chukalie:

From Maria Miniatt at Google+:

The Yule Cat: Scary Feline or A Good Excuse for Giving Socks as Gifts?

In Iceland, the Yule Cat is a part of the Christmas season. Like Rudolf, Frosty, and the Grinch here. It is interesting that the Yule Cat (like Krampus) is a companion of Santa Claus. It is one of the beings that helps out, by finding and weeding out the “naughty” people. It is not supposed to be the small stray cat that might show up on your porch, but a fierce, giant creature with glowing eyes and razor sharp whiskers.

The Yule Cat has a sinister side. He sneaks around the homes, peering into windows, if he sees someone did not receive new clothes. The poor soul was eaten.

That’s right. If you weren’t wearing that sweater with the Christmas tree that lit up, you could be eaten by a giant black cat.

Sounds like a strange custom. But it comes from a time where the everyone had to pitch in and gather the wool before winter. Those that did, were paid with clothes. So the “lazy” ones did not get clothing. Those were the ones the Yule Cat was after. Many times, in the 19th century, that set of clothes, would be your only present. Or more accurately, your Christmas bonus. Since you should have received the clothes as a sign of a job well done over the year.

So basically the cat would eat the lazy workers.

The Yule Cat is still part of the tradition. More gifts are given now, than in the past (books are a popular gift item in Iceland), yet the Cat still watches for people that do not get new clothes.

As a friend of mine put it, “What a wonderful excuse for getting your kids socks for Christmas.”

“Honey I had to, I didn’t want you eaten by the Yule Cat.”

Now you shouldn’t feel guilty when you buy that snuggie for your aunt.

More info about the Yule Cat here.

(Image from: http://quizzical-squidopus.deviantart.com/art/YULE-CAT-147584950)

Um, yes.