Scary Book of Christmas Lore

50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World

By Tim Rayborn | Publisher: Cider Mill Press

About the book

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen…but do you recall the most petrifying Christmas figures of all? Not all children fear just a lump of coal in their stockings. Discover the terrifying Yuletide fables, folktales, and folklore that have horrified kids (and adults) for generations during the holiday season.

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. This lighthearted song is a bit more ominous in the context of other Christmas traditions. From beasts that threaten to cook children into stew to sinister crones who snatch little ones from their beds, you won’t find any dancing sugar plums here. Outside of the heartwarming Christmas tales we all know and love, there are an abundance of frightening stories to chill all who hear them to the bone. Discover folklore from all corners of the world, including:

  • Krampus (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and northern Italy), a demonic half-goat monster who drags chains and whips bad children with birch sticks, or stuffs them in his sack to take away
  • The Kallikantzari (Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey), goblins who come out during Advent to cause mischief 
  • Père Fouettard (France, Belgium, Switzerland), Saint Nicholas’ eternal cannibal manservant who deals with naughty children
  • Hans Trapp (Alsace-Lorraine, France), who roams the countryside disguised as a scarecrow and goes door to door on Christmas looking for children to feast upon
  • Gryla (Iceland), the giant ogre who emerges from her cave on Christmas to hunt children and cook them into stew
  • Mari Lwyd (Wales), a creature with a horse’s skull and a long cloak that is followed by a group of chanting people
  • Frau Perchta (Austria and Bavaria), who slits the bellies of bad children and stuffs them with straw 

These tales are sure to leave you wishing for the Grinch. Whether you are a fan of history and folklore, you love learning about different cultures, or you just want to give a holiday gift that will bring the joy of Christmas to that lucky someone (just kidding), The Scary Book of Christmas Lore is for you. ’Tis the season! Is it beginning look a lot like Christmas, yet?

Editions of Scary Book of Christmas Lore

EBook
ISBN 9781400252190

Read an Excerpt

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen…but do you recall the most petrifying Christmas figures of all? Not all children fear just a lump of coal in their stockings. Discover the terrifying Yuletide fables, folktales, and folklore that have horrified kids (and adults) for generations during the holiday season.

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. This lighthearted song is a bit more ominous in the context of other Christmas traditions. From beasts that threaten to cook children into stew to sinister crones who snatch little ones from their beds, you won’t find any dancing sugar plums here. Outside of the heartwarming Christmas tales we all know and love, there are an abundance of frightening stories to chill all who hear them to the bone. Discover folklore from all corners of the world, including:

  • Krampus (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and northern Italy), a demonic half-goat monster who drags chains and whips bad children with birch sticks, or stuffs them in his sack to take away
  • The Kallikantzari (Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey), goblins who come out during Advent to cause mischief 
  • Père Fouettard (France, Belgium, Switzerland), Saint Nicholas’ eternal cannibal manservant who deals with naughty children
  • Hans Trapp (Alsace-Lorraine, France), who roams the countryside disguised as a scarecrow and goes door to door on Christmas looking for children to feast upon
  • Gryla (Iceland), the giant ogre who emerges from her cave on Christmas to hunt children and cook them into stew
  • Mari Lwyd (Wales), a creature with a horse’s skull and a long cloak that is followed by a group of chanting people
  • Frau Perchta (Austria and Bavaria), who slits the bellies of bad children and stuffs them with straw 

These tales are sure to leave you wishing for the Grinch. Whether you are a fan of history and folklore, you love learning about different cultures, or you just want to give a holiday gift that will bring the joy of Christmas to that lucky someone (just kidding), The Scary Book of Christmas Lore is for you. ’Tis the season! Is it beginning look a lot like Christmas, yet?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Scary Book of Christmas Lore about?

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen…but do you recall the most petrifying Christmas figures of all? Not all children fear just a lump of coal in their stockings. Discover the terrifying Yuletide fables, folktales, and folklore that have horrified kids (and adults) for generations during the holiday season.

He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake. This lighthearted song is a bit more ominous in the context of other Christmas traditions. From beasts that threaten to cook children into stew to sinister crones who snatch little ones from their beds, you won’t find any dancing sugar plums here. Outside of the heartwarming Christmas tales we all know and love, there are an abundance of frightening stories to chill all who hear them to the bone. Discover folklore from all corners of the world, including:

  • Krampus (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and northern Italy), a demonic half-goat monster who drags chains and whips bad children with birch sticks, or stuffs them in his sack to take away
  • The Kallikantzari (Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey), goblins who come out during Advent to cause mischief 
  • Père Fouettard (France, Belgium, Switzerland), Saint Nicholas’ eternal cannibal manservant who deals with naughty children
  • Hans Trapp (Alsace-Lorraine, France), who roams the countryside disguised as a scarecrow and goes door to door on Christmas looking for children to feast upon
  • Gryla (Iceland), the giant ogre who emerges from her cave on Christmas to hunt children and cook them into stew
  • Mari Lwyd (Wales), a creature with a horse’s skull and a long cloak that is followed by a group of chanting people
  • Frau Perchta (Austria and Bavaria), who slits the bellies of bad children and stuffs them with straw 

These tales are sure to leave you wishing for the Grinch. Whether you are a fan of history and folklore, you love learning about different cultures, or you just want to give a holiday gift that will bring the joy of Christmas to that lucky someone (just kidding), The Scary Book of Christmas Lore is for you. ’Tis the season! Is it beginning look a lot like Christmas, yet?

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Scary Book of Christmas Lore?

Fiction > Horror, ghost stories and supernatural fiction

Where can I read a sample of Scary Book of Christmas Lore?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781400252190

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Scary Book of Christmas Lore?

Tim Rayborn

Who is the Publisher of the book Scary Book of Christmas Lore?

Cider Mill Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Scary Book of Christmas Lore is available as ebook(ISBN 9781400252190)

Where can I buy Scary Book of Christmas Lore online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Scary Book of Christmas Lore?