Greek Folklore and Legends: The Christmas Demons

Harry's Note: I am pleased to announce collaboration with renowned scholar and author John L. Tomkinson.

Mr. Tomkinson is the author of many books about Greece (and other subjects) and he has agreed to provide for us, some of his insights, on this page, as well as others throughout my sites. 

Please visit http://www.anagnosis.gr for more of his fascinating insights into Greek culture and history.

True lovers of Greece will be well rewarded by obtaining some of his very reasonably priced editions which are only available internationally, direct from the publisher.

His series Greece: Beyond the Guidebooks has been a source of inspiration to me personally. Major credit cards accepted.

Greek Spirits: The Christmas Demons

The Christmas Demons of Greece

The kallikantzaroi are a species of goblins unique to Greek folklore, which emerge from the underworld and plague mankind during the Twelve Days of Christmas.

They hide up in caves during the daytime, and come out at night to work mischief. Various means were taken to ensure that they would not get inside houses to spoil food and vandalize the home, such as keeping a fire alight through each of the twelve nights of the Christmas season.

When the priest goes fromhouse to houe on the day before Theofania (Epiphany) to bless the houses with holy water, they are driven back to the underworld, where they begin again the work of trying to saw through the tree which holds up the world, work which they will not finish before the next Christmas.

Read a story about the kallikantzaroi http://www.anagnosis.gr/Kalikantzari.htm
Read more about the Christmas Demons in "Haunted Greece: Nymphs, Vampires and other Exotika", by John L. Tomkinson http://www.anagnosis.gr/Haunted_Greece.htm