Good day, dear Take in Mind readers! The not-so-simple 2023 will end very soon, and the New 2024 will start in a moment. Some have already gone on the planned Christmas holidays, while others continue their difficult working days while anticipating the vacation. Please close your eyes and imagine: You are celebrating the traditional Christmas and New Year. The dishes are on the table, the Champagne corks fly to the ceiling, the Christmas tree is full of gifts. But, of course, what can we do without the main heroes (or heroines)?
One of my colleagues (by the way, a very serious scientist, an author of dozens of scientific articles) absolutely seriously stated that even at his middle age he continues to believe in Santa Claus. And you know what? Why not? He (i.e., Santa Claus) is an extremely positive character: He appears imperceptibly and leaves a gift under the tree. Anyway, he personifies a wonderful family holiday! So, what is so supernatural and impossible in his existence?
By the way, jokes aside, everyone should have freedom of choice! As far as I know, it is written in many constitutions. And not only where and how to celebrate, what to eat and drink, but also what traditional character to expect for a visit! We decided to help you a little – here is a small list of famous and lesser-known Christmas and New Year’s characters. Not only positive ones – in any case, but this is also exclusively your decision whose appearance you or your relatives deserve. If you are not satisfied with the coming of the classic Santa Claus or Ded Moroz, if you want something exotic or just feel drawn to adventure, then… run to the airline or travel agency!
Well,
The Basque giant Olentzero lives somewhere on the slope of the Pyrenees mountains. He makes a living by coal mining, loves to eat and drink well (maybe that’s why he is so thick?!). On the eve of Christmas, he dresses in simple peasant clothes, puts a huge sack on his shoulders, and goes down to deliver gifts to children. However, despite his significant dimensions, it is almost impossible to see Olentzero and receive a gift simultaneously. Before entering the house, the giant gently knocks on the chimney, checking if the potential gift recipient is sleeping or not. If quiet snoring is heard in the house, the giant will happily leave small but pleasant souvenirs or sweets.
Grila is a very ancient character in Icelandic mythology. Grila is a cannibal ogre. On Christmas Eve, she scours houses with a large sack in search of naughty and capricious children. Grila has a slacker husband, thirteen sons (called The Yule Lads), and a giant, black Yule Cat. By the way, unlike their mother, the Yule Lads have lost their bloodlust over the centuries and turned into small, but not alien to good nature, mischievous people. But the family pet follows its mistress on the heels and eats everyone who did not have time to acquire new clothes (specifically, socks) for Christmas.
I do not doubt that you know about Père Noel, who gives Christmas gifts in France and other French-speaking countries. But have you heard about Pere Chalande? Pere Chalande (“Father Christmas”) is a Christmas character in Geneva and a couple of other Swiss cantons. Pere Chalande is an old man with a long white beard; he is dressed in a red fur coat and a pointed cap. Pere Chalande rides a donkey and carries a bag of gifts behind him. However, he prefers to climb into the house through the chimney, and when he succeeds, he fills children’s shoes and baskets with toys, sweets, and nuts.
Pere Fouettard (“Father Whipper” or “Old Man Whipper”‘) is a character who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his rounds during Saint Nicholas Day dispensing lumps of coal and/or beatings to naughty children while St. Nicholas gives gifts to the well behaved. Many-many years ago Pere Fouettard owned a butcher’s shop. In his free time, he abducted children, cut them into pieces, and salted them in barrels. When Père Noël knew about the atrocities of Pere Fouetard, he resurrected the children and made the villain his eternal servant.
In the eastern regions of France, Pere Fouetard’s “place of honor” is occupied by Hans Trapp. Once cruel and greedy Trapp entered into a deal with the devil to get rich quickly. One day he decided to try human flesh. Trapp caught a shepherd boy, roasted it over the fire, and was just about to taste the dish when he was killed by a lightning strike on the spot. Since then, he returns every Christmas to find some yummy kid and complete his interrupted dinner.
