Random Terrifying Traditional Christmas Legends (10 items)

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  (#8) Werewolves

  Yes, werewolves. Although we typically try to limit the lycanthropes to Halloween, B-movies, and steamy fiction, Werewolves have been a part of the Yuletide horror fest since the Middle Ages.

  In modernity, it has since been reduced, reused, and recycled to the claim that simply having the audacity to be born on Christmas Day is cause enough to make a person a werewolf, as well. The 1961 film The Curse of the Werewolf explains that being born on December 25 is mocking Jesus Christ, and so you must be punished. Yeah, that Jesus: bringing the Christmas cheer by punishing not just a baby for being born, but he's also damning any who fall into his or her wake every year.
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  (#1) Belsnickel

  Hailing from Germany, Belsnickel is a creepy looking figure. Covered in patch-worked rags to keep his identity secret, he also wears furs and threatens children by carrying a switch. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Belsnickel stops by the doors of households with children and threatens the misbehaving kids that if they don't straighten up, they'll not only not get presents, but a good beating from Belsnickel himself.
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  (#2) The Elf on the Shelf

  • Book

  Based on the book, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bel, illustrated by Coë Steinwart. Now, aside from the fact you can't call something new "a tradition," The Elf on the Shelf is the latest trick for parents to keep children well-behaved during the winter months (if not throughout the year). A mix of the yule lads and Belsnickel (only without the corporal punishment), the story goes that Santa sends out his little helpers — who apparently haven't worked enough through the year making toys for all the good kinder of the world — to all the households of the world to keep an eye on the kids in the final days building up to Christmas. Each day, the elf appears in a different part of the house to monitor and report back to Santa, in case Timmy and Tiffany aren't really staying on their best behavior. 

  Part of the tradition of Elf on the Shelf is that he pulls pranks and does cute and creative things. However, despite the fun and mischief he provides, children are forbidden from touching him. For if they do, he will lose all his magical powers and not be able to report back to Santa. On one hand, that seems like a great idea if you are naughty because then Santa can never truly know. On the other hand, it is rather damning circumstantial evidence.

  Here's a blog dedicated to "creative" Elf in the Shelf ideas, but mostly it's just a blog of creepy ideas.
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  (#9) Grýla

  One of the few non-Germanic characters on this list is the Grýla, who comes from Icelandic mythology and is a terrifying lady ogre whose preferred diet was naughty children — because nothing says "Merry Christmas!" quite like being fed to a horrifying crone.

  In 1746, a decree was issued prohibiting the use of Grýla and the Yule Lads, as they served no function other than to scare small children. This has lead to the crafting of a few songs, which claim that she has passed; however, a few of the songs suggest that she could always return to the living, should the number of naughty children increase. 
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  (#4) Zwarte Piet

  Black Peter (known to natives of the Netherlands as Zwarte Piet) may appear rather tame in theory: he does, after all, give sweets and presents to good little boys and girls and is a companion of Sinterklaas (that is, Saint Nicoholas). The insidiousness of Black Pete comes in the fact that he is a racial stereotype by the lily white natives of the Netherlands and Belgium. Although modern attempts to be politically correct have claimed that the reason for the naming of "black" in Peter's name comes from his occupation as a chimney sweep, the physical appearance says otherwise. Black-face make up, exaggerated red lips, and thick, Brillo-y hair.

  It should also be noted that Pete accompanies Sinterklaas on his journey from Spain, meaning he is likely a moor (like that Othello guy from Shakespeare), as suggested by Jan Schenkaman in Saint Nicholas and His Servant.

  In attempts to downplay the racist background of the character to foreign tourists, the Dutch have tried having the person playing Zwarte Pieten instead paint himself in a variety of colors. This didn't set well with those rooted in the tradition, and he has since returned to his black face roots. In recent years, the backlash returned from figures from other cultures, which has forced the local governments to downplay and rethink Zwarte Piet's role in the winter celebrations.
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  (#10) Le Père Fouettard

  Pere Fouettard is seen to this day during Christmas in Belgium and France. His name means "Whipping Father," so you can already guess how he brings holiday cheer. 

  But that's not the scary part of this story, that's the happy part.

  As the story goes, Le Pere Fouettard began his life as an innkeeper, kidnapper, and murderer, in that order. One day while keeping his inn, three rich boys on their way to a religious boarding school stay at his inn. Recognizing their wealth, Le Pere, along with his wife, decides to capture and murder the children (by slitting their throats) to take their money. Because that somehow seemed like a better idea than ransoming them to their wealthier parents. While trying to make corpse stew, Saint Nick shows up and resurrects the boys. Seeing his power, the innkeeper repents and becomes St. Nick's partner by becoming the official whipping boy of bad boys and girls.

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