015: Christmas Stories From Around the World

Teaching Mythology

Our Christmas and holiday traditions are steeped in centuries-old traditions and folktales that date back to the pagan era. In this episode, I will retell and discuss 11 different witches, , grandmothers, trickster boys and old me, and goddesses from mythology that all relate to the winter solstice and winter holiday traditions.
Here is who I will be talking about in brief (you can use the chapter markers to jump to the one you really want to hear).
Greek Mythology - Chione
Norse Mythology - Skadi
Roman Mythology - Strenua
Bafana from Italy
Gryla (and her Yule Lads and Yule Cat) from Scandinavia
Olentzero from the Basque country
Perchta from Bavaria - and the surrounding areas
Nikolaus from Greece
The Gray Mare from Wales
Krampus from Austro-Bavaria - the anti-Santa Claus

Read the transcript HERE

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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Chione - Greek Mythology (00:00:52)

3. Skadi - Norse Mythology (00:02:58)

4. Streuna - Roman Mythology (00:06:06)

5. Bafana - Italy (00:08:46)

6. Perchta - Bavaria (00:11:34)

7. Saint Nicolaus - Greek (00:14:29)

8. The Gray Mare - Wales (00:17:10)

9. Olentzaro - Basque (00:19:53)

10. Soyal - Hopi (00:22:13)

11. Gryla - Scandinavia (00:25:13)

12. Krampus - Austro-Bavarian (00:28:50)

13. Wrap Up (00:30:46)