Iceland (Christmas folklore)

Grýla

Folklore — not a documented case

A giant figure in Icelandic folklore believed to appear during the Christmas season. Alive in Icelandic culture for centuries, this tale has become an inseparable part of the country's Christmas traditions.

Grýla, one of the most recognized figures in Icelandic folklore, has a history reaching back to medieval texts.

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The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region

Gálgahraun, Iceland (folk tale)The Hidden People: Huldufólk›Scotland, the Orkney Islands (folk tale)The Selkie Belief›Scotland, Loch Ness (cryptozoological legend)The Loch Ness Monster›Angus, Scotland — Glamis Castle (folk tale)Glamis Castle and Earl Beardie›Edinburgh, Scotland — Greyfriars Kirkyard (urban legend)The Mackenzie Poltergeist›Ireland (folk belief)The Banshee Belief›