While American children need only fear a stocking full of coal as a result of their bad behavior, kids in other countries are threatened with a horribly violent death.
During the weeks leading up to Christmas -- and longer for some children -- parents throughout America threaten naughty kids with the possibility of finding coal in their stockings instead of the latest video game or high-tech device under the tree when they wake up on Dec. 25.
While this may work for American young'uns, children around the world are faced with much more violent punishments for their disobedience throughout the year.
The German legend of Krampus -- St. Nicholas' demonic sidekick who throws mischievous children into a sack and allegedly carts them off to hell -- has become more well-known in the States due to movies like the one recently released in theaters.
But there are several other "Christmas monsters" who are used to inspire young people all over the world to behave themselves year-round.
Mari Lwyd -- The Christmas Zombie Horse
The Welsh tradition of Mari Lwyd is more a combination of Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve than anything we have here in the U.S. -- except for my house which is decorated as HalloChristmas, but that's another story.
Mari Lwyd, a skeleton mare that rises from the dead and wanders the streets with her attendants, has one goal -- to get into your home.
Legend says that homeowners must engage in a sort of rap battle of wits with the zombie horse to keep the filly at bay.
On New Year's Eve, a puppeteer covered in a white sheet roams the streets with a horse skull on a stick, knocking on doors in the hopes of getting inside.
The Mari Lwyd and her henchmen kick off a traditional Welsh song which must be answered by those inside, therein commencing in a rhyming rap battle.
If Mari Lwyd wins the musical exchange, the zombie horse is welcomed inside for drinks and treats.
Perchta the Witch and her Straggele
Perchta (or Berchta) is said to wander the Earth on New Year's Eve, rewarding the hard-working and generous, while punishing the idle and greedy in a gory and violent way.
In many parts of Europe, Perchta is known to ride with a posse of demonic cohorts known as Straggele.
These critters love to indulge in festive, edible offerings left out by those looking for Perchta's blessing of a healthy and wealthy new year.
However, if Perchta and her Straggele come across a home where bad kids live, she allows her accomplices to punish those children by robbing them and then tearing them to pieces.
That's a fine "Happy New Year," don't you think?
Gryla
One of the most renowned figures of an Icelandic Christmas is Gryla -- a giant, female troll with hooves for feet and 13 tails.
This terrifying legend is said to descend from her mountain home on Christmas day to search out disobedient children, throw them into her sack, and take them back to her cave where she promptly boils them to make kiddie stew.
However, there are 13 children who are quite naughty and have yet to feel the punishment of Gryla -- her 13 sons otherwise known as the Yule Lads.
The Yule Lads
These 13 pranksters are sort of like bad version of Snow White's seven dwarves.
Each of Gryla's sons has a specific fixation that normally involves stealing something from others or getting a laugh at someone else's expense.
Gully Hawk hides out in gullies or ditches to wait for the opportune time to run into the dairy shed and lick the foam off the milk in the farmer's buckets, while Bowl Licker waits under the bed of some unsuspecting person, waiting for that person's bowl to hit the floor so he can lick the remainder of its contents.
Window Peeper is Gryla's version of a peeping Tom -- waiting and watching through a window -- and Doorway Sniffer uses his incredibly large nose to sniff through doors to find bread.
Candle stealer follows children.
But children may fear Candle Stealer the most. This robber follows children around at night in order to steal their candles, leaving them in the dark.
Kelly Roncace is senior investigator and team leader with Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society, a professional paranormal investigation team based in Salem County. Do you know of a haunted location that JUMPS could research and investigate? Contact Kelly at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com and follow her on Twitter @KellyRoncace with your suggestions.
