Dark Christmas Traditions: Gryla

This week begins Country Fox’s exploration of Dark Christmas Traditions from around the world. The next few blogs will introduce readers to Yule and Christmas figures that strike fear into the hearts of children everywhere. This weeks terrifying figure is Gryla, the Christmas Witch.

Who is Gryla?

Gryla is a fierce giantess who can be found living in the mountains of Iceland. Snorre Sturluson’s Prose Edda from the thirteenth century mentions her antics. She is a troll who is very fond of eating naughty children.

She lives in her cave with her third husband Leppaludi, her thirteen children and her Yule Cat. Her children are known as ‘The Yule Lads’. The Yule Lads are rather troublesome pranksters that leave the cave in the twelve days before Christmas. Country Fox will discuss the Yule Lads and Yule Cat next week.

In the Past

She is mentioned in the thirteenth century Prose Edda. When Gryla is first mentioned, she isn’t specifically associated with Christmas time. She is described as having multiple tails. On her back she carries a bag to put children in. Gryla carries a knife or sword to cut children’s stomachs. She is covered in warts and is, in general, rather unattractive.

Having eaten her first two husbands when she grew tired of them, she is now on her third spouse. He is rather lazy and usually just resides in their cave. He will prepare her meals of stewed children when she returns from her forays abroad.

Gryla made her way through the mountains and into towns and villages. She would usually knock at doors and ask parents if they had any troublesome or disobedient children they wanted to give her. She could be persuaded to take food or could be scared off. Gryla is able to sense when a child is bad or disobedient and find them.

In the Present

A few centuries after Gryla’s representation as a year long menace, she began to be associated with Christmas time. It is at this point that she is also associated with the Yule Lads and the Yule Cat too. But more about them next week.

Icelandic people had really created a fearsome ogress that children feared. So much so that children started not going outside around Christmas for fear of having their abdomens slit open and being eaten in a stew.

In the 20th century, America’s imagery of Santa began to take the world by storm. To ease the fears of children, parents and society began to avoid using the name of Gryla. Her imagery was made less fearsome. They also “santa-fied” her Yule lads.

There are many in the community, especially the National Museum of Iceland who are working to return to their traditional roots. Advocates for the shift want to keep their history and heritage alive instead of replacing it with other peoples’ Christmas traditions.

More Dark Christmas Traditions to Come

Last year I covered a newly popular Christmas Tradition of Krampus, new in the U.S. anyway. The tradition of Krampus and Krampus-like figures is long in many European countries. Interested in learning more? Visit my Krampus page.

Next week we will learn about the Yule Lads, some of whom may have already visited your homes. We will also learn how to avoid being eaten by the Yule Cat.

Please keep all your small and local business in mind when shopping for gift goodies. Many local charities and charitable organizations also need your help at this time of year. If you are able, consider donating to a worthy cause. A list of nonprofits in and near Johnstown can be found here.