Top 5: The Most Haunted Places North East England

Welcome back!

It’s said that Saints, murderers and smugglers have all played a part in shaping the North East of England’s most famous ghost stories so today I count down the 5 most haunted places in the region. By the North East I am referring to the counties of Northumberland, County Durham and Tyne & Wear.

5. Holy Island

Holy Island, or Lindisfarne, is located off the coast of Northumberland and is regarded as the birthplace of Christianity in the region. In 633 AD, Saint Aiden founded Lindisfarne Priory on the island with Saint Cuthbert becoming Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685 AD. After Saint Cuthbert died, he was buried on the island and after a few years his casket was reopened where it was found that his body was still intact without decomposition resulting in hundreds of people making pilgrimage to Lindisfarne in order to see his body.

However, due to Viking invaision, Monks on the island relocated to the main land taking his body and other artefacts with them. To this day sightings of Monks are spotted walking across the original rock walkway, which joins the island to the mainland.

Other apparitions on the island include, sightings of St. Cuthbert walking around the island in his robes as well as being seen in the priory grounds and around the castle. It’s also said that ‘on night’s when the moon is full and high in the sky‘ he can be seen making what’s known locally as Cuddy’s Beads, which when woven are said to bring the bearer good luck.

Stepping away from Saints, other apparitions on the island include that of a soldier who is sighted in the castle and is believed to have resided here during the English Civil War when parliamentary forces attacked the royalist garrison and castle.

4. Lumley Castle

This 14th Century manor house turned castle was built in 1389 and now functions as a luxury hotel owned by the Earl of Scarborough. Like many other castles, this place has it’s own resident ghosts.

The castle itself is located in County Durham, near to Chester-Le-Street and is famously haunted by Lady Lumley. She is said to have been murdered by priests after she refused to join the Catholic faith and her body was thrown down a well. In order to account for her disappearance, the priests told her husband she ran away to become a nun. To this day she is said to still haunt the castle, raising each night from the well and walking around the castle. She has been sighted by both staff and guests.

Further activity in the castle includes, sightings of a strange man in the corner of the bar, white anomalies being witnessed throughout the castle and orbs appearing in pictures taken by guests.

Some of the most famous paranormal accounts have come from world famous cricketers dating back to the year 2000 where 3 members of the West Indies Cricket Team checked out because they were scared. In 2005, while members of the Australian Cricket Team were staying in the castle Shane Watson became so terrified that he slept on the floor in another team mates room for the rest of his stay. He later told journalists that he saw ghosts during the night.

3. The Schooner Hotel

Having held the title of The Most Haunted Hotel in the Country, The Schooner Hotel is not shy of ghosts.

Located in the coastal village of Alnmouth, The Schooner Hotel was once a coaching inn built in the 1600s being a regular haunt for smugglers with secret tunnels leading from the inns cellar to port. The Schooner is said to have 60 individual ghosts in residence, with activity increasing.

Out of the 32 guest rooms, room 28 has the most activity having hosted suicides, murders and family massacres. One story in particular relating to this room is that of a man returning home from sea killing his wife and 2 children in the room. About 10 years ago a mother and daughter stayed in this room, with the lady’s daughter waking up during the night and started talking with someone, when the girl’s mother asked her daughter who she was talking to, the girl replied the man at the end of the bed and she couldn’t understand why no one else could not see him.

Other rooms with paranormal activity, include room 16 & 17 with guests stating seeing figures at the end of their beds and in the corridor outside the rooms.

Rooms 28, 29 & 30 host a variety of sounds, including knocking, bangs and whispering, with people also reporting feeling the sensation of dread, dizziness and sickness within these rooms. Further to this, there are also reports from guests seeing a soldier walking along the corridors and a maid appearing on the stairs from time to time.

2. Washington Old Hall

Washington Old Hall stands above a wooden Saxon Hall dating back to the 10th Century and is the ancestral home of the American president George Washington. The Hall stayed within his family until the 15th Century when it passed to the Mallroy’s and then to William James, the former Bishop of Durham in 1639. It was under his occupation of the Hall when most of the original structure was pulled down, before being reconstructed into the Hall that stands today.

