It’s December, which means the Christmas spirit is on the rise! Kids are making their

Christmas lists, adults are buying their children their gifts, and stories are spreading to scare kids off the naughty list.

Most of us may be familiar with Krampus, the central European legend of a monster that punishes misbehaving children during Christmastime. However, this is not the only sinister Christmas legend to exist.

The Yule Cat is a part of an Icelandic Urban Legend which is told to many children in Iceland. To commemorate the popular folk tale, a Christmas Cat stands tall and proud in Laekjartorg square in Reykjavik, Iceland every year around the holidays.

The legend of the Yule Cat is based on an Icelandic poem named The Christmas Cat by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.

The poem goes:

“The Christmas Cat”

You all know the Yule Cat
And that Cat was huge indeed.
People didn’t know where he came from Or where he went.

He opened his glaring eyes wide. The two of them glowing bright. It took a really brave man
To look straight into them.

His whiskers, sharp as bristles, His back arched up high.
And the claws of his hairy paws Were a terrible sight.

He picked on the very poor That no new garments got For Yule – who toiled
And lived in dire need.

From them he took in one fell swoop Their whole Yule dinner
Always eating it himself
If he possibly could.

Hence it was that the women At their spinning wheels sat Spinning a colorful thread For a frock or a little sock.

Because you mustn’t let the Cat
Get hold of the little children.
They had to get something new to wear From the grownups each year.

And when the lights came on, on Yule Eve And the Cat peered in,
The little children stood rosy and proud All dressed up in their new clothes.

Some had gotten an apron And some had gotten shoes Or something that was needed – That was all it took.

For all who got something new to wear Stayed out of that pussy-cat’s grasp
He then gave an awful hiss
But went on his way.

Whether he still exists I do not know. But his visit would be in vain
If next time everybody
Got something new to wear.

Now you might be thinking of helping Where help is needed most.
Perhaps you’ll find some children That have nothing at all.

Perhaps searching for those That live in a lightless world Will give you a happy day And a Merry, Merry Yule.

Legend has it that Jólakötturinn, our Icelandic Yule Cat, is taller than the tallest houses. He prowls through Christmas nights around Iceland, peering through windows to see what children have gotten for their presents. If the child has gotten clothes, Jólakötturinn will move on. However, if they haven’t earned anything, the cat will eat their dinner and then the child themself.

The threat of being eaten by a giant cat is meant to motivate Icelandic children to be nice, just as Krampus is for us. It also inspires generosity by encouraging the giving of clothing to those less-fortunate to grant them protection from the Yule Cat.

This ferocious cat isn’t the only monstrous Christmas legend in Iceland. Icelandic folks have to encounter the threat of Jólakötturinn owner’s too!

So best beware this Christmas Eve when you go to sleep. You never know which Icelandic creature of legends is lurking outside your window ready to bite.