would come to school the next day completely covered in bruises...always sounded kinda mad to me, but they were proud 😂 also, an addition to the befana tradition that we have in the north of italy: on the night of the 6th we burn an effigy of the befana on a bonfire (in the language of my region it's called pignarûl, but i know it varies region to region), it's a way to say goodbye to the old year and sort of a prediction for the next one (depending on where the wind carries the smoke) another kiiiinda spooky thing we have in the north here is Santa Lucia! she is blind and she comes on the 13th of december on the back of her donkey to deliver candy to good children; the nights around the 13th are when the sunset is the earliest so the children are highly encouraged to go to sleep early, and here comes the spooky part: if Santa Lucia catches anyone awake she blinds them! the method varies from a blinding light from her eyes to throwing ashes in children's faces. we are used to leaving treats for her and carrots or hay for the donkey on our windows. don't know if it counts as spooky, but as a child i was certainly VERY SCARED of being blinded by her 😅

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I need to make a part 2 and include Santa Lucia! If you like spooky Christmas, you’ll like my next video out in about a week. ;)

[@tamarrajames3590]

Love it, thanks for digging up all the great images. I once agreed to do a shared presentation on Christmas customs in the Middle Ages, I was to cover the pagan ones, and the other woman chose the Christian ones. On the night of the presentation, she asked if she could go first, to which I agreed. She stood up and said, “The only Christmas practice I could find, other than the Mass, is the crèche, which began in the 17th century”, and sat down. I had no trouble filling the extra time lol. The Victorian tree ornaments were made in the shape of fruit, as the Pagan custom was to bring a tree in, decorate it with dried fruits, candles, nuts and berries. It was then taken outside (to show the other trees what was wanted of them). Then water was sprinkled on it (to represent rain), which froze into icicles. The tree was left for the animals and birds to eat. The Tree trunk of the Yule tree from the previous year (which, stripped of its branches had been the Maypole), became the Yule log. The branches were burned on Summer Solstice. It isn’t a horror flick, but I ran across an amusing movie, (on KZbin) called “The Christmas Witch”. It is an amusing take on Befana. I’d love to visit Iceland’s folklore with you next year.🖤🇨🇦

[@greatexpectations6577]

There is a few inches of snow on the ground and this was a fitting video to to alongside of it. 👹👺👿

[@sassysuzy4u]

Great video! I wish you had said something about the Kallikantazari. My friend's mom used to warn us about them coming in the middle of the night and stealing our stuff haha

[@suzannecooke2055]

The Yule Lads have even had an issue of comemmerative postage stamps!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’d love to see one. ❤️

[@joiedevivre2005]

I have very recently discovered your channel (the strangest museums in Paris video) & I LOVE it! I especially like this video. I am a member of the Krewe of Krampus in New Orleans. We not only have Krampus, but also the Sisters of Shhh (who are ice witches), Frau Perchta & holiday creatures from various cultures we call "The Yules" & include the Yule Cat, the Barbegazi & the Mari Lwyd, among others (it is ever-growing). Being New Orleans though, we tend to reward the naughty with candy & "specialty throws" which for Krampus is lumps of coal hand decorated by krewe members in New Orleans themes. But, we are not above swatting the occasional naughty person with our birch switches (it's amazing how many men happily offer up their hindquarters to be spanked by a female Krampus). You should definitely consider coming to New Orleans to see our Krampus Run (which we call NOLAuf) that takes place the first Saturday in December in the Bywater section of New Orleans. I can't wait to share your video with my krewe members.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I’m so happy to hear this! Thrilled to hear about your Krewe. Merry Christmas in July!

[@mistiroberts1576]

From the time I was around 8 until I was in my mid 20s I used to have a nightmare that started with me swinging in my backyard and there was a dark forest behind me. A scary old lady who looked a lot like the description of this Bertha would appear behind me and I wpuld run inside to find my parents but everyone would be gone, the house completely empty and this old hag would chase me around the house with a knife until I woke up. Very weird

[@jennywallis65]

So thrilled I found this site, absolutely fascinating, you do great research, love the history.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeanneshultz772]

Yes, please. More of these Nordic characters! I have always love these characters. More, please!

