Íslensku Jólasveinarnir: the Yule Lads of Iceland
On the evening of 11th December, Icelandic children place shoes on the sills of their windows, before they go to bed.
Krampus: The Christmas Devil of Alpine Folklore?
Beware! Lock up your children, clutch your mince pies, and huddle in against the snow. Haven’t you heard? Krampus is coming to town …
Midwinter Celebrations: Yule, Saturnalia, and Christmas Folklore
Christmas traditions have evolved through the centuries, many of them have ancient origins linked to the midwinter festivals of Yule and Saturnalia
Kissing under the Mistletoe? Not in Medieval Herefordshire
Mistletoe is the stuff of folklore. It is found in Norse, Greek and Roman mythology, a plant of power and magic.
What is First-footing and Can It Improve Your Year?
First-footing as a New Year custom is most common in Scotland and the north of England, but it does have regional, and international, variations.