From here, the Hall was used as a home for the wealthy until it was converted into tenement’s for the poor in the 18th Century, where conditions were said to be cramp, damp and dirty with 35 people fitting into the place. The Hall began falling into disrepair from 1939 before being brought by The National Trust who restored the Hall into its former glory, reopening to the public in 1956.

In terms of paranormal activity sightings in the Hall include that of its own resident ghost, The Green Lady, who has been seen for decades mainly by children walking around the corridors of the upper floors and on occasion is seen weeping, but her identity to this day remains unknown.

Other activity includes, visitors seeing figures of children playing on stairs and the smell of lavender perfume in the Entrance Hall.

1.Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle appeared in all the sources I looked at when making this list and so has naturally been given the top spot.

The castle was built in the 12th Century and is located in the County of Northumberland near to the Scottish boarder. Due to its position, the castle was a regular target by Scottish invaders with the English utilising the castle as a staging point to leads attacks against Scotland. From this the castle began being used as a notorious place of torture and execution, with people believing that their spirits still remain within the castle. It’s believed that there are between 6 to 8 ghosts within the castle walls, one of which is The Blue Boy.

The Blue Boy is seen in the Pink Room and its said his cries can be heard on the stroke of midnight and that he could appear as a simple orb or even as a halo of blue light. During renovation works in the 20th Century, the remains of a young boy were found within a wall. Near to the bones were pieces of blue fabric causing people to believe that these remains belong to The Blue Boy. Some sources state that once his bones were found no futher activity from the boy was documented, but others state his spirit still remains in the castle.

One of the best known tales from this castle is that of The White Pantry Ghost, who has been sighted in the inner pantry. This room was once used to store the castles silver, where a guard would be placed in the room overnight to protect it. One night while on duty a guard is said to have seen a very pale, frail old lady who begged him for water. Mistaking her for a guest he obeyed her request before realising that he was in a locked room alone where no visitor could have entered. She is still sighted on occasion and it’s believed that this begging for water could be a sign she was poisoned.

Further apparitions include that of Lady Berkeley who was married to Lord Grey of Walk and Chillingham before he abandoned her by running off with her sister Henrietta, leaving her to wonder the castle heartbroken and raise their child alone. Today visitors hear the rustle of her silk dress accompanied by a chill.

Other activity includes, light tricks, voices, phantom ghosts on the Devil’s Walk and a malevolent presence lurking in dark chambers of the castle.

Well that’s it for my list of the Top 5 Most Haunted places in North East England. Let me know what you think below and if you think other places should have made the list.

Top 5 Tuesday: The Most Haunted Places in Northumberland

Northumberland is one of the two boarder counties of England, and can be found in the North East by the North Sea. It’s the place I’ve called home for over two decades and I still find new stories about the place.

Today I’ll be counting down the 5 most haunted places in the region.

Number 5: Holy Island

Argued as the birthplace of Christianity in the region, Holy Island or Lindisfarne as it’s also known, has quite a few ghosts sighted on the island over the centuries.

In 635 AD St Aiden founded Lindisfarne Priory and in 664 AD St Cuthburt visited the island. St Cuthburt later became Bishop in 685AD and after his death was buried on the island. Some time later (argued as being a few years after his death) his casket was reopened with his body showed no signs of decay, due to this hundreds of people began making pilgrimage to the island. But due to fears of a Viking invasion his body was moved, alongside ancient relics and artefacts to keep them safe (which is just as well as the Vikings did invade the island killing a number of monks).

To this day monks are sighted crossing the original rock causeway, which connected the island to the mainland. But it’s not just monks who are seen, St Cuthbert himself is known to make an appearance. He is seen walking around the Priory and castle grounds in his robes, as well as being seen sat on the shore making what’s known locally as ‘Cuddy’s Beads’. It’s even said that on nights where there is a full moon you can hear St Cuthbert making the beads.

There is a further apparition on the island which is that of an unknown soldier seen in the castle, thought to be from Cromwell’s time.

Number 4: Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle was once Northumberland’s largest castle enclosing 9.96 acres of land within it’s grounds. It was built in 1313 by the 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Thomas Plantagenet, and was fortified in the 1380s. Now standing in ruins it remains home to a few ghosts and one well known story.

