A werewolf story at Christmas
Christmas isn't just about the birth of Christ and gift giving. It is also the time of year when it's the best chance to be killed by a flock of raging werewolves.
Since medieval times the werewolves of northern Europe have chosen Christmas night as their great annual feast.
Among the werewolves this festival is called Jol, or Yule. In Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus 1555, Olaus Magnus describes the werewolf Jol-feast as follows;
In the Feast of Christ's Nativity, in the night, at a certain place, that they are resolved upon amongst themselves, there is gathered together such a huge multitude of Wolves changed from men that dwell in divers places, which afterwards the same night doth so rage with wonderfull fiercenesse, both against mankind and other creatures, that are not fierce by nature, that the Inhabitants of that Country suffer more hurt from them, than ever they do from true naturall Wolves. For as it is proved they set upon the houses of men that are in the Woods with wonderfull fiercenesse, and labour to break down the doors, whereby they may destroy both men and other creatures that remain there.
On this particular night werewolfs gather, and try their ability in jumping. Those who are unable to bound over the wall, as is often with the fattest, are slain. Olaus Magnus, 1555.
After their cruel rampage, Olaus adds, the werewolves like to go down to the cellar and drink all the beer that they can find. This habit, he observes, distinguishes them from normal wolves.
Incidents like this has ben reported in northern Scandinavia up until the 19th century when they suddenly ceased. Did the werewolves suddenly end their ancient tradition or did they just move it somewhere where it would still go more or less unnoticed?
We don't know, but on a press conference in June 2010 Russian minister Sergej Jurpalov revealed that more than 20 000 farms and villages has disappeared with out a trace I Siberia the last 20 years.
O. Hejll, Curator.
If you're interested in werewolves, you might be interested in the shape-shifting belt in the Dr Cagliostro collection.