Christmas Creatures That Are Pure Nightmare Fuel

Bright Side

Christmas folklore has a much darker side than most people realize. Long before Santa Claus became a symbol of joy and gifts, winter holidays were filled with terrifying legends, punishment, and fear. Across Europe and beyond, strange creatures like Krampus and other Christmas monsters were believed to roam the streets, watching children and judging their behavior. These stories were meant to scare, warn, and control turning the holiday season into something far more unsettling than we imagine today.  Animation is created by Bright Side.  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/   Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV  Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Our Social Media:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightplanet/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightside.official  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brightside.official?lang=en   Stock materials (photos, footages and other):  https://www.depositphotos.com  https://www.shutterstock.com  https://www.eastnews.ru  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  For more videos and articles visit: http://www.brightside.me  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.

Transcript

00:00Christmas, the season of lights, also has a dark side.

00:05Legend has it that Christmas Eve is a time for spirits to stroll the earth.

00:10Today, we'll look at scary monsters, mysterious entities, and more.

00:15The Yule Lads, hailing from Iceland, make for quite a Christmas tradition.

00:20In contrast to the charming Seven Dwarfs of Snow White,

00:23these 13 gnome-like trolls bring a touch of quirkiness to the holiday season.

00:28The Yule Lads first made their literary debut in a 17th-century poem.

00:33These playful youngsters, each with their own unique names and abilities,

00:37sprinkle a touch of mischief in the 13 days leading up to the grand Christmas celebration.

00:42Their cozy home is nestled in a mountain cave, where they reside with their interesting parents.

00:47The clan's father is a leisure master and prefers to hang out in the cave.

00:52Their mother is a giantess with an unusual craving for adventure.

00:56She seeks out mischievous children to join her in preparing a stew.

01:00Out of the troll kids, Spoon Licker, for instance, is known for his habit of thoroughly cleaning utensils with his tongue.

01:07Meanwhile, Door Slammer engages in door-slamming antics that might remind you of an angry teenager.

01:13As for Sausage Swiper, well, the clue is in the name.

01:17And let's not forget about the family's feline friend, who is also known as Yule.

01:23This furry companion is a giant black cat.

01:26It's on the lookout for folks.

01:28If it spots children without brand new clothes, the encounter won't end so well for the kids.

01:34Wow, that's harsh.

01:36The Nisi is a kind of creature that would send shivers down your spine.

01:40It's a diminutive bearded figure donning a sinister red cone-shaped hat.

01:45These malevolent beings enjoy lingering around farms.

01:49Their presence is unsettling as they claim to offer assistance with daily chores.

01:54But beware, for their demands are far from ordinary.

01:58In exchange for their eerie aid, they want a dread-inducing offering.

02:02Should you dare to deny this sinister request, they will unleash a reign of pure evil upon your existence.

02:09There's a nightmarish saga known as When the Nisi Got No Butter on His Christmas Porridge.

02:14Yeah, that's a real title.

02:16This tale revolves around a young girl who dares to tamper with Nisi's feast.

02:21She places the butter beneath the porridge, invoking his wrath.

02:25The horrifying consequences?

02:27He takes care of the farm's prized cow using his powers.

02:30Uh, takes care, hmm?

02:32In Scandinavian folklore, many people know this creature as Tomton, too.

02:39Murray Lloyd is here to make you run for your life.

02:42It's New Year's Eve, and you're a young well.

02:45Suddenly, you hear some mysterious knocking at your door.

02:49As you swing it open, you're met with a spine-tingling sight.

02:53It's a tall, creepy figure wearing a long, flowing cloak with a horse's skull on its head.

02:58It's accompanied by a group of people who are chanting something in an eerie way.

03:02To make it even more unsettling, the horse skull has fake eyeballs in its eye holes, and its mouth is slightly open.

03:09This whole scene scares you so much that you can't even move.

03:13Not the vision of sugar plums you'd rather have.

03:16And then we have the Karakonkolos, hailing from the lands of Turkey and Bulgaria.

03:23Now picture a more sinister version of the elusive Bigfoot.