The ghost of Thomas himself wonders the grounds, he met his end by execution (beheading) and is seen carrying his head.

Another ghost rumoured to walk the halls is that of Margaret of Anjou, who was wife of Henry VI and a knight known as Sir Guy.

His tale is one of the best known stories of the castle. According to legend, Sir Guy was once a knight who got caught in a storm finding shelter in the ruins of the castle. While taking up shelter in the gatehouse section of the ruins he saw a hideous figure dressed in white who becanned Sir Guy to follow. He was told if he followed he would be rewarded by a ‘beauty bright‘. He followed the figure up a narrow winding staircase into a room where 100 knight were sleeping along with their horses. In the centre of the room slept a beautiful maiden, on each side of her were serpent statues, one held a sword and the other horn. The figure told him the maiden would wake if he chose the correct item. He chose the horn. He blew the horn which caused all 100 knights to wake and charged at Sir Guy causing him to faint. As he was fainting the figure approached him and said ‘now shame on the coward who sounded the horn, and the knight who sheathed a sword‘. When Sir Guy awoke, he was lying back in the gatehouse. From that night on he kept searching for the maiden but never saw her again. It’s said his ghost is seen wandering the castle on a stormy night still searching for her.

Number 3: Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle, as you might guess by its name, is located in the village of Bamburgh sitting up high on rocks by the North Sea.

The castle that stands today was rebuilt around the 11th Century but there has been an important structure here since the Celtic period. There was a celtic Brittonic Fort on this site known as Din Guarie. From here it pasted a few times between the Britains and Saxons, and in 590 AD was controlled by the Anglo-Saxons. In 993 AD the Vikings invaded, with a new castle being built in its place by the Normans which forms the core of the castle that stands today.

Bamburgh Castle is rumoured to have at least 7 ghosts on site including 2 female spirits. The first of which is The Pink Lady.

Her story goes that centuries ago a young princesses father sent her beloved away to sea for 7 years as he did not approve of the relationship. Her father tried to cheer his daughter up and decided to have a dress made for her in her favourite colour pink. During her final.fitting she climbed the stairs to the highest battlements and threw herself onto the rocks below. It’s said that her spirit returns every 7 years dressed in a pink dress where she wanders the castle before repeating her final moments.

The second female spirit is that of The Green Lady, as you can tell from the name she is dressed in green. She is seen in a green shawl carrying a bundle down some steps where witnesses state they see her fall, believing her to be a real person run to her aid only to find no-one there.

Other activity includes apparitions of s knight and soldier, misty and shadowy figures, whispers, footsteps, rattling chains and the feeling of being touched by an unseen force.

Number 2: The Schooner Hotel

The Schooner Hotel is located in the Northumberland village of Alnmouth and has held the title of The Most Haunted Hotel in Britain, not once but twice.

It’s a 1600’s coaching inn believed to hold 60 individual ghosts, with over 3000 registered accounts of paranormal activity and has stories of suicide and murder, with activity on the rise.

Room 28 is said to have the most activity, thus room was once a seen to a family massacre. Guests staying in this room say they can hear children talking and crying, a women screaming and feel an overwhelming sense of fear alongside feeling an unseen force in the room.

Moving on to rooms 16 and 17, both rooms have guests reporting seeing a figure standing at the end of the beds and in the corridor outside the rooms. The figure in the corridor is reported to be a young boy who enjoys knocking on the doors.

In rooms 28, 29 and 30 knocks, bangs and whispering are heard with visitors feeling dizzy dread and sickness in these rooms.

Other activity in the Hotel includes a soldier walking the corridors and a maid who appears on the stairs.

While this is not all the witness accounts, if you’re feeling brave you could book to spend the night here and add your tales to the recorded accounts.

Number 1: Chillingham Castle

Topping this list is Chillingham Castle. Not only described as the most haunted castle in Northumberland, it also holds the title in Britain.

Chillingham Castle is a 13th Century castle known for its torture chamber and being a stronghold for English and Scottish attacks.

There are said to be around 6 ghosts haunting the castle with the most notable being The Blue Boy.

