The legend of the Yule Cat is a Christmas story that is celebrated and told to Icelandic children even today. Every year a large Christmas cat is erected in the Laekjartorg square in Reykjavik.

Based on Icelandic folklore, the poem, The Christmas Cat, written by the poet Jóhannes úr Kötlum (1899-1972), describes a gigantic and very dangerous cat that prowls the snowy countryside and catches people instead of mice during Christmas.  

You know the Christmas cat

– that cat is very large.

We don’t know where he came from

nor where he has gone.

He opened his eyes widely

glowing both of them.

It was not for cowards

to look into them.

His hair sharp as needles

his back was high and bulgy and claws on his hairy paw

were not a pretty sight.

Therefore the women competed

to rock and sow and spin

and knitted colorful clothes

or one little sock.

For the cat could not come

and get the little children.

They had to get new clothes

from the grownups.

When Christmas eve was lighted

and the cat looked inside

the children stood straight and red-cheeked

with their presents.

He waved his strong tail,

he jumped, scratched and blew

and was either in the valley

or out on the headland.

He walked about, hungry and mean

in hurtfully cold Christmas snow

and kindled the hearts with fear

in every town.

If outside one heard a weak “meow”

then unluck was sure to happen.

All knew he hunted men

and didn’t want mice.

He followed the poorer people

who didn’t get any new clothing

near Christmas – and tried and lived

in poorest conditions.

From them he took at the same time

all their Christmas food

and ate them also if he could.

Therefore the women competed

to rock and sow and spin

and knitted colorful clothes

or one little sock.

Some had gotten an apron

and some had got a new shoe

or anything that was needful.

But that was enough

For pussy should not eat no-one

who got some new piece of clothes.

He hissed with his ugly voice

and ran away.

If he still exists, I don’t know.

But for nothing would be his trip

if everybody would get next Christmas

some new rag.

You may want to keep it in mind

to help if there is need.

For somewhere there might be children

who get nothing at all.

Perhaps that looking for those who suffer

from lack of plentiful lights

will give you a happy season

and Merry Christmas.

The Yule Cat story or as it is titled in Icelandic, Jólakötturinn, is said to have originated during the Dark Ages even though the oldest written versions of the story are from the 19th century. The story relates how Medieval employers would reward their employees for their hard work with new clothes and shoes every Christmas. However, if you were lazy and were not rewarded with new clothes, the Yule Cat would come and eat you. A new twist to the story is if you give new clothes to someone, you will not be eaten. The story is obviously meant for children to encourage them to be productive and avoid laziness.

The Netflix film, The Christmas Chronicles 2 features the Yule Cat.

Want to know more about the cat in literature, art and history? Then Revered and Reviled is the book for  you. Now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. 

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