00:00 Christmas, the season of lights, also has a dark side.
00:06 Legend has it that Christmas Eve is a time for spirits to stroll the earth.
00:10 Today, we'll look at scary monsters, mysterious entities, and more.
00:16 The Yule Lads, hailing from Iceland, make for quite a Christmas tradition.
00:20 In contrast to the charming seven dwarfs of Snow White, these 13 gnome-like trolls bring
00:26 a touch of quirkiness to the holiday season.
00:28 The Yule Lads first made their literary debut in a 17th-century poem.
00:33 These playful youngsters, each with their own unique names and abilities, sprinkle a
00:37 touch of mischief in the 13 days leading up to the grand Christmas celebration.
00:42 Their cozy home is nestled in a mountain cave, where they reside with their interesting parents.
00:48 The clan's father is a leisure master and prefers to hang out in the cave.
00:53 Their mother is a giantess with an unusual craving for adventure.
00:56 She seeks out mischievous children to join her in preparing a stew.
01:01 Out of the troll kids, Spoon Licker, for instance, is known for his habit of thoroughly cleaning
01:05 utensils with his tongue.
01:07 Meanwhile, Door Slammer engages in door-slamming antics that might remind you of an angry teenager.
01:13 As for Sausage Swiper, well, the clue is in the name.
01:19 And let's not forget about the family's feline friend, who is also known as Yule.
01:24 This furry companion is a giant black cat.
01:27 It's on the lookout for folks.
01:28 If it spots children without brand-new clothes, the encounter won't end so well for the kids.
01:36 The Nisi is a kind of creature that would send shivers down your spine.
01:41 It's a diminutive bearded figure donning a sinister red cone-shaped hat.
01:46 These malevolent beings enjoy lingering around farms.
01:49 Their presence is unsettling as they claim to offer assistance with daily chores.
01:54 But beware, for their demands are far from ordinary.
01:58 In exchange for their eerie aid, they want a dread-inducing offering.
02:02 Should you dare to deny this sinister request, they will unleash a rain of pure evil upon
02:07 your existence.
02:08 There's a nightmarish saga known as "When the Nisi Got No Butter on His Christmas Porridge."
02:14 Yeah, that's a real title.
02:16 This tale revolves around a young girl who dares to tamper with Nisi's feast.
02:21 She places the butter beneath the porridge, invoking his wrath.
02:25 The horrifying consequence is, he takes care of the farm's prized cow using his bowers.
02:31 Takes care, hmm?
02:32 In Scandinavian folklore, many people know this creature as "Tomten II."
02:38 Marie-Laure is here to make you run for your life.
02:43 It's New Year's Eve, and you're a young whelm.
02:45 Suddenly, you hear some mysterious knocking at your door.
02:49 As you swing it open, you're met with a spine-tingling sight.
02:52 It's a tall, creepy figure wearing a long, flowing cloak with a horse's skull on its
02:58 head.
02:59 It's accompanied by a group of people who are chanting something in an eerie way.
03:03 To make it even more unsettling, the horse skull has fake eyeballs in its eyeholes, and
03:08 its mouth is slightly open.
03:10 This whole scene scares you so much that you can't even move.
03:14 Get the vision of sugar plums you'd rather have.
03:18 And then we have the Karakankolos, hailing from the lands of Turkey and Bulgaria.
03:23 Now picture a more sinister version of the elusive Bigfoot.
03:27 The Karakankolos lurks on street corners, posing riddles to passers-by.
03:32 Answer correctly, and you may escape unharmed.
03:35 But should you fail, you risk being plunged into a frigid slumber, even colder than the
03:41 wintry night.
03:42 In other corners of the world, the Karakankolos revel in trickery, often masquerading as a
03:47 familiar voice, tricking unsuspecting victims into venturing out into the snow.
03:53 This eerie boogeyman is said to have originated from the Greek Kalakanzaros, its sinister
03:58 influence echoing across the land.
04:02 So the Kalakanzari in Greece are a breed of goblins.
04:06 For most of the year, they dwell underground, secretly plotting to bring about the apocalypse.
04:11 However, when advent arrives, they emerge into the human domain with sinister intent,
04:17 sowing mischief and malevolence.
04:20 These creatures are often described as dark, furry entities adorned with tusks and horns.
04:25 They're male and curiously well-endowed in their grotesque forms.