03:27The Karakonkolos lurks on street corners, posing riddles to passers-by.

03:32Answer correctly, and you may escape unharmed.

03:35But, should you fail, you risk being plunged into a frigid slumber, even colder than the wintery night.

03:42In other corners of the world, the Karakonkolos revel in trickery, often masquerading as a familiar voice, tricking unsuspecting victims into venturing out into the snow.

03:52This eerie boogeyman is said to have originated from the Greek Kalakonsaros, its sinister influence echoing across the land.

04:02So, the Kalakonsari in Greece are a breed of goblins.

04:06For most of the year, they dwell underground, secretly plotting to bring about the apocalypse.

04:11However, when advent arrives, they emerge into the human domain with sinister intent, sowing mischief and malevolence.

04:19These creatures are often described as dark, furry entities adorned with tusks and horns.

04:25They're male and curiously well-endowed in their grotesque forms.

04:30Meet Frau Perkta, a character who comes from Germany and Austria.

04:34Now, she may go by different names, like Italian La Befana or Russian Babushka, but her modus operandi remains consistent.

04:44During the 12 delightful days of Christmas, she shifts between being a sweet, beautiful Alpine goddess and a mischievous, some say mischievous, wrinkled hag, depending on your contact with her.

04:56She's quite the mood ring.

04:58If you've pleased her, you might just see a youthful presence.

05:01But, if you get on her bad side, she's been known to perform a bit of DIY surgery.

05:06Frau Perkta is a remnant from Alpine paganism in the early Middle Ages.

05:11It's strongly associated with Berchtentad, also known as the Fest of the Epiphany, which happens on the 12th night after Christmas, on January 6th.

05:20As for her name, Perkta means bright one, a fitting moniker.

05:25Her look is complete with a knife concealed under her skirt.

05:28Careful sitting down!

05:31The next one is Krampus.

05:33His name is rooted in the German term Krampen, which means claw.

05:37It's a creature hailing from the eastern Alpine corners of Europe.

05:41Legend has it that Krampus takes it upon himself to plainfully remind naughty children of the importance of good behavior on the evening of December 5th.

05:50His methods are imaginative and way above having a chat with little humans.

05:54Meanwhile, his kind-hearted partner in holiday cheer, Saint Nicholas, rewards well-behaved youngsters the next day during the joyful Feast of Saint Nicholas.

06:04These traditions trace their roots as far back as the 6th century.

06:08Today, many European towns enthusiastically host Krampenslauf, or Krampus runs.

06:14People dress up as him at festivals.

06:16And for those with a penchant for sending unique holiday greetings, there's the holiday cards option.

06:23In an Alsatian legend, there's a story of Hans Trapp.

06:27No, not the von Trapp family.

06:29Hans is a local figure, known for his extreme greed and lack of moral principles.

06:33He resorted to practicing witchcraft and making pacts with evil forces in pursuit of wealth.

06:39He faced a dramatic downfall.

06:41He lost both his wealth and his place in society.

06:44To evade detection, he adopted the guise of a scarecrow and wandered the countryside.

06:50At a certain point, he became fixated on the idea of experiencing the taste of human flesh.

06:56Oh boy.

06:57God recognized that matters had spiraled out of control and struck Hans Trapp with a bolt of lightning.

07:04He met his end.

07:05Yet there are accounts of his spectral return on Christmas.

07:09Bellsnickel is a character of German folklore.

07:13It's traditionally known for its unique role in guiding children toward better behavior, offering an intriguing contrast to the jolly figure of St. Nicholas.

07:22The term Bellsnickel can be traced back to the fusion of bells, an older German term signifying fur, and nickel as a nod to St. Nicholas.

07:32Bellsnickel is known for his visits to children, during which he engages them in friendly conversations and playful inquiries.

07:39Based on their responses, he may opt to reward them with a gift or employ a form of discipline, often involving a wooden rod.

07:47Bellsnickel's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

07:52The final touch is Greela.

07:54She is a giantist who is able to sense children misbehaving all year round.

07:59She keeps a record of those children and sees them as snacks during Christmas time.