The Blue Boy himself does not seem to appear in the history books but what has been found in the castle raises some interesting questions. The Blue Boy is haunts to Pink Room where some people have seen him and others seeing s ball of blue light. His cries could be heard crying out in pain or fear at midnight with a halo of blue light seemingly to come out of the wall in this room. Interestingly in the 1920s renovation works were taking place where builders were cutting through The Tower Wall in The Pink Room and found fragments of child size bones alongside pieces of blue fabric.

There is also the White Pantry Ghost, who is seen to this day in the inner pantry abd described as a pale, frail lady dressed in white. One of the most known stories is that when the castles silver was kept in the pantry, a guard would be placed on duty to guard it. However, one day the gaurd guarding the silver was about to fall asleep when a lady appeared asking for water. Thinking she was one of the castle’s guests he obeyed her request only to realise that all the doors to the room were locked and no-one other than him could be in the room.

Other sightings include Lady Mary Berkeley, the wife of Lord Grey of Walk and Chillingham who is seen walking the halls in search of her husband.

In general visitors also report hearing disembodied voices, talking, feeling a dark and creepy sensation alongside feeling a general oppressive atmosphere. Ghost hunts and tours take place here with those attending witnessing the castle’s paranormal activity.

That’s my top five most haunted list, do you think others should have made the list?

Lussi

In the final day of The 12 days of Frightmass, allow me to introduce Lussi from Norwegian and Swedish folklore.

In the past Lussi was described as a hideous demon, she was evil and possessed magical powers spreading mayhem where ever she went.

Her initial story described her as being similar to other beings I’ve mentioned in this series, including Frau Percha and Krampus. Stories about her stated that on the Night before St Lucia’s Day (13th December) also known as Lussi’s Night, a night when evil spirits and demons were said to walk the Earth, adults would spend the night warding off the evil beings while the children had to be good. If the children didn’t behave then Lussi would destroy property, livestock and even kidnap the children. She was known on occasion to kill. In some stories she only kills children who are not in bed.

There was a tradition known as Lussevaka where households would stay up all night in order to protect both the home and their families.

It is customary to this day to hide brooms on Christmas Eve as a way to ensure you prevent evil spirits from joining St Lucia’s proccession on Lussinatta.

In more modern years (beginning in the 18th and 19th Centuries) Lussi is depicted as the opposite. On St Lucia’s Day in both Norway and Sweden a local girl is selected to be St Lucia. She is dressed in a white gown with a red sash and is given a wreath of candles to wear on her head. She then parades through the town followed by a procession of girls all dressed in white, each of whom hold a candle and sing songs dedicated to St Lucia.

Lussi moved away from evil to a kind being, one was is believed in Tyrol to have joined St Nicholas to give gifts. St Nicholas gave to boys, while Lussi gives to girls.

The Tomten

We’re nearly at the end of The 12 Days of Frightmass, but there are two more folklore beings to introduce so in day 11 here is The Tomten.

The Tomten stem from Scandinavian folklore and are listed in a lot of literature. They are around 3 foot tall, with long white beards often resembling a garden gnome. They wear a red cap and traditional farmers clothing, these were a woollen tunic, a belt, knee breeches and stockings. In some folklore stories their appearance is slightly different, some tales list them as shape shifters being able to take the form of a man, others as a cyclops or are even invisible (with humans only getting a slight glimpse of them). In modern day Denmark they no longer have beards wearing grey and red woollen clothes, along with a red cap. In Norway, they are said to have four fingers, pointed ears and have eyes that reflect similar to those of a cat.

The Tomten also go by a number of names such as:

Nisse – Tomte – Tomtenisse – Tomttu

To make it easier to distinish old tales from modern ones different names are applied, for example in modern tales they are referred to as Tomar/Tontarna but in older tales they go by Tomten.

In general they are small creatures who pack a big temper.

They spend their lives looking after farms, in particular a farms livestock, but they are easily offended by rudeness (e.g. by workers swearing or not treating animals well) or by a disregard for tradition (e.g. changes in the way a farm works). If a Tomten were to be offended they could either do small pranks like hitting you, or worse they would kill livestock.

