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This Icelandic Legend of Jólakötturinn, Is About The Giant ‘Yule Cat’ Who Eats People Without New Clothes On Christmas

Christmas is all about spreading joy, receiving gifts and spending time with your loved ones. Well, unless you’re a child who misbehaved throughout the year, then the holidays may not be as exciting as you wish. While no child would ever want to receive coal as a gift from Santa Claus, this may not be the only way to keep naughty children at bay. Other countries have much harsher Christmas spirits, and stories about them leave kids completely horrified. One of them is the Icelandic legend of JÃ³lakÃ¶tturinn, also known as the Yule Cat, who eats children (and sometimes adults) who don’t receive any new clothes before Christmas night.

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Illustration of Jólakötturinn, the giant Yule Cat of Icelandic legend, with glowing eyes and a misty forest background.

While these days receiving clothes for Christmas may be the equivalent of getting coal, it was completely different during the Dark Ages in Iceland. Back in the day, all family members were tasked with chores related to wool production.

Giant Yule Cat from Icelandic legend prowling near a snowy house at night, with glowing eyes and bushy fur.

Since the only thing a family could afford for Christmas was woolen clothes as gifts, it was only possible if everyone completed their tasks in time. Thus the legend of JÃ³lakÃ¶tturinn was born, to scare children and lazy adults into completing their work.

Illustration of the giant Yule Cat, Jólakötturinn, leaping through a snowy landscape in Icelandic legend.

It’s clear that JÃ³lakÃ¶tturinn is not a friendly kitty. This enormous cat peeks through the windows looking for children who didn’t receive their precious clothes during Christmas night.

Giant Yule Cat with glowing eyes in a dark setting, representing Icelandic legend of Jólakötturinn.

The cat then hunts them down and eats the naughty kids for dinner. Terrifying, isn’t it?

Woman holding a fluffy cat indoors with a Christmas tree and snow outside the window, inspired by Icelandic Yule Cat legend.

Right before the holidays, the PBS series Monstrum, hosted by Dr. Emily Zarka, prepared a story on this gruesome feline. You can watch it below.

Here’s how people reacted

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What do you think ?

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Heidi Geary 4 years ago

I wanna ride this glorious furball and conquer the world with it.

12points

Ayasophya Alturas 4 years ago

Y E S .

2points

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elfin 4 years ago

Shouldn't the cat be eating the people who failed to give their children clothes instead of the kids?

10points

Karen Klinck 4 years ago

It went after adults, too. The point was, making your own clothes took work, and the kids had to do their share. There was no such thing as a childhood as we know it during the Middle Ages.

2points

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Colin Leetham 4 years ago

Yep. I'm still a cat person. Nope, no matter how old the folk tradition I'll stay a cat person. Thanks!

9points

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POST

Heidi Geary 4 years ago

I wanna ride this glorious furball and conquer the world with it.

12points

Ayasophya Alturas 4 years ago

Y E S .

2points

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elfin 4 years ago

Shouldn't the cat be eating the people who failed to give their children clothes instead of the kids?

10points

Karen Klinck 4 years ago

It went after adults, too. The point was, making your own clothes took work, and the kids had to do their share. There was no such thing as a childhood as we know it during the Middle Ages.

2points

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