08:04Wait a minute, didn't we mention her before?

08:07If you ask this question, you're an attentive, devoted brightsider.

08:11We have indeed mentioned her, the mother of the Yule Lands.

08:14Remember that crowded family with a black cat?

08:18Now, Pierre Fouytar was a butcher.

08:20He was known for his involvement in the cases of abduction and robbery, leading to tragic fates for children.

08:27St. Nicholas uncovered his gruesome acts and miraculously revived the children.

08:32In retribution, Pierre Fouytar was sentenced to a lifetime of servitude, accompanying St. Nicholas and managing wayward youngsters.

08:40Well, thanks anyways, but I think I'll just stick with Santa Claus.

08:44Oh, and the reindeer.

08:45Imagine leaving cookies and milk out for Santa, and he does actually show up, but with a furry companion that is not a reindeer.

08:57According to folklore, Krampus is a big, scary creature with horns and hooves, and he goes out looking for children who've been bad.

09:06The name Krampus might derive from the word Krampin, which means rotten or cramp, which means claw.

09:16Nobody's completely sure where Krampus came from, but some people think he's been around since before people started celebrating Christmas.

09:24Some say that people have been celebrating Krampus since the sixth or seventh century, which is a super long time ago.

09:31But there are no writings about Krampus before the 16th century, so solid details about him are still a mystery.

09:39There are also theories that suggest Krampus is the son of the ruler of the underworld.

09:44Krampus is like the total opposite of Santa Claus.

09:48He is this scary, mythical creature who looks a lot like half goat and half demon.

09:55He has fur all over and sharp teeth.

09:58Krampus carries chains, which are believed to symbolize how people once tried to keep bad spirits under control.

10:05He likes to shake those chains for a bit of drama.

10:08And sometimes, these chains have bells of different sizes jingling along.

10:13He also brings bundles of birch branches, and he uses them to punish naughty kids.

10:19Some folks think these birch branches might have had a special meaning in ancient pagan rituals.

10:25If you like to explore such stories, like, share and subscribe to HowAbout.

10:33In some versions, the birch branches are replaced with a whip.

10:37Krampus was said to be sometimes seen with a sack or a basket strapped to his back.

10:42And that was not for carrying toys or gifts.

10:45That was for hauling away bad children.

10:47Some say he might take them away for further punishment.

10:51Or even on a one-way trip to the underworld.

10:54Krampus goes by different names in different places.

10:57Like, Black Peter and Klaubauf, to name some.

11:01In parts of Europe, people celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th.

11:06The night before Saint Nicholas Day is what they call Krampus Night.

11:10During this time, Krampus performs his spooky tricks to frighten naughty kids.

11:15Sometimes he is with Saint Nicholas, and sometimes he's on his own.

11:19Saint Nicholas usually looks like a bishop in fancy clothes, carrying a golden staff.

11:25He is all about good kids, but Krampus is in charge of naughty ones.

11:30Saint Nicholas hands out gifts, while Krampus gives out coal and birch branches.

11:35There is also a tradition to offer Krampus a special strong drink made just for him.

11:44In 1923, the Krampus tradition was banned by the Austrian government of the time.

11:50In the 1950s, the government gave out pamphlets with titles like, Krampus is an evil man.

11:56But as the 20th century was wrapping up, some people started to get interested in Krampus all over again.

12:02They wanted to bring the tradition back.

12:05And they did it.

12:06It's still going strong today.

12:09In places like Bavaria, people are still making their own hand-carved wooden masks to keep the Krampus spirit alive.

12:16During Krampus celebrations, people dress up in all sorts of costumes.

12:21These characters include Krampus, Saint Nicholas, a woodsman, angels, and an old woman.

12:27Krampus' costume usually has elements like a furry suit, horns, a demon mask, and hooves.

12:34He might have also had props like bells, birch branches, a basket on his back, chains, and a walking staff.

12:41Traditional Krampus costumes were made from not-so-animal-friendly materials.

12:46But these days, they're often made out of cheaper materials, like fake fur and latex.

