When it comes to the holidays, especially Christmas, the first thoughts that come to mind are cozy and cheerful. There is another side of the Christmas season we don’t often think about the darker side of legends and traditions of the seasons. Many of these legends were developed to remind children to behave. With Santa Claus, children are encouraged to behave to receive a reward, but these other Christmas monsters were set to scare children into being good.

Krampus. The King of Christmas Monsters

Krampus is the most well-known monster of Christmas. He is half man and half goat. Though the exact period in which this legend was concocted is unknown, many believe Krampus was derived from pagan mythology. It should be noted that Santa Claus does punish those children who don’t behave, but he and Krampus have very different styles for disciplining poorly behaved children. 

The legend of Santa Claus will either not leave any gifts or will leave coal in a child’s stocking. Krampus amps that up by either haunting misbehaving children or dragging them to Hell with him. This monster stands at 8 or 9 feet and is dressed ready for the cold winter elements. The name “Krampus” derives from the German word “Krampen,” which means “claw.” The legend says that Krampus is the son of the Norse god Hel. This legend dates back relatively to the medieval era.

Some legends state Santa Claus or St. Nicholas and Krampus work together. How would these two opposites work together in such a legend? St. Nicholas would reward the good children, and Krampus would punish the bad.

Many cultures celebrate Krampus just as they celebrate Santa Claus. In 2013, Austria set up a designated day and time for adults to dress like Krampus and chase children around with sticks. This tradition is set up to help disperse winter ghosts.

Frau Perchta

Frau Perchta is another German and Austrian tradition developed in the 10th century. Frau Perchta is known as the Christmas Witch. The story goes that she will leave good children coins, but bad children get a belly full of garbage. She is described as having a nose like a beak and dressed in rags; she may or may not be carrying a large knife under her skirt, too. However, the legend also says she does not like messes and has stringent rules about spinning, weaving, and looming. If she did not like how you kept your loom or your home, she may light your house on fire. Unlike Santa Claus, she does not want milk and cookies left out for her. Instead, she prefers porridge. How do you avoid a visit from Frau Perchta? Make sure your house is tidy, and you leave her some oatmeal.

Pere Fouettard 

This Christmas monster is a French tradition. His name translates to “Father Whipper,” he is known to be a butcher with a carnivorous appetite. He carries a whip that he uses on children who misbehave. He is also known as one of St. Nicholas’s accomplices. Like Krampus, Pere Fouettard will punish the bad children, while St. Nicholas rewards the good ones. This monster dates back to the year 1252. The original legend of Pere Fouettard is described very similarly to Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The original story depicted Pere Fouettard working with his wife to rob children, then kill them, cut them into pieces, and stew them. He is described as wearing long robes and has a long beard with unkempt hair.

Mari Lwyd

This particular legend is different from the traditional Christmas monsters. However, Mari Lwyd certainly has its place in the world of creepy Christmas legends. The tradition and legend of Mari Lwyd comes from South Wales and was developed in the 1800s. Usually, men would go in groups to homes to sing, very much like caroling, but would carry Mari Lwyd, a hobby horse much like a children’s toy but with a horse skull in place of the head, usually draped with a white cloth. The purpose of going door to door is to sing songs with the hope of being allowed into the home for refreshments. Though Mari Lwyd isn’t particularly a Christmas monster, the tradition still falls under the morbid holiday cheer category.

Belsnickel 

Belsnickel is another German Christmas legend. The popularity of this monster became prevalent in the 1800s. It is based on a German mythological character known as Knecht Ruprecht, who was said to be a helper of St. Nicholas.

Around the same time this legend became more well-known, people in Pennsylvania who had immigrated from Germany were practicing the Belsnickel tradition. According to the legend, Belsnickel checks children’s behavior about one or two weeks before Christmas. 

Belsnickel is said to tap on a door or window with a stick. He then either asked children a question they had to answer or asked them to sing him a song. If they did what he asked, he would give them candy. It is said that Belsnickel dresses like St. Nicholas but has a stick in his hand as well. The legend of Belsnickel seems to vary somewhat depending on culture and traditions.

Kallikantzaroi

The Kallikantzaroi are of Greek origin and were described as a werewolf or similar type of malevolent creature. This creature was said to live underground but would surface during the traditional twelve days of Christmas, from December 25 through January 6. Other cultures that follow this legend are Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, and Cyprus. 

The reason the Kallikantzaroi remained underground for most of the year was that he was trying to saw a tree trunk in half that held the Earth together. Kallikantzaroi would often surface to partake in the Winter Solstice. He was also believed to be a night creature, and people usually put a colander on their front steps to keep him away. Why a colander? 

This was because it was believed that the Kallikantzaroi creature could not count above the number three. By placing this kitchen item on the front step, the creature would spend all night attempting to count the holes in the colander until the sun came up, and he would have to go back underground.

Another aspect of folklore is flinging sausages and a traditional dessert called loukoumades on your roof so the Kallikantzaroi would eat them and go away.

Regarding Christmas, it is said that children born during the twelve days of the Christmas period were in potential danger of turning into Kallikantzaros once they reached adulthood. The prevention method was to bring the child lots of garlic.

El Cucuy

Also known as the child eater, this legend is believed to hail from Mexico. His name means “the skull”. El Cucuy may be the original boogeyman as he is described in many forms and is often seen in closets with glowing red eyes. He is also described as a hairy creature that likes to lurk on rooftops. The earliest mention of El Cucuy or El Coco in some places was in the 1500s. A poet references this Christmas monster. The legend of El Cucuy is recognized on many continents, including North America and South America.

It appears most of these Christmas legends were developed as scare tactics to ensure children behaved, yet some, such as Krampus, have become so popular that traditions and events are now set up for monsters of Christmas just as much as there are events held in Santa Claus’s honor.