Wintertide – December 23rd

Both legends and lore play an intricate part in our modern-day Christmas. Over the centuries, cultural observances weaved into winter themes, ever-changing our Yuletide celebrations.

Krampus

The Krampus emerged from alpine folklore throughout Europe. A horned figure and creator of the Advent season’s ‘scared straight’ program for the naughty. Assisting Old St. Nick, the Krampus rewards bad children with a switch of his birch stick, while good kids get a top pick from Santa’s swag. 

Mari Lwyd

Mari Lwyd is an old Welsh wassailing custom of a mounted horse skull decorated with ribbons and a flowing white shawl, traveling to local houses. The Mari Lwyd carrier, hidden under the shawl, will request entry at a neighbor’s door with a song. The householder refuses but then willingly relents. The merry, hidden carrier enters to receive welcomed food and drink. The un-housebroken Mari Lwyd, however, soon misbehaves, bucking and snapping at children and hosts, embarrassing its carrier while entertaining all involved. The naughty Mari Lwyds never could handle its wassail.

Knee-Hugger Elves

Knee-huggers were invasive little North Pole snitches placed throughout the homes of curious children, era 1950-1960s. Santa’s town criers, they’d innocently sit, eyes wide and ears pricked to report the first sounds of naughtiness. Parents utilized their stealth-operative reputations to keep misbehaving at a minimum. Knee-huggers were kept in plain sight, as mantle decorations or Christmas tree ornaments. Some remain in cobweb attics and boxes of discarded memories. Decades later, they peek from room corners in the dead of winter nights, taking notice, writing lists to be checked twice.

photo credit: pixabay Simon Fischer

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