A Tomten’s favourite food is said to be porridge with butter in the middle which farmers are supposed to leave out as a payment for their help and assistance on the farm.

In fact the Tomten like porridge so much that their are stories illustrating their more temperamental side when something happens to their meal. Here are two examples:

One day a Norwegian maid ate a Tomten’s porridge leaving the Tomten angry. In his anger, he beats up the maid leaving her almost dead.
One day a farmer left out porridge for the Tomten, when the Tomten went to eat his meal he noticed that there was no butter in the middle filling the Tomten with rage. In this rage, the Tomten went outside and killed one of the farmers’ cow’s. This act left the Tomten hungry and so he went back inside and ate the porridge. On eating the porridge he found that the butter was there, but rather than being in the middle it was underneath the porridge filling the Tomten with grief for what he did. The Tomten left to try and find a cow identical to the one he killed, when he found one he swopped the cows over.

The stories and descriptions so far do not relate to Christmas, so you might ask why I have mentioned them. Well the answer is quite simple.

Since the 1840s they have been depicted as gift givers.

They can be seen on Christmas Eve, accompanied by the Yule Goat, knocking on doors to give out presents. In keeping with some of the more traditional older stories, you are expected to leave out porridge with a little butter for them (similar to that of carrots, milk and mince pies for Santa).

This transition began to see Tomten stories and drawings describing them more like Santa in appearance, they now appear on Christmas cards with increased commercialisation.

The Kallikantzaroi

In day 10 of The 12 Days of Frightmas allow me to introduce to you to a Greek creature, The Kallikantzaroi.

Originating in folklore in southeastern Europe and in Anatolian folklore, stories of the Kallikantzaroi can be found in Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Cyprus, Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Northern Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia. Although it’s exact origin is unknown, it is believed to be pre-Christan in theory but they have been mentioned in Christian traditions since the 17th Century.

Just like their origin can’t be pinpointed, neither can their description. The most common description is that they are small black creatures with a long tail, like that of the Devil, are mostly blind and eat small creatures. In central Europe the Kallikantzaroi are said to be horned, and look like a cross between a goat and demon.

Other descriptions have the Kallikantzaroi as being enourmass, small humans in appearence, they are said to be male, with long tongues and made up of various animal parts including horses legs and boar tusks. Some tales say they are covered in hair.

The main story for the Kallikantzaroi is that they spend the year underground sawing through the tree of life, which runs through the centre of the Earth. Every year during the 12 days of Christmas they feel an urge to come up to ground where they wonder the Earth. During this time they have nearly sawn through the tree of life , but when they return underground the tree has healed and they begin again repeating this cycle over and over.

Above ground they cause mischief and chaos.

In particular, they will find and steal babies born during the 12 days of Christmas (25th December – 5th January) turning them into Kallikantzaroi.

They could enter your home in a number of ways including:

Chimneys, windows, doors, keyholes and even cracks in the walls.

It was even thought that if you were born on a Saturday you could see and talk to them.

There are ways to protect yourself from the Kallikantzaroi.

Here are a few:

Place a calender on your doorstep: it’s believed that they cannot count to the number 3 because it is deemed a Holy number, as a result the creatures feared the number because to say it would mean they would die. So they would keep starting to count again only to reach 3 and have to stop. They would keep trying until the sun came up forcing them to retreat until the night returns.
Burn a fire all night: This would prevent them from climbing down the chimney.
Placing a black cross on your door.
Burning insense.
Burning smelly items on the fire: Thought the smell would keep them away.

In the end, they disappear on the Epiphany, where the cycle starts all over.

The Karakoncolos

In day 9 of The 12 Days of Frightmass I bring you an Eastern European being known as The Karakoncolos.

The Karakoncolos can be found in legends across Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia and Macedonia. While each country has a varying story its description remains relatively the same, in that, the Karakoncolos is a tall hairy creature described as a cross between a Devil and Bigfoot.

In general the Karakoncolos is a troublesome and evil creature but it is also harmless, appearing during the coldest days of the year.

