AKA Lussi or Lussikärringen=The Lussihag

Based on Nordic folklore

The night between the 12th and 13th December was called Lussinatta=Lussi Night.
It was said to be the longest and darkest night of the year.
A strange and dangerous night when animals could talk and have weddings and the forces of darkness where active.

It was best to stay indoors on this night and no work was allowed because it could attract the creatures that where reaping havoc outside.
Among these creatures was Lucia one of the most feared.

Lucia is a hideous demonic witch/troll that flies through the sky in the shape of a bird of prey (sometimes a goat) during Lussinatta followed by her little helpers called The Lussiferda.
She came down the chimney and shook of the lice that she was carrying so everyone in the house would be infected.
She also kidnaped misbehaving children that she later ate.

Little helpers and chimneys, sound familiar?

And it was also important that most of the preparations for Yule should be finished. If not then Lucia would punish the entire household for their laziness.
It was common that people stayed awake through Lussi Night to guard oneself and the household from the evil forces. This tradition is called Lussevaka which is still practiced by some people today.

In some places they instead speak of a male creature called Lussegubben (The Lusse Oldman)

In the late 17th century a VERY different Lucia tradition began to take form among noble, high class families.
This Lucia is less related to trolls and more to the Sicilian saint Lucy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy

People are not sure but its said that the tradition is influenced by the german Christkindlein https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe.....Hans_Trapp.png

The way it's done is that a woman/girl that is dressed in white and wears a crown with burning candles sings christmas songs together whit other dressed up people.

You can read more about it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy%27s_Day

This new Lucia became more and more popular through the years and the old Lussihag more and more forgotten.

But who knows, maybe she's still out there and looking for misbehaviours.
So be good if yo don't want to be her Yuledinner.

Happy Lussinatta! ;)

If you wonder who the horned figure thats at the bottom left of this painting then its the Yule Goat.
Another creature that was active during the December month.