There are many ways to celebrate Christmas. Some particularly excellent ones involve goat-beasts, goblins and necromancy. Article: http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/krampus-pictures.htm Special Location Thanks to Barcelona Wine Bar in Atlanta, GA. www.barcelonawinebar.com Music Attribution: "Disco High" by Ultracat Transcript: There are many ways to celebrate Christmas. Some involve goat-beasts, goblins and necromancy. Check out these four awesomely creepy Christmas characters from around the world. Santa Claus. If Santa Claus feels pretty “normal” to you, you just need a little distance and historical context. Here’s the story: This unshaven, home-invading Falstaff figure is originally based on St. Nicholas -- a surprisingly lean fourth-century catholic bishop from Greece who is considered the patron saint of children, but also of thieves, archers and pawnbrokers. According to one legend, St. Nicholas once arrived at an inn where the innkeeper had just murdered three boys, cut up their bodies and pickled them. Fortunately, St. Nick sensed what had happened and resurrected the pickled, dismembered children from the dead. Ho ho ho! And somehow he became the guy at the mall. The Yule Lads. In the country of Iceland, children learn of the 13 Yule Lads: a gang of mischievous Christmastime imps who bring good children candy and fill bad children’s shoes with rotting potatoes. The best-known incarnation of the legend gives the Lads names like Spoon Licker, Door Sniffer, Sausage Swiper, and Meat Hook. Yes, Meat Hook. He steals meat. With a hook. Not creepy enough? These characters are all the children of Gryla the Child Eater, an ogress who likes to … well, you can guess. In 1746, Iceland actually had to issue a decree banning adults from terrorizing children with stories of these monsters. Krampus. The name Krampus might originally come from the German “kralle,” meaning “claw,” or the Bavarian word “krampn” meaning something like “lifeless” or “withered.” According to the folklore of Alpine Europe, Krampus is a foul-tempered goat-demon with long horns and nasty, pointy teeth. He plays opposite kindly old St. Nick. On December 5, Krampusnacht, Krampus roams towns in search of naughty children. If you happen to be one of these unlucky youths, legend says he whips you with birch sticks, crams you in a basket and hauls you off to his lair. Kallikantzaroi. According to Greek folklore, a pack of nasty goblins called the Kallikantzaroi spend all year in an underground realm sawing away at the World Tree – the tree that holds up the Earth. Between Christmas and the day of Epiphany on January 6, they emerge and scramble around villages riding on people’s backs, breaking furniture and discharging their bladders in unwelcome places. To protect yourself, keep a fire roaring all night to prevent them from sneaking down the chimney -- and burn some old shoes while you’re at it. They hate that. What’s your favorite creepy holiday tradition? Let us know in the comments and subscribe to our channel. And if you want to see more Yuletide horror, check out the Krampus Gallery of Holiday Doom at HowStuffWorks.com!

• published: 19 Dec 2014
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