The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/yule-lads)
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes, the Yule Lads are upon us! But there’s more: Britain continues to see growth in its Pagan population, Vogue explores why Gen Z is turning to witchcraft, Star offers the Tarot of the Week, and Krampus pays a visit to the House of Black Cat Magic.
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes, Diana Paxson and her son are recovering after an assault, Yule Lads visit begin tonight, good news for African Painted Dogs, events and announcements.
If you were to arrive at Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport during the month of December expecting cheerful holiday lights or a jolly fat man in a red suit, you would be in for a bit of a surprise. Instead of being welcomed into the country by the familiar and cheerful figure of Santa Claus, your first encounter would be with slightly menacing, unmistakably witch-like figure: Gryla. Although she has not always been associated with the Yuletide season, Gryla has evolved to become the center of Icelandic Yule and Christmas folklore. While she bears some of the clear markings of the stereotypical witch as a cauldron-stirring hag figure who owns a scary black cat, she is actually described as a troll or ogress in Iceland’s tour guidebooks and articles. Gryla is said to live in a cave hidden deep in the mountains, where she always keeps her cauldron boiling.