Sunday, 11 December 2016

The Jólakötturinn yule cat of Iceland


If you’re not sporting a new outfit on Christmas Eve, you might just receive an extremely unwanted visit from the Yule cat, or as he’s known in Iceland, the Jólakötturinn.
Although he sounds adorable, the Jólakötturinn is actually a giant, demonic feline that prowls around the snowy rural areas of Iceland where he sniffs out, hunts down and eats those (or the food of those) unfortunate enough to have not received a new outfit for the holidays. 

Apparently this old folktale has a moral behind it and encourages children to donate to the needy, it may also have ties with production and the harvesting of wool before the winter period arrives, promoting a responsible work ethic.

Either way, it’s always best to err on the side of caution in the face of potential death, and pray for that ugly sweater from your grandma to be nestled safely under the tree this year.  Jólakötturinn knows exactly what gifts you have, because he’s been watching you of course!


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