Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, is a well-known Yuletide figure. However, over the years we have seen some of the more… unsavory characters come into the spotlight. Krampus was one of those characters from folklore who became wildly popular after his 2015 horror/comedy debut on the big screen. However, there are still other mythic stories, legends and folktales of different Yule spirits and demons and elves and trolls. Today, we are going to be taking a look at one of these, a witch who punishes naughty children. Her name is Frau Perchta.
Frau Perchta comes to us from Austrian and Bavarian tradition, becoming more well known with her other name Frau Berchta which was popularized by the brothers Grimm. She is also associated with Berchta the Germanic goddess of abundance who was demonized by the Catholic church and referred to as a witch. Either way, Frau Perchta is generally depicted as a crone dressed in rage with a beaked, iron nose. Sometimes she carries a cane, but almost always she carries a long, sharp knife that she keeps hidden beneath her skirts.
You see, Frau Perchta — much like Santa Claus — will reward good children and punish the bad. She also punishes women for unkempt households and unspun flax. For those she deems good, a silver coin is left for them. If she deems you unworthy, if you forget to leave out a bowl of porridge for her, if your flax is half spun and unfinished, she slits open your abdomen, removes your organs, and replaces them with straw. She was also associated with the Wild Hunt, flying through the night sky while accompanied by her demonic Perchten — Krampus-looking creatures — and elves and unbaptized babies. During the last three thursdays before Christmas, you will hear the sounds of thunder and wind roaring, however it is really Frau Perchta leading her Wild Hunt.
Either way, Frau Perchta doesn’t seem like a woman to cross. Whether she is a crone who judges your housework, or someone who comes to punish the naughty and reward the nice, or even the leader of the Wild Hunt itself, Frau Perchta promises punishment for those who she sees as undeserving. One thing is for certain: whichever version of her tale you believe, be sure to have your house dust-free and stay indoors on the nights leading up to Christmas or Frau Perchta might replace your organs with straw.
For more reading on Frau Perchta (sources):
https://boroughsofthedead.com/frau-perchta/
http://occult-world.com/germanic-gods-goddesses/berchta/
Imagine this: a winding river in Japan. The scenery is lovely, the day warm, and all of a sudden something near the water moves. It looks like a child, so you draw closer. But when it turns around you find yourself face to beak with a grinning kappa.
They are known for drowning or devouring children who wander too near the water, waiting in toilets and assaulting women, and occasionally attacking men. However, if you can trick one into bowing, emptying the contents of its head, and offer to replenish it, the Kappa will be generous and grant the person a wish or a favor. They are also attributed to introducing the art of bone setting and salve creating to humans.
SECTION I
The concept of immortality has fascinated humanity for centuries. One of the greatest questions most religions seek to answer is what happens after. And indeed, what does happen after? Most religions believe in an afterlife — a heaven and hell; Tartarus and the Elysian Fields. But what about rebirth? What about reincarnation? Well, there was a myth in which this was addressed, the concept of being reborn from the ashes of what came before. Of course, I am talking about the legendary phoenix.
One version of the rebirth myth states that the phoenix fashions a nest for itself, made 
As well as causing streams to bubble up, Pegasus was also made famous when he was tamed by the great hero Bellerophon who had been gifted a bridle from the goddess Hera. Bellerophon captured the creature, eventually riding him in battle against the chimera. Once Bellerophon is killed, Pegasus finds himself a servant of Zeus, charged with carrying his thunderbolt. After years of faithful service, Zeus honors him by creating a constellation.