The evil Christmas cat (Jólakötturinn in Icelandic) is the pet of the troll witch Grýla. She is used to threaten naughty children, because she loves to eat them. Grýla’s sons are the Jólasveinar, the thirteen Icelandic Santa Clauses, dwarves who originally did not bring gifts, but stole things or played pranks. They are on the move between December 12 and January 6.
The day of the Jólakötturinn is December 24. This is when the hungry Christmas cat roams around to steal and eat naughty, lazy children. Only those who wear new clothes, especially new socks, on Christmas Eve are spared.
New clothes were a sign that someone had not been lazy, but had spun all the wool from the sheep before winter and made it into clothing. This was important for surviving the cold winters on the inhospitable island. The story of Jólakötturinn should therefore be understood as an invitation to be diligent and to prepare for winter in good time.
Gregorygregory888888 on
Is this still a much observed tradition by many or mostly a tale of years gone by? Cannot imagine me teaching my kids that this cat may eat them if they do not……..
14 Comments
The evil Christmas cat (Jólakötturinn in Icelandic) is the pet of the troll witch Grýla. She is used to threaten naughty children, because she loves to eat them. Grýla’s sons are the Jólasveinar, the thirteen Icelandic Santa Clauses, dwarves who originally did not bring gifts, but stole things or played pranks. They are on the move between December 12 and January 6.
The day of the Jólakötturinn is December 24. This is when the hungry Christmas cat roams around to steal and eat naughty, lazy children. Only those who wear new clothes, especially new socks, on Christmas Eve are spared.
New clothes were a sign that someone had not been lazy, but had spun all the wool from the sheep before winter and made it into clothing. This was important for surviving the cold winters on the inhospitable island. The story of Jólakötturinn should therefore be understood as an invitation to be diligent and to prepare for winter in good time.
Is this still a much observed tradition by many or mostly a tale of years gone by? Cannot imagine me teaching my kids that this cat may eat them if they do not……..
pspsps
Tell your kitty is said pspsps
https://preview.redd.it/csezh4a1vy6g1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7430923fd347241d4bd9391fe8839075409f8a16
My cat kinda resembles it, those mice should have been wearing new clothes, that is one of the nicknames for my cat
The cat isn’t wearing clothes. Wy does *he* get to not follow his rules?
Fucking hypocat.
I would’ve been eaten long ago…
If my cat was that size, he’d bat your ass around like it was nothing
That’s just how a normal house cat sees itself.
Mongo is appalled
That looks like my Spooky. He passed 23 November. It’s strange to see this
Its puck!
Sounds pagany to me!
He won’t do anything, he’s just a big pussy.