Each culture has its own Christmas traditionsstories and myths. But what about a giant cat that eat you if you don’t have new clothes? Meet Jólakötturinn – THE Christmas Cat.

What is the Christmas Cat?

Most Christmas traditions are warm and joyful; after all, ’tis the season to be merry! However, in the Nordic countries – particularly Iceland – folklore takes a darker turn.

The Christmas Cat (or Christmas Cat) is a fearsome feline from Icelandic folklore. According to the legendThe Christmas Cat prowls the countryside during the Christmas period, stalking people – especially children – who are not wearing new clothes. In some versions, he also hunts down mischievous children and pranksters.

The Christmas Cat was said to be enormous, towering over buildings as it roamed the snowy landscape. Children who had not received new clothes were inspected by the cat and, if found to be lazy, were devoured. In some versions, the Christmas Cat spares people but steals their food and gifts.

An incentive to work that has become a tradition

The story of the Jólakötturinn, the Christmas Cat, probably originated at some point during the Dark Ages, although the oldest written accounts date from the 19th century. Originally, the story served as an incentive for the wool processing to be completed before Christmas. Those who worked hard received new clothes, while the slackers received nothing – and faced the wrath of the Christmas Cat.

The story is as follows:

In medieval Iceland, employers rewarded their employees and household members with new clothes and shoes made from sheepskin. The gifts were given as a reward for a year of hard work and as motivation to complete the work before Christmas, particularly the processing of autumn wool. Here’s the problem: If you didn’t have new clothes for Christmas, the dreaded Christmas cat would come out and eat you – and he was no ordinary cat.

It towers over the tallest buildings and prances around Iceland looking for people without new clothes. He especially looks for children and inspects them to see if they have new clothes. If they were too lazy to earn them, the unfortunate children might just end up on the Christmas Cat’s menu.

Over time, the legend evolved. You don’t need to buy new clothes every year, one way to avoid the claws of the Christmas cat is to be generous: gifting clothes to the less fortunate also keeps the cat at bay.

Even today, Icelanders give children new clothes before Christmas, as a safety measure. Although few people truly believe in the Christmas cat, the tradition continues.

In other interpretations, the Christmas Cat does not eat people, only their food and gifts. As times have changed, so has history. Another way to make sure Jólakötturinn doesn’t misunderstand you is to be generous. You don’t necessarily have to wear new clothes yourself: if you give new clothes to the less fortunate, the Christmas cat will leave you alone.

However, the legend of the Christmas Cat is still shrouded in mystery and anthropological controversy.

A Christmas controversy

According to Icelandic folklorist Árni Björnsson, the origin of the Christmas cat could be linked to a simple linguistic misunderstanding. Árni points out a footnote by Jón Árnason, the famous 19th-century Icelandic folktale collector, which uses the figure of speech “to dress the cat.” Árni suggests that Jón may have taken this phrase and, through creative interpretation, transformed it into the terrifying creature we know today.

Since there is no written record of the Christmas Cat before Jón’s time, Árni concluded that Jón’s interpretation gave rise to the myth. The phrase “dress the cat” likely referred to the importance of rewarding hard work with clothes, which tied closely to the menacing notion of a cat punishing those who did not receive new clothes.

On the other hand, archaeologist Guðmundur Ólafsson proposes a more pan-European origin for the Christmas cat. Guðmundur connects Jólakötturinn with various figures from continental European traditions who accompanied Saint Nicholas. These entities often served to enforce holiday behavior, punishing the wicked while Saint Nicholas rewarded the good.

Guðmundur points out that the scarcity of written records of this folklore is common across cultures, so the lack of documentation of the Christmas Cat before the time of Jón Árnason does not necessarily mean that the myth was invented from from zero. Instead, the Christmas Cat might be a localized variation of a broader European tradition of punishing mythical beasts.

Christmas folklore

Regardless of its exact origin, the Christmas cat was traditionally used as a motivational tool in rural Iceland. The Christmas Cat, a staple of the Icelandic Christmas tradition, was cemented in 1932 when the beloved poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum published his collection of poetry. Jólin Koma (meaning “Christmas is coming”). One of the most remarkable poems in the collection, Jólakötturinnvividly described the giant man-eating cat and cemented its place in Icelandic festive celebrations.

Interestingly, Jóhannes’ poem did not initially associate the Christmas Cat with Grýla, a fearsome giantess in Icelandic folklore who kidnaps and eats misbehaving children, particularly during the Christmas period. However, because these characters were also in the collection, later stories naturally linked them together.

Grýla is described in the 13th century in legend Edda in prosebut no specific connection with Christmas is mentioned until the 17th century. She is mentioned as a beggar who begs parents for their disobedient children – which she cooks and eats in her giant cauldron, like Grýla’s favorite dish, a naughty children’s stew. So if you want to be safe this Christmas, both from the giantess and the Christmas cat, the best thing you can do is be true and honest throughout the year, and make sure you offer gifts to your loved ones.

In the mid-20th century, the Christmas Cat became widely regarded as the pet of Grýla and her mischievous sons, taking on the folk form we see today.

Here is a famous poem by Johannes úr Kötlumone of Iceland’s most beloved poets, describing the beast:

You know the Christmas cat
– this cat is very big
We don’t know where it comes from
nor where he went
He opened his eyes wide
enlightening them both
it was not for cowards
examine them
Her needle-point hair
its back was high and rounded and claws on its hairy paw
It wasn’t a pretty sight.
This is why women competed
rock, sow and turn
and colorful knitted clothes
or a small sock
Because the cat couldn’t come
and take the little children
they had to buy new clothes
adults
When Christmas Eve was lit
and the cat looked inside
the children stood straight and their cheeks were red
with their gifts
He waved his strong tail
he jumped, scratched and blew
and was either in the valley
or on the promontory
He was walking around, hungry and mean
in the terribly cold Christmas snow
and kindled fear in hearts
in every city
If outside we heard a faint “meow”
then bad luck would surely happen
everyone knew he hunted men
and I didn’t want a mouse
He followed the poorest
who didn’t get new clothes
as Christmas approaches – and I tried and lived
in the poorest conditions
From them he took at the same time
all their Christmas food
and also ate them themselves
if he could
This is why women competed
rock, sow and turn
and colorful knitted clothes
or a small sock Some had an apron
and some had a new shoe
or whatever was needed
but it was enough
Because the pussy shouldn’t eat anyone
who bought a new item of clothing
She hissed with her ugly voice
and ran away
If it still exists, I don’t know
but his trip would be for nothing
if everyone had the next Christmas
a new cloth
You might want to keep it in mind
to help if necessary
because somewhere there might be children
which has nothing at all
Maybe I’m looking for those who suffer
due to lack of abundant light
will give you a good season
and Merry Christmas.