Winter is here and, if folklore is anything to go by, it鈥檚 the perfect time for the mythical characters of the festive period to thrive in the coldest season of them all.
Christmas folklore
From across Asia, to the Middle East and through to the British countryside, many of these legends are well known in different parts of the world. So let鈥檚 cosy up by the fire and take a look at some of our favourite fabled figures.
The Abominable Snowman
For centuries the communities of eastern Nepal have reported sightings of giant footprints in the snow, apparently bigger than any man or mammal鈥
Said to be residing in the Himalayan mountain range, the Yeti, otherwise known as the Abominable Snowman, originates from ancient legends across Asia.
Recognised in Tibetan, Himalayan and Sherpa folklore among others, the mythical creature is often described as a large, ape-like creature covered in shaggy white hair.
The history of the Yeti can be traced back to as early as 326 BC, when the ancient Macedonian ruler, Alexander the Great, attempted to conquer the Indus Valley.
When Alexander heard stories of the Yeti, he demanded to see one himself, but was told that it was not possible by the local people, due to the low altitude.
While there is currently no scientific evidence to confirm the Yeti鈥檚 existence, a number of populations local to the Himalayas insist that the creature is real.
In the Buddhist nation Bhutan, there is a national park called the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the country鈥檚 most protected areas, which was originally partly created to protect Yetis.
The Yeti has since been depicted in mainstream media, including Doctor Who and Disney and Pixar鈥檚 2001 animated film, Monsters Inc.
What is Mari Lwyd?
Between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night many Welsh villages are visited by quite the mischievous neigh-产辞耻谤鈥
With baubles for eyes, a colourful mane and a skeletal face, the Mari Lwyd is a white horse that forms one of the region鈥檚 most well-known midwinter traditions.
Beginning at dusk, the celebration traditionally sees Mari travelling from door to door with her posse and singing Welsh language songs. The household that allows Mari entry is said to have good luck for the year.
Welsh translations of Mari Lwyd vary from Grey Mare, to Grey Mane and Grey Mary, with many academics connecting Mari to the pale horses in Celtic mythology, which were thought to be able to cross over to the underworld.
Whilst the custom doesn鈥檛 have a clear cut origin story, it has also been associated with pre-Christian pagan practices.
The first definitive written record of the Mari Lwyd is in a 19th Century book named A Tour through Part of North Wales by J. Evans. Despite the uncertainties around its origin, the tradition is still celebrated in some parts of the country to this day.
The history of Santa Claus
Ho, ho, ho! Far from the rosy-cheeked man dressed in red that lives in the North Pole, the tale of Santa Claus all began with Saint Nicholas, who was said to have lived during the 3rd Century in modern-day Turkey.
One legend has it that after inheriting some money as a young man, St Nicholas would throw bags of gold through the windows of the poor in the middle of the night.
These acts of compassion and generosity weren鈥檛 forgotten in a hurry and by the 12th Century, nuns in France were said to leave small gifts on the doorsteps of children, crediting St Nicolas.
Over the course of the centuries, Nicholas鈥檚 legacy was cemented. On 6 December, the anniversary of his death, a commemorative feast day would take place, particularly across regions of north-western Europe.
But it was the 19th Century that solidified the image Saint Nicolas as the Santa Claus that we know today, when a number of poets and writers produced work that connected Christmas festivities with family celebrations.
It was in this period that Santa Claus become known for flying over people鈥檚 rooftops and gaining his trusty reindeers, except for Rudolph. The red-nosed reindeer had to wait until 1939, where he was included in a Christmas booklet by American department store, Montgomery Ward.
This article was published in November 2022
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