[@cryptid7817]

I love how you have to catch yourself laughing while narrating 😂 you got me to laugh along. You gained a new subscriber!!

[@PortCharmers]

Here in Germany we have the tradition of St. Nikolaus (or maybe just a student with a fake white beard) visiting the children and giving presents on the 6th of December, often accompanied by a shaggy fellow with a coal-blackened face named Krampus. My mom told me (I was too little to remember) I was utterly terrified of the stern Saint and hugged Krampus for comfort. My favourite "spooky" Christmas-movie would be "Hogfather", based on a book by Terry Pratchett. P.S.: for Icelanders I would suggest sticking a spoon where the sun doesn't shine, taking a picture of it, putting it on the door an writing "Do you feel lucky?" under it.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Oh my god, I’m dying at the spoon comment. 🤣 Merry Christmas!!!

[@Nirrrina]

Aww that's so cute.

[@1111amyg]

I'll have to watch "Deep Red". My favorite Christmas film is "Who Slew Auntie Roo" from the early 70's. Another good one is "Sole Survivor" from the early 80's, which is set at Christmas time, but not super holiday focused. Anyway, thanks for the tours and suggestions.

[@swankenterprizes]

Yes to all the suggestions you made. Love your channel!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you!

[@christrefz3195]

Great video. Love learning more about the spooky side of Christmas. In Coal County Pennsylvania they just recently had their 3rd annual Krampusnacht festival. Its a lot of fun!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

And you have the mummer’s parade in Philly!

[@Rebellescum]

Fau percha and Gyre Cowling sound a bit like a fairy called, " Black Annis," Who had long iron claws and blue skin. Also associated with the winter

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I have to look her up!

[@susanfarley1332]

At 5 years old the scariest thing about Christmas to me was Santa Claus. Its is when i first heard that song "Santa Claus is coming to town". The words in the song that made my hair rise on the back of my neck were "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake," That put pictures in my mind of Santa peeking in my windows spying on me. It seemed to me he was up to no good. That song gave me the creeps.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I was the same! I always used to imagine him peeping on me in the bath 🫣🤣

[@susanfarley1332]

@@TheMuseumGuide LOL Santa the stalker

[@konstantinostzas8005]

Kallikantzaroi frightened me as a child.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

How did I miss this one?!? Thank you for bringing him to my attention.

[@konstantinostzas8005]

@@TheMuseumGuide Next time. Perhaps I could re-enact my Grandad's tale of the night he shared a fire with a goblin that wanted to cook a frog but had other intentions.

[@nilo70]

Loved this ! Thank you for making this happen !

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You’re very welcome!

[@tinamarinelli4325]

Befana is my favourite she is a good witch

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Me too!

[@signemoland4848]

Had no idea it was so many. But I love it. Kinda funny tho I am Norwegian and yes dekor with some brooms, more or less is quit normal.😂

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I love broom decor! 🤣

[@esthersantiago7152]

So cool. I enjoyed learning about all of these traditions. Happy Holidays from Puerto Rico!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Merry Christmas from the UK!

[@lollclark457]

Bellschnickle and Jola are mentioned in the Christmas Chronicles x

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I need to check it out!

[@chrisball3778]

Christmas is cancelled- far too high-risk. Lots of fun, and great choice of illustrations.

[@garywarren6394]

Greatings and a happy New Year from Poteet Texas.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Happy New Year!

[@anneshields2010]

I love Krampus and would love to go to one of the Krampus runs looks so much fun and you can get selfies with Krampus and even hug him Iv seen hundreds of videos of Krampus runs on here and Tik Tok

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You should go!