12:52Every year, as Christmas approaches, there's a pretty unique tradition that happens in the alpine villages of Austria.

12:59It's a tradition that's been around for over 1,500 years.

13:03And it still gets everyone excited, especially in the Austrian region of Tyrol.

13:09Families gather to watch the Krampus parade.

13:15In this parade, young guys dress up in fur suits and wooden masks and attach cowbells to themselves.

13:22They even ride on chariots with fire.

13:25During these festivities, you'll spot Krampus figures and their gang of elves mingling with the crowd.

13:31They're on the lookout for innocent bystanders, often older kids and adults.

13:36These red-eyed costume folks carry prickly brooms and birch branches.

13:41When they spot a target, they chase their victims until they give in.

13:45They might even shake chains and whip their birch branches around to make the spectators a little jittery.

13:52Most of the people from Tyrol think this tradition is good fun.

13:55They're often found munching on roasted chestnuts while enjoying the whole thing.

14:00Traditionally, children leave their shoes out and wait.

14:03If they've been nice, they find treats in their shoes.

14:06But if they've been bad, they might find a birch rod, which is not a fun surprise.

14:11Nowadays, Krampus isn't actually dragging kids to the underworld.

14:15But he still likes to play some pranks.

14:22In Staria, there's a tradition where Krampus gives families birch bundles.

14:26People paint these twigs gold and display them in their homes all year long.

14:30They serve as a reminder to kids that Krampus is watching, even if they temporarily forget about him.

14:37In smaller, more isolated villages, Krampus has other scary companions, like a wild man with antlers.

14:44At the same time, there are some cities in Austria where a tamer, friendlier version of Krampus can be seen.

14:51He is more like a funny figure than someone scary.

14:54In an Italian town, they have an annual Krampus festival in early December.

14:59At dusk, the Krampus comes out of an old cave and chases kids, even adults sometimes.

15:05He gives them a nudge on the legs to remind them to behave.

15:09To calm Krampus down, children and young people have to recite a prayer.

15:14There are similar figures in nearby areas.

15:20In many parts of Croatia, Krampus is pictured as a demon wearing a cloth sack around his waist,

15:26along with chains around his neck, ankles, and wrists.

15:30As part of the tradition, when a child gets a gift from St. Nicholas, they also get a golden branch to show their good deeds for the year.

15:38But if the kid has been naughty, Krampus takes the gifts and leaves a silver branch instead to remind them of their not-so-great behavior.

15:46Krampus can also thank the hype for buying stuff in the 1800s for his growing popularity.

15:52Around that time, people were all about trying new things, so manufacturers saw an opportunity to make money off Krampus.

15:59It started when the Austrian authorities let go of the control over postcard production.

16:04This allowed businesses to produce a variety of Krampus-themed postcards, and they really took off.

16:11When mass media-like postcards became a big thing in Germany and Austria in the 1890s, Krampus got caught up in the craze.

16:20They started making special holiday cards, called Krampus Carton.

16:24But these cards weren't about spreading warm and fuzzy feelings.

16:27The ones that said greetings from Krampus were quite different.

16:31Many of these postcards showed Krampus going after children, leading them away, or carrying them off in his bag.

16:38Not the kinds of cards you would send to your grandma.

16:41Some postcards meant for grown-ups showed Krampus as a woman and sometimes with women.

16:50Until 2004, most people in the United States probably had no clue about Krampus or those Krampus cards.

16:57But then, one art director named Monty Beauchamp put together a book filled with Krampus cards and also set up an art show based on them.

17:06It's hard to say if Monty is the main reason why Krampus became a thing in the United States.

17:11But ever since, Krampus has become sort of a funny, ironic figure in America.

17:17And the real kicker occurred in 2015, when they came out with a big Krampus movie.

17:22Not a low-budget one, but a proper comedy horror film called Krampus, starring Adam Scott and Toni Collette.

17:29So even though Krampus is pretty new to America, this alpine legend is like the original bad Santa who's been around for generations.

17:38That's it for today. So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your friends.

17:45Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side.

17:49On the Bright Side.

17:50On the Bright Side.

17:56.

18:00.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended