{"id":279552,"date":"2025-12-20T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/?p=279552"},"modified":"2025-12-22T08:41:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T07:41:03","slug":"julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yule Goat, the Yule Witch and the Yule Cat \u2013 meet Europe's Christmas creatures"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-skribent-helena-bergstrom\">Writer: Helena Bergstr\u00f6m<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christmas is certainly a Christian holiday, but Christmas traditions also include a wild mix of folklore and pre-Christian winter rituals. Throughout Europe, Christmas stories are populated by witches, goats, demons and various mythical animals. Join us on a journey through Europe's darker, stranger and sometimes frightening Christmas traditions...<\/p><div class=\"sharethis-buttons\"><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"twitter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/twitter.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Tweet<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"facebook\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/facebook.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"linkedin\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/linkedin.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"pinterest\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/pinterest.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Pin<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"reddit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/reddit.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><div class=\"st-custom-button\" data-network=\"digg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/platform-cdn.sharethis.com\/img\/digg.svg\"><span class=\"label\">Share<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac7e9ed287e5\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac7e9ed287e5\" checked aria-label=\"toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#Nar_julen_var_lite_vildare\" >When Christmas was a little wilder<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#1_Norden_Julbocken\" >1. The Nordic countries: The Yule Goat<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#2_Italien_Julhaxan_La_Befana\" >2. Italy: The Christmas witch La Befana<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#3_Island_Jolakotturinn\" >3. Iceland: J\u00f3lak\u00f6tturinn<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#4_Alperna_Krampus\" >4. The Alps: Krampus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#5_Frankrike_Pere_Fouettard\" >5. France: P\u00e8re Fouettard<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#6_Wales_Mari_Lwyd\" >6. Wales: Mari Lwyd<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#Vilken_ar_din_relation_till_Europas_julvasen\" >What is your relationship to European Christmas traditions?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/#Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\" >Subscribe to our newsletter<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-nar-julen-var-lite-vildare\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nar_julen_var_lite_vildare\"><\/span>When Christmas was a little wilder<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What European Christmas traditions have in common is that they remind us of a time when winter was seen as dangerous and the supernatural was present in people's stories. We have delved into six magical creatures that populate Europe during the Christmas season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-norden-julbocken\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Norden_Julbocken\"><\/span>1. The Nordic countries: <em>The Yule Goat<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long before Santa Claus became a popular figure, he ruled <em>Yule goat<\/em> in the Nordic countries. The goat has its roots in pre-Christian Norse mythology, where the thunder god Thor's chariot was pulled by two goats. <\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-2387289737\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88752\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-666861361 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-832055238\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ullbadden.se\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ullbadden_588x158_feb_2026-1-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-132614520\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.sun-living.com\/vans\/v-serien\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"New Sunlife\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Nya-Sunliv.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider666861361 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-666861361\" );$freedslider666861361.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider666861361.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider666861361.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider666861361.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider666861361.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goat has long been associated with Christmas. As early as the beginning of the 18th century, young people would go around the farms performing plays or singing songs \u2013 and one member of the group would usually be dressed up as a goat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Sweden and Finland, the tradition of a Christmas goat that roamed between farms during Christmas, sometimes to distribute gifts, remained for quite some time. Today, the Christmas goat is mainly a decoration, often made of straw. Perhaps the most famous is <em>The G\u00e4vle Goat<\/em>, which is built up every year, and just as often burns down.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-18456830\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88753\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-2594763452 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-2061016198\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.elmia.se\/husvagn\/for-besokare\/biljetter\/?utm_source=freedomtravel&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=elmiahusvagn_kop_biljett_mars-sep\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ElmiaHusvagnHusbil_2026_FREEDOMtravel_vi_ses_2027_588x158-433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-1717459205\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale (588 x 158 px)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px-.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--224x60.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--18x5.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Demoutforsaljning-588-x-158-px--433x116.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-626467316\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/store.alko-tech.com\/anhaengerkupplungen-fuer-reisemobile\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"AL-KO towbar 2026\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026-.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026-.png 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026--300x81.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026--224x60.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026--18x5.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AL-KO-dragkrok-2026--433x116.png 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"158\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider2594763452 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-2594763452\" );$freedslider2594763452.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider2594763452.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider2594763452.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider2594763452.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider2594763452.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279555\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/emil-palren-XWyPLOfVleU-unsplash-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cat checks out a Christmas goat made of straw. Photo: Unsplash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-italien-julhaxan-la-befana\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Italien_Julhaxan_La_Befana\"><\/span>2. Italy: <em>The Christmas witch La Befana<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Italy, Christmas presents are not always brought by Father Christmas, but can also be distributed by the witch. <em>La Befana<\/em>, who flies over the rooftops on his broomstick on the night of Twelfth Night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to legend, La Befana was the woman who refused to help when the three wise men asked for directions to the baby Jesus. Full of regret, she later set out to look for the child, laden with gifts \u2013 and continues to do so to this day.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banner freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-4129581970\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-2556473006\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/firstcamp.se\/bra-att-veta\/incheckning-efter-stangning?utm_source=display&#038;utm_medium=Freedom-Travel&#038;utm_campaign=Freedom-Travel-sommar-2026\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-224x107.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-18x9.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dropin_freedom_travel_588x280_SE_final-433x206.jpg 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"280\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, La Befana is celebrated throughout Italy, especially in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2020\/01\/gora-i-rom\/\">Rome<\/a>, where <em>Piazza Navona<\/em> is filled with market stalls, sweets and broom-decorated figures. Good children receive presents, naughty children receive coal \u2013 albeit usually in the form of sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-revac-film-s-photography-10400-163950-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Christmas witch La Befana. Photo: Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-island-jolakotturinn\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Island_Jolakotturinn\"><\/span>3. Iceland: <em>Christmas meat <\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland's Christmas cat is not something you want to encounter in the winter darkness. <em>Christmas meat<\/em> is a huge black cat, which according to legend eats children (and adults) who have not received new clothes for Christmas.<\/p><div class=\"freed-grupp-stora-banners-i-blogginlagg-2 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-2948007938\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-2846677941\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/wifi.se\/produkt\/hybrid-traveller-portabel-5g-router-med-backup-batteri-i-over-6-timmar-usb\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"freedom\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/freedom.gif\" alt=\"\"  width=\"588\" height=\"288\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The story has its roots in Iceland's harsh farming society, where new clothes signalled hard work with the autumn wool before Christmas \u2013 if you had worked hard during the year, you would get something new to wear for the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the Christmas cat lives on in culture: in children's books, songs and as a giant statue in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2018\/10\/14-saker-att-se-och-gora-i-reykjavik\/\">Reykjavik<\/a>. Threatening, but also loved \u2013 from a safe distance.<\/p><div class=\"freed-placering-11 freed-entity-placement\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"freed-264344819\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><div id=\"freed-slider-88783\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-3207187923 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-2378422592\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husvagnsbranschen.se\/medlemmar\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"HRF new xl 2026-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/HRF-nya-xl-2026-9-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-4039370755\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/protect.checkpoint.com\/v2\/r02\/___https:\/www.kabe.se\/se\/nyheter\/kabe-roadshow-2026\/___.YzJlOmthYmU6YzpvOmVkZTIyYjJkNTMxZTZkZjM1YWVhOTViM2NkZTIxMzBlOjc6NDMyYTozYTBkNmIzNGEyZDExNmUyY2ZhYWU3MGNkNzExYmE4ZDUzNjRmYzI5NjgwOTNhNTk5MmZlZDQ2ZTVlNTA3NmVkOmg6VDpO\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"oaddtrip Kabe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/oaddtrip-Kabe-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-3469143383\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unityline.se\/erbjudande\/erbjudande-for-individuella\/polsca-hosterbjudande\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/polsca_grafika_jesienna_propozycje_588x588pxfreedomtravel-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider3207187923 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-3207187923\" );$freedslider3207187923.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider3207187923.unslider({ delay:4000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider3207187923.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider3207187923.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider3207187923.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-1536x1021.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-2048x1361.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-433x288.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-1200x797.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-302280-600x399.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">J\u00f3lak\u00f6tturinn is large and black. Image: Pixabay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-alperna-krampus\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Alperna_Krampus\"><\/span>4. The Alps: <em>Krampus <\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Austria, Bavaria and parts of northern Italy, <em>Krampus<\/em> during Advent. With horns, fur, chains and frightening masks, he represents the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Krampus punishes disobedient children, at least symbolically, and his origins can be traced back to pre-Christian rituals linked to the chaos and forces of nature in winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, the tradition lives on strongly through <em>Krampuslauf<\/em>, where hundreds of masked participants run through various cities in noisy, often quite wild processions. <\/p><div class=\"freed-stor-banner-plats-14 freed-entity-placement\" id=\"freed-3576855112\"><div id=\"freed-slider-88782\" class=\"custom-slider freed-slider-3690471484 freed-slider\"><ul><li><div id=\"freed-21644349\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/husbilslandet.com\/i-lager?amount=-1&#038;vehicle_type=camper&#038;price=219000%2C8874149&#038;y=2005%2C2027&#038;weight=1000%2C18000&#038;rea=true\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demo sale 588x588px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Demoutforsaljning-588x588px-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><li><div id=\"freed-3010853562\" class=\"method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/se.sun-living.com\/husbilar\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"sun living 70\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70-.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70-.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--224x224.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--325x325.jpg 325w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--520x520.jpg 520w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sunliving-70--120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" width=\"588\" height=\"588\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><script>( window.advanced_ads_ready || jQuery( document ).ready ).call( null, function() {var $freedslider3690471484 = jQuery( \".freed-slider-3690471484\" );$freedslider3690471484.on( \"unslider.ready\", function() { jQuery( \"div.custom-slider ul li\" ).css( \"display\", \"block\" ); });$freedslider3690471484.unslider({ delay:5000, autoplay:true, nav:false, arrows:false, infinite:true });$freedslider3690471484.on(\"mouseover\", function() {$freedslider3690471484.unslider(\"stop\");}).on(\"mouseout\", function() {$freedslider3690471484.unslider(\"start\");});});<\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-224x149.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-433x289.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-marija-piliskic-2155438514-35233098-1-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Krampus during a parade in Munich. Photo: Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-frankrike-pere-fouettard\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Frankrike_Pere_Fouettard\"><\/span>5. France: <em>P\u00e8re Fouettard<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In northern and eastern France, as well as in French-speaking parts of Belgium and Switzerland, Saint Nicholas is not accompanied by Krampus, but instead by <em>P\u00e8re Fouettard<\/em> \u2013 \u201dThe Whip Father\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This somewhat unpleasant figure may be dressed in dark clothing and seen with a cane in his hand, symbolising his role in keeping an eye on children's behaviour. The figure is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, possibly based on older figures of fear used to maintain order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-149x224.png 149w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-8x12.png 8w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-217x325.png 217w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22-600x900.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_29_22.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">P\u00e8re Fouettard. Image created by AI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-wales-mari-lwyd\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Wales_Mari_Lwyd\"><\/span>6. Wales: <em>Mari Lwyd<\/em> <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Wales, a strange figure wanders through the villages around Christmas: <em>Mari Lwyd<\/em> \u2013 a horse's skull on a stick, covered with white cloth. The tradition is that Mari Lwyd, together with a group of companions, goes from house to house singing different verses in a kind of singing duel. If they win the duel, they are invited in for food and drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is still a living tradition today, especially in southern Wales \u2013 a mixture of celebration, folklore and collective improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-279574\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-149x224.png 149w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-8x12.png 8w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-217x325.png 217w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48-600x900.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ChatGPT-Image-17-dec.-2025-16_24_48.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mari Lwyd. Image created by AI.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-vilken-ar-din-relation-till-europas-julvasen\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Vilken_ar_din_relation_till_Europas_julvasen\"><\/span>What is your relationship to<strong> <\/strong>Europe's Christmas spirit?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is your relationship to Europe's magical Christmas creatures? Which ones do you know, and which ones have you heard stories about? Are there perhaps other magical figures that you have heard about?<\/p>\n<div id=\"freed-2926849883\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_2 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><form method=\"post\" id=\"ft_newsletter_subscribe\" action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/\" class=\"ft-newsletter\" data-ajax-url=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php\" data-trp-original-action=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/2025\/12\/julbocken-julhaxan-och-julkatten\/\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"stage\" value=\"subscribe\" \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prenumerera_pa_vart_nyhetsbrev\"><\/span>Subscribe to our newsletter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"form-field\" data-missing=\"This field is required.\" data-invalid=\"Please enter a valid email address.\">\n<label for=\"ft_newsletter_email\">Email address<\/label>\n<input id=\"ft_newsletter_email\" name=\"ft_newsletter_email\" type=\"email\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"Enter your email address\" aria-required=\"true\" \/>\n<\/p>\n<input class=\"signup button newsletter-meta-button\" type=\"submit\"  name=\"subscribe\" value=\"Subscribe\">\n<div style=\"position: absolute; left: -4200px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ft-newsletter-protect\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"98d0b92c63fae1c39c28d2024aa82be8e0ab74fe\" tabindex=\"-1\" value=\"\"><\/div>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"trp-form-language\" value=\"en\"\/><\/form><\/div><div id=\"freed-3654481492\" class=\"hide-label freed-after-content_3 freed-entity-placement method-missing not-front type-post not-theme-page\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 35px;\"><div class=\"freed-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" aria-label=\"FREEDOMtravel Exit\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png\" alt=\"FREEDOMtravel Avslut\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-1024x341.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-768x256.png 768w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-224x75.png 224w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-600x200.png 600w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-18x6.png 18w, https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/FREEDOMtravel-433x144.png 433w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skribent: Helena Bergstr\u00f6m Julen \u00e4r f\u00f6rvisso en kristen h\u00f6gtid, men traditionerna runt jul inkluderar ocks\u00e5 en vild blandning av folktro och f\u00f6rkristna vinterriter. Runt om i Europa befolkas julens ber\u00e4ttelser av h\u00e4xor, bockar, demoner och olika mytiska djur. F\u00f6lj med p\u00e5 en resa genom Europas m\u00f6rkare, m\u00e4rkligare och ibland skr\u00e4mmande jultraditioner &#8230; Tweet Share Share [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":279578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[103,399],"class_list":["post-279552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vardag-och-fest","tag-hogtid","tag-jul","has-featured-image"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6.png",1200,675,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-768x432.png",700,394,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-1024x576.png",700,394,true],"influencer":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-224x126.png",224,126,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6.png",1200,675,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6.png",1200,675,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-18x10.png",18,10,true],"startpage_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-433x244.png",433,244,true],"popular_product":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-520x520.png",520,520,true],"startpage_camping_08":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-433x675.png",433,675,true],"campervan_food":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-590x332.png",590,332,true],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6.png",1200,675,false],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-320x320.png",320,320,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-600x338.png",600,338,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-100x100.png",100,100,true],"yarpp-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6-120x120.png",120,120,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Helena","author_link":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/author\/admin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":4,"uagb_excerpt":"Skribent: Helena Bergstr\u00f6m Julen \u00e4r f\u00f6rvisso en kristen h\u00f6gtid, men traditionerna runt jul inkluderar ocks\u00e5 en vild blandning av folktro och f\u00f6rkristna vinterriter. Runt om i Europa befolkas julens ber\u00e4ttelser av h\u00e4xor, bockar, demoner och olika mytiska djur. F\u00f6lj med p\u00e5 en resa genom Europas m\u00f6rkare, m\u00e4rkligare och ibland skr\u00e4mmande jultraditioner &#8230; Tweet Share Share&hellip;","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Namnlos-design-6.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279552"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279552\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomtravel.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}