I always hated getting new clothes for Christmas. (Sorry Mom...now you know.) But after reading about the Icelandic folklore about the Yule Cat, I now understand that gifting clothes became not only a tradition - but a necessity for survival - in my family.
According to TheGreatCat.org, the Yule Cat, known in Icelandic folklore as Jólakötturinn, was a giant cat that would hunt people instead of mice around Christmas. Its victims were people that didn't receive new clothes and shoes to wear.
The story supposedly relates to how Medieval employers would give their employees new clothes and shoes for all their hard work. The lazy employees wouldn't get ANY new clothes, and would then get eaten by Jólakötturinn.
Essentially, the story is meant to encourage children not to be lazy.
Read more about the Yule Cat here.
