Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: A Thousand Years of Winter

            The White Bees Are Swarming; A Bird’s Eye View; The Lady of the Castle; Craft: Distaff Tree; Craft: White Witch Window Star

Chapter Two: At Home with the Elves

            “What’s with the Elves?”; “Will You Know More?;” An Offering to the Elves; Like Christmas Itself; Craft: Elvish Window Ornament

Chapter Three: Dead by Christmas Morning

            Queen of the Elves; Recipe: Icelandic Snowflake Breads; Home but Not Alone; Sitting Out 101; Craft: Elf Wreath

Chapter Four: Riders on White Horses

            Sun, Moon and Stars; Craft: Martinmas Lantern; Martinmas Treats; Recipe: Martinmas Horns; The Wild Rider; “Blacker than pitch”; Recipe: Bishop’s Wine

Chapter Five: Creatures of Forest and Mountain

            Fiert; Knecht Ruprecht; Other Nicholases; The Dream of the Rod; Buttnmandl; The Bells of St. Nicholas; The Bellsnickle; The Yule Lads; Goblins at the Window

Chapter Six: The Scandinavian Household Sprite

            Nisse; Tomten; Tonttu; The Resilient Sprite; Craft: Christmas Tomten; Recipe: Rice Porridge So You Want to Buy a Troll

Chapter Seven: Reindeer Games

            Stallo; The Yuletide People; On Prancer!; The Witch’s Drum; Craft: Sacrificial Reindeer Ornament; The Horns of Abbots Bromley

Chapter Eight: A Christmas Bestiary

            The Yule Horse; The Yule Buck; The Yule Boar; The Yule Cat; The Werewolf; The Spectral Dog

Chapter Nine: Winter’s Bride

            The Christkind; Barborka; Lucia; Recipe: Lussekatter; Night Walks with Heavy Steps; The Lutzelfrau; Lucka; Craft: Lucka Mask; Rising from the Ashes

Chapter Ten: There Are Witches in the Air

            Vampires; Down with a Bound; Rise of the House of Knusper; Craft/Recipe: Lebkuchen House; Witches Bearing Gifts; Recipe: Befana Stars.

Chapter Eleven: Dark Spirits of Hearth and Home

            The Kallikantzaros; The Yule Log; The First-footer; The Chimneysweep; The Fairy Queen’s Men

Chapter Twelve: The White Witch’s Herbal

            Mistletoe (Viscum album); Juniper (Juniperus communis); Holly (Ilex acquifolium); Ivy (Hedera helix); Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea); Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger); Christmas Rose (Anastatica hierochuntica); Christmas Rose (Rosa alba); Apple Tree (Malus domestica)

Conclusion: Eternity

Addendum: A Calendar of Christmas Spirits and Spells

Glossary

Bibliography

Index