[@bobbibuttons8730]

Love your channel so much. I’ve binge watched and then binge watched again. Keep up the great work.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you so much!

[@rosapanther8466]

That was really interesting... because,I am German and don't know any of them, only the Krampus, because Austria is our neighbouring country.. but I had no idea it is a thing in Germany now.....

[@TheMuseumGuide]

It's becoming very trendy! Thanks for watching.

[@rosapanther8466]

It seems so 🤭 it hasn't made its way to the north, but I would love if it happens

[@jenniferd6242]

Another great and informative video! Iceland is only a small jaunt from Stockholm, you know...

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Good thing I'm visiting Stockholm in 2023!

[@purplehipporecorder]

Thank you, again. Another entertaining video.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

You're very welcome!

[@michellevanessa1222]

Loved this video!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Glad you liked it!!

[@MeganElizaStott]

Oh cool that was really interesting Jessica :) I deffo think you should go to that museum in Iceland next year too.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

That settles it!

[@maximasromulus2806]

⚫ Charles Dickens touched upon the spiritual realm. In his marvelous book, "A Christmas Carol" as well.⚫

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I was just at the Dickens house Museum yesterday. That will be my next video, so look out for it!

[@maximasromulus2806]

@@TheMuseumGuide ⚫ Lovely.⚫

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

I generally dislike all Christmas stuff, but I'm intrigued by the older traditions that predate the dominant religious beliefs and the ways they've been co-opted to fit the narrative of Christmas. Thanks for the interesting video!

[@tamarrajames3590]

I agree completely…it works for ALL the standard holidays too.🖤🇨🇦

[@YorkyOne]

​​@@tamarrajames3590 By all the standard holidays, you mean what?

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@YorkyOne Christmas incorporates aspects of Yule and the Saturnalia, Easter relates to the Goddess Eostre, and has a changing date related to the lunar cycle. Rotation Day (blessing the fields) relates to Beltain, May Eve and Walpurgisnacht. All Souls night equates to Samhain, October 31. Virtually all of the Christian holidays were placed at times that older cultures already had celebrations. There are many more than I have noted here, just giving a few examples.🖤🇨🇦

[@YorkyOne]

@@tamarrajames3590 Saturnalia took place on the 17th December and lasted 3-5 days so no direct correlation with Christmas. The only references to a Scandinavian Yule festival at the Christmas period are from two 14th century Christian Icelandic writers several hundred years after the festival would have last occured. We have no idea from where they got their information or how accurate it was. Yule may simply refer to the mid winter season. The Danes in 11th century England used the word to describe the Feast of the Nativity.

[@YorkyOne]

@@tamarrajames3590 It is doubtful a goddess called Eostre ever 'existed' - there is only one very brief unsubstantiated 8th century reference by Bede. Again Eostremonath may simply refer to the 'dawn' of the year - April being when the days lengthen. There is no evidence that Anglo-Saxon's held a festival so early in Spring. But anyway Easter was only known as such in England and Germany - the rest of Christendom used variants of the word Pascha from the Hebrew for Passover because until the early 300's that is when the festival took place only later diverging. By the time Christianity came to England in the 500's the date had been fixed for at least 200 years - your Easter is pagan because the Anglo-Saxon's worshipped Eostre theory doesn't really work.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Wow some of these are very creepy!😵

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Agreed!

[@Rebellescum]

Lumps of coal left to bad kid is a tale for kids around the UK too

[@TheMuseumGuide]

In Canada, too!

[@annettewillis2797]

Deeply fascinating! Beware Christmas!!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Thank you for watching!

[@lmp8932]

I was brought up in a country town in Gloucestershire and I can honestly say I don't recall any of the nasties at Christmas! And thank goodness for that as I would have had terrible nightmares and probably wouldn't have looked forward to Christmas at all.I have heard of Krampas but none of the others, but then I don't watch horror movies :)

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Happy Krampusnacht!