In Italy, adults and children look forward to the good fairy La Befana. This crooked-nosed elderly lady prefers to ride on a broomstick. She carries a huge bag of gifts and coals. It makes sense: The real gifts are for the kind children, and the coals – for those who upset their parents. The Italians leave a glass of wine and light snacks for the fairy (the road is long, there is no time to get the table ready) By the way, there are many legends about the origin of Befana. According to one of them, Befana was approached by the biblical magi, also known as the Three Wise Men (or the three kings). But the kings chose to follow the Star of Bethlehem in a purely male company. Befana was so upset that she decided to give gifts to the local children. And do that until today.
Krampus is an alpine twin and, at the same time, the antipode of St. Nicholas. He looks creepy – he has horns, a long tongue, and a furry hide. He follows his kind relative and punishes disobedient children. Krampus stuffs the especially bad children into a big bag and takes them to his cave (or castle) to later feast on fresh human flesh. In some parts of Germany, instead of St. Nicholas and Krampus, the children are visited by Belsnickel. This is a man in torn and dirty woolen clothes, sometimes he wears a mask with a long nose. If the child was good, Belsnickel leaves sweets and toys in his or her sock, but the bad children are whipped with rods.
The Slavs have revered (and do so to this day!) the kind, but formidable Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”). His ruddy face with thick white eyebrows, kind eyes, and a long gray beard is known to everyone. According to one of the legends, he is the son of Burya Yaga (“Storm”), one of the most ancient goddesses of the Slavic pantheon. When Ded Moroz goes out to inspect his property, he puts on a red or blue fur coat, a fur hat, warm mittens, and felt boots. He has a magic all-freezing stick with which he maintains the necessary winter harmony in Nature. When New Year’s Eve comes, Santa Claus goes to the children with a large bag of gifts. He travels with his granddaughter (or, according to another tradition, daughter) Snegurochka (“Snow Maiden”) in a carved sled pulled by three horses or reindeers.
Julenissen are little people in red caps, gray pants, and big shoes, and they live in Norway. Once on Christmas Eve, many centuries ago, one Julenisse accidentally saw a beggar girl put a bowl in the hope that someone kind would put food there. The little man felt so sorry for the girl that he pulled out two coins and presented them to the child. The Julenisse really enjoyed doing good deeds, and since then every year he gave the children coins and sweets. His descendants have continued this tradition. The head of the modern Julenissen lives near Oslo in his own house in the Frogn commune. If you are there, it is obligatory to visit. But just don’t be too annoying, and don’t offend little people – even though they are friendly, they are very vindictive…
In the Balkans, during the Christmas holidays, you can meet small and evil underground malevolent goblins, kallikantzaros (as they are called in Greece), and karakondzhuls (in Bulgaria). The rest of the time they stay underground, sawing the trunk of the world tree so that it will collapse, along with the Earth. However, according to the folklore, when they are about to see the final part, Christmas dawns and they can come to the surface. They forget about the tree (that heals itself during the Christmas period) and come to bring trouble to mortals. These creatures try to get into human houses through the chimney, so the most convenient way of protection is to keep the fire in the family hearth throughout the Christmas holidays.
On New Year’s Eve, Japanese houses are visited by Seven Lucky Gods, accompanied by kind Segatsu-san. Seven Lucky Gods, Jurojin, Ebisu, Hotei, Benzaiten, Bishamonten, Daikokuten, and Fukurokuju, come on a magic ship to bestow their blessings for the next year. It is said that if you worship all the seven deities, you will be blessed with seven happiness and prevent you from seven misfortunes. A few additional words about Segatsu-san and his preparatory mission: Segatsu-san starts appearing a week before the date, and he is committed to congratulating people in their apartments. Before his arrival, a traditional low gate is built in front of the house made of pine branches and bamboo. He does not give gifts, leaving this responsibility to the parents.
So, ladies and gentlemen, now you can choose which of the traditional characters you want to see on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And, who you would prefer to keep away… We only can advise you to hurry up!
Dear Take in Mind Readers! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We wish you a lot of health, happiness, success, and only positivity in the New Year, 2024!
Featured image: Befana
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