Different countries describe different stories so here are a few of them:

Turkey

On the streets: The Karakoncolos in Turkey is described as lurking in the shadows standing on street corners waiting for a passer-by. When a person walks past it would ask you a riddle. If you were lucky enough for your answer to contain the word ‘black’ you would be free to go on your way. However, if your answer did not it would strike you dead with a single blow.
By your house: A Karakoncolos could also hover round your house, particularly your door. Whilst here it would disguise its voice pretending to be someone you know, it could be someone from your family or a good friend, to trick you into coming outside. Once outside you would be placed in a trance where you would be left alone in the elements.

Serbia

Take you for a ride: In Serbia it is believed that both ghosts and spirits can wonder the Earth during the 12 days of Christmas. If you were to come across a Karakoncolos during these days they would jump on your back where you would be forced to carry round, retreating only at dawn, leaving you exhausted
Sneak into houses: They could also sneak into your house lingering behind doorways of children’s bedrooms waiting for a child to walk through. Once a child did, the Karakoncolos would grab the child by the neck dragging the child away to be eaten.

Bulgaria

There is a name variant here, calling them the Karakondjul. They are said to wonder at night but you could scare one away by avoiding eye contact.

Unknown Country

One final story of the Karakoncolos is that if you invite one into your home it feels compelled to copy you. If you were to set fire to a piece of thread or silk, it will mistake it’s fur for thread and set itself on fire.

Le Pere Fouettard

In day 8 of The 12 Days of Frightmsss, I bring you Le Pere Fouettard. A eastern French folklore being who’s story is not as scary as the other behaviour enforcers like Krampus.

Roughly translating to ‘father whip’, Le Pere Fouettard has a number of stories associated with him but one is most prominent.

His story goes that he was once a butcher, who along with the help of his wife, lured three boys into his shop where he killed them. It’s said that St Nicholas discovered what he did and resurrected the boys. The butcher was ashamed of his actions and as a punishment St Nicholas made him work alongside him, he was to forever be his assistant to atone for his sins.

I personally question why it was only the butcher who was made to assist St Nicholas as his wife was also involved, but I guess she wasn’t the person who actually killed the boys.

While this version of the story is most circulated there are variations to the story. For example, one version states that the three boys were well off and were captured while they were on their way to a religious boarding school rather than walking in to the butcher shop. Another version states the butcher craved eating children, which is why he killed them. A third alternative, argues that the butcher repented to St Nicholas which is why he was made to be one of his assistants going forward.

Whichever version is correct, the butcher joined forces with St Nicholas becoming Le Pere Fouettard. He became a figure who issues punishment to children, in contrast to St Nicholas who gives presents on St Nicholas’ Day (6th January). His punishment could involve physically beating a naughty child with a whip.

The more I look into these Christmas folklore beings the more I think they are specifically designed to get children to behave in life.

Hans Trapp

In day 7 of The 12 Days of Frightmass I introduce you to the Hans Trapp, another folklore being who can be described as an anti-Santa who punishes bad children.

The Hans Trapp can be found in folklore in the Alsace and Lorraine regions of France. Described as a scarecrow or boogyman this creature visits children before Christmas, similar to Krampus, except for one notable thing he tries to encourage children to mend their ways.

The Hans Trapp is said to be based on a real person, with some stories giving his name as Hans Von Troth a knight was was exiled and excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

In around the 15th Century one German knight was rich and greedy with lands across the French and German boarder. Locals said he was a satan worshipper and deemed a nuisance by both villagers and the church. One day he was involved in a land dispute with a local Abbott where he had the Wieslauter river blocked, preventing water reaching the nearby town.

The Abbott complained resulting in the blockage being removed, this caused flooding to Weissenburg to the extent that its economy was destroyed. Following this the Abbott complained to the Pope resulting in Von Troth being excommunicated. His land and money were taken and he was exiled, living in a forest. Some stories say he found shelter in the mountains of Geisberg in Bavaria (Germany) creating a make shift shack from sticks.

While living in the forest he began to loose his mind, dreaming of revenge.

Dressed as a scarecrow he attacked a ten year old boy who was passing through the forest, he killed the young boy with a sharpened stick and roasted the boy in small pieces but before he could eat the boy he was struck by lighting and killed. Some say this was God’s doing.