[@Rebellescum]

No Mari Lewd from wales?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I thought about including it! But since it has to do more with wassailing, I thought I’d save it for next year. :)

[@franhead3824]

Isn't there a Julebok? A straw goat?

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I definitely need to make a part 2 with the Mari Llwd as well!

[@stelladonaconfredobutler9459]

"Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" from Finland. It's brilliant and horrible and wonderful. I watch it and Bill Murray's "Scrooged" with a great cast. Those are my Christmas movie choices Enjoy

[@salamanderavem3782]

The devil sees krampas design “You stole my looks. Time to sue”

[@TheMuseumGuide]

🤣🤣🤣

[@rebeccajames7487]

Shame you didn’t include Vader Johan…. Now you can smell him!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

He needs to be in part 2!

[@skrame01]

What's the deal with people getting eaten at christmas.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Right?

[@silviahannak3213]

Befana...okay that lump of cole: Krampus Saga and the Snacks .Nickolaus Saga. NO. Frau Holle..is not Light. It's from a Fairy Tale Some may believe but she is no Perchta. Ppl just reference to her cause of giving the working girl something shiney bit the other lazy one just black oil..Pech..or bad luck. Pech is also refered to black oil i guess

[@user-zx4tf8dl5i]

Of course I have been to several Krampus-Runs and Perchten-Runs here in Austria. When a couple of years ago I wanted to introduce my then small daughter to this tradition we went into a mountain village not far from Vienna. I was really disappointed to see that the Krampus-runners there were politically corrected dancing in neon-coloured fur costumes. My child was bored as hell.

[@libertycowboy2495]

Krampus is a good guy...he actually only does bad things to bad kids so...youd better watch out!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I certainly will!

[@TheMuseumGuide]

I certainly will!

[@randomericthings7506]

Gryla: Boils children alive and eats them. Her sons: Goofy pranksters who like to lick things.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

🤣🤣🤣

[@fatherchristmas2998]

I feel sorry for the poor people in the nudist colony. Because it's going to be mass slaughter wene the Christmas cat comes along and finds they have no new cloths

[@TheMuseumGuide]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mamazannie6060]

I find it interesting all these legends surround eating children. Maybe Q-Anon was onto something…

[@TheMuseumGuide]

There are also lots of legends about dragons and ogres…

[@fatherchristmas2998]

I would not risk dressing up has krampus in case you came across a herd of sex staved billy goats

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Very good call!

[@pintados3041]

Why did you say that Christmas is pagan? That Santa Claus thing with a red hat and a reindeer is pagan because the true Saint Nicolas is a simple man who is generous in giving toys to kids. He is a Saint who once fought for the deity of Jesus within the Catholic Church in the 1st Century. Other decorations are for festive and joyous celebration of the birth of the Messiah. Why? Was it a great sin to welcome and celebrate and commemorate the Lord's birth thanking Him for giving Himself for the love of us? That's too absurd and ungrateful to cancel Christmas due to shallow reasoning of people who doesn't know the real meaning of this but instill unhappiness and ignorance.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

The festivities and traditions we celebrate in honour of Christmas are pagan in origin. It may be about Christ, but things like the feast, the tree, and the symbolism all pre-date Christianity.

[@pintados3041]

@@TheMuseumGuide Yeah, other things were incorporated by pagans. But the coming of the Messiah must be retained. But we will try to remove other pagan things and replace it with the correct ones. The Devil will always try to imitate the incorrect practice. So we must remove some if it.👍💖

[@YorkyOne]

​@@TheMuseumGuide Not sure that is correct. December 25th does not coincide directly with any Roman pagan festivals - Saturnalia 17th (3 to 5 days) and the often mentioned Sol Invictus actually took place every 4 years in October. And the Eastern Church celebrated on the 6th January. 'Christmas trees' are first mentioned in the German Rhineland of the 1520's.

[@TheMuseumGuide]

Trees yes, but bringing boughs and branches in is an ancient tradition! It all really gets jumbled together.