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The Christmas Cat of Iceland – a giant terrifying cat that gobbles up children if they’re bad

By i iz cat, Published in I Iz Cat.com

At Christmas time in Iceland, families give warm clothing to each member of their household.

According to legend, there is a frightening Christmas Cat who stalks the snowy countryside and gobbles up anyone not equipped for the cold and wintry weather.

Families in Iceland work together to ensure nobody will “go to the Christmas Cat.” This terrifying feline is also referred to as the Yule Cat [from the Norse word “Jul” meaning wheel, as in the Pagan Christmas wreath or Wheel of Fate, cycle of seasons, rebirth of light at winter solstice]. Each year, families gift each other new and warm clothes for the winter, and make the Yule cat an offering of some warm weather gear. If not, the Yule cat will gobble you up like some fishy treats.

The message is passed down to children, who are taught to work hard, and if they don’t/are bad children – the Christmas Cat will eat them. [ The ploy can also work when manipulating their workers.]

Terrifying… but effective!

The threat of being eaten by the monster Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat, was used by farmers as an incentive for their workers to finish processing the autumn wool before Christmas. The ones who took part in the work would be rewarded with new clothes, but those who did not would get nothing and thus would be preyed upon by the monstrous cat. — Wikipedia