Over the years his has gotten mixed up in myth and after the Hans Trapps’ death he was created as a warning to childten to behave in life.

In modern tales he goes to houses dressed as a scarecrow where he scares children drooling over their flesh.

The Yule Cat

We are now half way through the 12 Days of Frightmass and today I bring you the Jólakötturinn, or The Yule Cat if Icelandic is not your strong point.

The Yule Cat stems from Icelandic folklore, residing in a cave up in the mountains with it’s owners Grýla, Leppalúði and The Yule Lads (you can read about Grýla and The Yule Lads in days 4 and 5 of The 12 Days of Frightmass posts).

The Yule Cat is described as being a huge vicious monster, so tall in height that it towers over houses. In general this cat lurks about the snowy countryside during the Christmas season in search of food, that food being people. More specifically, those who have not received new clothing to wear before Christmas Eve.

I like to think this is why you always seem to get some form of clothes as a Christmas gift, whether a pair of socks or new pyjamas.

I’ve read that stories around The Yule Cat come from the Dark Ages, however there have only been written accounts since the 19th Century and is similar to the other beings associated with Christmas throughout Europe. In that, it is a creature used to enforce good behaviour.

It was once customary that if you finished work on time before Christmas you would be given clothing, however if you did not finish on time you would not and would have to face The Yule Cat. By work, this could be anything from your actual job or simply household chores. This getting work done on time is used as a way to encourage children to work hard, if they did they would receive a piece of clothing for Christmas and therefore be spared from The Yule Cat.

Some stories state that the cat would eat the person who did not receive clothing but there are alternative tales, for example some state that the cat will eat a persons food or only eating children on Christmas Eve.

Whichever story has the right answer, The Yule Cat is still to this day discussed as looking through windows on Christmas Eve to check if you have or have not received clothing as a present. I don’t know about you but I am glad that I own curtains and so don’t have to worry about seeing the cat through my window.

The Yule Lads

In day 5 of the 12 days of Frightmass, I have decided to talk about another one of Iceland’s folklore beings The Yule Lads he or to give them their Icelandic name Jólasveinar.

There are 12 Yule Lads in total, each have their own name and personality (a bit like the seven dwarfs). As with the other beings discussed in this series they to are used as a way to scare children into behaving. Modern stories depict these lads as being good and a little mischievous in a cheeky way, however older folklore stories paint a different picture in that their antics were ones to be feared.

Older tales state that each of the lads would descend down the mountains from their cave (where they live with their mother Grýla, father Leppalúði and their pet The Yule Cat. They would proceed to enter nearby towns and cause mischief on the days leading up to Christmas Day. They were deemed trouble makers, who would steal and harass people. In fact in 1746, stories about The Yule Lads were banned because they were deemed too tormenting. Over the years The Yule Lads got mixed up with Julenisse (Santa) and became gift givers.

The Yule Lads are known by the following names:

Sheep-Cote Clod: He tries to suckle yews in farmers sheds.
Gully Gawk: He steals the foam from buckets of cow’s milk.
Stubby: He is the shortest and steals food from frying pans.
Spoon Licker: Yes you guessed it, he licks spoons.
Pot Scraper/Pot Licker: Again it’s as it sounds, he licks pots clean.
Bowl Licker: Not quite as it sounds, he steals bowls of food.
Door Slammer: Another name as it sounds, he slams doors.
Skyr Gobbler: He eats yoghurt.
Sausage Swiper: He eats stolen sausages.
Window Peeper: He creeps up to windows, stealing stuff from the inside ledge).
Door Sniffer: He has a huge nose which he uses to find baked goods.
Candle Beggar: Another name as it sounds, he steals candles.

Children will leave a shoe in their bedroom window on the 13 days before Christmas, each night one of The Yule Lads leaves a gift for all well behaving children. If you were not so well behaved, you would recieve the gift of a rotten tomato. Instead of having to behave all year round, gifts are dependent on how a child has behaved that day.

Today The Yule Lads are more a fun part of Christmas for children, rather than a feared being.

Join me tomorrow when we look into The Yule Lads’ cave pet The Yule Cat, who may explain why we receive clothing based gifts at Christmas time.