'Kallikantzaroi' : The ugly Christmas goblins and their mischievous business in the region of Mani !
They come down the chimney attracted by the mouthwatering culinary delights prepared by the lady of the household. They are ugly, they are naughty and their only aim is to cause trouble!...
Santa Claus is not the only one coming down your chimney during the Twelve Days of Christmas...The uninvited festive guests are goblin-like spirits according to Greek folklore and they slide into homes bearing trouble...and not presents! In the region of Mani in the Peloponnese, the Kallikantzaroi goblins are also called 'Likokatzareoi', 'Skalikantzeria', 'Karkantzelia', 'Kolovelonides', 'Planitaroudia', 'Tsilikrota' and other creepy names that will make you want to sleep with your lights on...
The Kallikantzaroi are very distinctive creatures of Greek folklore and story-tellers in the region of Mani and all over Greece fear of them making their appearance between Christmas Day and Epiphany on the 6th of January when the waters will be blessed, marking the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and the disappearance of the wicked spirits!
The bad and unruly Christmas goblins are described in the most unflattering way as tall creatures with a dark complexion, a thin hairy body and red eyes, bearing -above all- a lame personality...If you are wondering what their business is on earth?...Well...Nothing other but to cause all sorts of mischief, to spoil food, to cause electricity problems, to tip things over and break furniture, to run around in the streets causing trouble and, last but not least, to become the greatest fear of the children!