04:31 Meet Frau Perkta, a character who comes from Germany and Austria.
04:35 Now she may go by different names, like Italian "La Befana" or Russian "Babushka", but
04:41 her modus operandi remains consistent.
04:44 During the 12 delightful days of Christmas, she shifts between being a sweet, beautiful
04:49 Alpine goddess and a mischievous, some say mischievous, wrinkled hag, depending on your
04:54 contact with her.
04:56 She's quite the mood ring.
04:58 If you've pleased her, you might just see a youthful presence.
05:01 But if you get on her bad side, she's been known to perform a bit of DIY surgery.
05:07 Frau Perkta is a remnant from Alpine paganism in the early Middle Ages.
05:11 It's strongly associated with Berchtentag, also known as the Fest of the Epiphany, which
05:17 happens on the 12th night after Christmas, on January 6th.
05:21 As for her name, "Perkta" means "bright one", a fitting moniker.
05:25 Her look is complete with a knife concealed under her skirt.
05:29 Careful sitting down!
05:32 The next one is Krampus.
05:33 His name is rooted in the German term "Krampen", which means "claw".
05:37 It's a creature hailing from the eastern Alpine corners of Europe.
05:41 Legend has it that Krampus takes it upon himself to playfully remind naughty children of the
05:46 importance of good behavior on the evening of December 5th.
05:50 His methods are imaginative and way above having a chat with little humans.
05:54 Meanwhile, his kind-hearted partner in holiday cheer, St. Nicholas, rewards well-behaved
06:00 youngsters the next day during the joyful Feast of St. Nicholas.
06:04 These traditions trace their roots as far back as the 6th century.
06:08 Today, many European towns enthusiastically host Krampenslauf, or Krampus Runs.
06:14 People dress up as him at festivals.
06:16 And for those with a penchant for sending unique holiday greetings, there's the holiday
06:20 cards option.
06:23 In an Alsatian legend, there's a story of Hans Trapp.
06:26 No, not the von Trapp family.
06:29 Hans is a local figure known for his extreme greed and lack of moral principles.
06:34 He resorted to practicing witchcraft and making pacts with evil forces in pursuit of wealth.
06:39 He faced a dramatic downfall.
06:41 He lost both his wealth and his place in society.
06:45 To evade detection, he adopted the guise of a scarecrow and wandered the countryside.
06:50 At a certain point, he became fixated on the idea of experiencing the taste of human flesh.
06:56 Oh boy.
06:58 God recognized that matters had spiraled out of control and struck Hans Trapp with
07:02 a bolt of lightning.
07:03 He met his end, yet there are accounts of his spectral return on Christmas.
07:10 Belsnickel is a character of German folklore.
07:12 It's traditionally known for its unique role in guiding children toward better behavior,
07:17 offering an intriguing contrast to the jolly figure of St. Nicholas.
07:22 The term "Belsnickel" can be traced back to the fusion of "Beltz" (an older German
07:27 term signifying "fur") and "nickel" as a nod to St. Nicholas.
07:32 Belsnickel is known for his visits to children, during which he engages them in friendly conversations
07:37 and playful inquiries.
07:39 Based on their responses, he may opt to reward them with a gift or employ a form of discipline,
07:45 often involving a wooden rod.
07:48 Belsnickel's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
07:53 The final touch is Griella.
07:54 She is a giantess who is able to sense children misbehaving all year round.
07:59 She keeps a record of those children and sees them as snacks during Christmas time.
08:04 Wait a minute, didn't we mention her before?
08:07 If you ask this question, you're an attentive, devoted brightsider.
08:11 We have indeed mentioned her, the mother of the Yule Lads.
08:14 Remember that crowded family with a black cat?
08:18 Pierre Fouettard was a butcher.
08:20 He was known for his involvement in the cases of abduction and robbery, leading to tragic
08:25 fates for children.
08:26 St. Nicholas uncovered his gruesome acts and miraculously revived the children.
08:32 In retribution, Pierre Fouettard was sentenced to a lifetime of servitude, accompanying St.
08:37 Nicholas and managing wayward youngsters.
08:40 Well, thanks anyways, but I think I'll just stick with Santa Claus.
08:44 Oh, and the reindeer.
08:48 That's it for today!
08:49 But ā hey! ā if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with
08:53 your friends!
08:54 Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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