<div>Bogeymen: Five scary visitors in the night
By Lucy Proctor
BBC World Service
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20799889
Father Christmas is about to squeeze down chimneys with his sack of presents for children. But many cultures have a different version of the mystery visitor at night - and it's often a sinister one. Here are five examples.
Gryla, Iceland
Gryla is one of many female trolls who live high up in the mountains of Iceland.
Her story goes back to pagan times, but in more recent centuries she has become part of Christmas - making the trip down to the towns and cities, searching for naughty children.
She returns to her cave with a bag stuffed full of crying youngsters, whom she boils alive and gobbles up.
She has 13 sons, the Yule Lads, who also do their bit to harass Icelandic families in the 13 days up to Christmas - although recently they have become a little better behaved, and leave gifts in shoes too.
Gryla has hooves and horns on her head, 13 tails and a very big nose complete with warts.
She is in a perpetual bad mood, mainly because she is always hungry. And it's not only children who attract her ire - her first two husbands bored her so much she ate them.
Nightrunners, Kenya
Nightrunners are normal human beings during the day - they can be anyone in the community.
But at night, they are transformed. Their hair is wild, their eyes surrounded by deep, black rings and they are stark naked.
They run through the village, banging on doors and throwing stones on roofs.
No-one can catch them because Nightrunners can fly, and disappear.
Sometimes they dig up the graves of the dead, or - if they don't feel like digging - they use magic to make coffins pop up out of the ground.
They take the bones for sorcery and eat the flesh.
Disturbing a Nightrunner is not a good idea.
They might use their powers to confuse your mind, perhaps even forcing you to come along for the exhumations
More...
By Lucy Proctor
BBC World Service
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20799889
Father Christmas is about to squeeze down chimneys with his sack of presents for children. But many cultures have a different version of the mystery visitor at night - and it's often a sinister one. Here are five examples.
Gryla, Iceland
Gryla is one of many female trolls who live high up in the mountains of Iceland.
Her story goes back to pagan times, but in more recent centuries she has become part of Christmas - making the trip down to the towns and cities, searching for naughty children.
She returns to her cave with a bag stuffed full of crying youngsters, whom she boils alive and gobbles up.
She has 13 sons, the Yule Lads, who also do their bit to harass Icelandic families in the 13 days up to Christmas - although recently they have become a little better behaved, and leave gifts in shoes too.
Gryla has hooves and horns on her head, 13 tails and a very big nose complete with warts.
She is in a perpetual bad mood, mainly because she is always hungry. And it's not only children who attract her ire - her first two husbands bored her so much she ate them.
Nightrunners, Kenya
Nightrunners are normal human beings during the day - they can be anyone in the community.
But at night, they are transformed. Their hair is wild, their eyes surrounded by deep, black rings and they are stark naked.
They run through the village, banging on doors and throwing stones on roofs.
No-one can catch them because Nightrunners can fly, and disappear.
Sometimes they dig up the graves of the dead, or - if they don't feel like digging - they use magic to make coffins pop up out of the ground.
They take the bones for sorcery and eat the flesh.
Disturbing a Nightrunner is not a good idea.
They might use their powers to confuse your mind, perhaps even forcing you to come along for the exhumations
More...