Goddess Calli

The Callicantzari, The Yule Goblins of Greece

Submitted by: swampy

‘Ode to a Twark’s Egg’
“Do you exist, O Twark’s Egg, tell me?
If not, how is it that I can smell thee?”
(Goblin poetry by Bregg the Poet, from Froud’s ‘A Field Guide To Goblins’)

Creatures like Gnomes, Pixies, Gremlins, Elves and Leprechauns hate to be confused with Goblins. Goblins in general are all spirits of the earth but they have no more than a slight family connection with the rest of the nature spirits. Goblins are considered by most people to be the thugs of the earth spirit world.

Goblins originated in France, which they entered through a cleft in the rock that forms the mountain chain known as the Pyrenees. Once they had a foothold in France, they spread rapidly over Europe. It is said that they entered Britain as stowaways aboard the first dragon-ship of the Vikings. In Britain the Druids called them ‘Robin Goblin’, later abbreviated to ‘hobglobin’.

Like other earth spirits, Goblins in general do have a human-like form,although they are usually grotesque and misshapen. However, no human being ever has facial expressions of such depraved mischief and nasty cunning as does a Goblin. A Goblin smile curdles the blood; a Goblin laugh causes milk to sour and fruit to fall from the trees. Goblins prefer to live in dark sour places, like dank caves and storm drains, and have a very mischievous nature. Typically, they are cause slight inconveniences, but at times they can be downright dangerous.

Fortunately, a Goblin’s capacity for mischief is limited. Unlike their distant cousins the Gremlins, they cannot be bothered to learn how to use (or misuse) tools and machinery. Their only real abilities are luck-spoiling, and weaving nightmares to be inserted into the ear of a sleeper. They do like, however, to torment humans in such ways as tipping over pails of milk, hiding hen’s eggs, blowing soot down chimneys, puffing out candles in haunted houses, and altering signposts. Goblins have a little skill with design, but it is limited to making gargoyles and depictions of serpents, dragons and basilisks. Goblins can communicate with flies, wasps, mosquitoes and hornets, and their favorite summer pastime is to direct these insects towards humans and horses and watch the results. They pester horses in the stable or the field, and a sure sign of Goblin presence is the sound of a horse blowing or stamping in an effort to get rid of them, or rolling in the sand to scratch them off its back.

Goblins have no real homes. They infest mossy clefts in rocks, dark and dank caves, and the surface roots of ancient trees – but they are too restless to settle down for long. The squeals and titters of a Goblin gang as they plot and plan some new mischief should serve as a warning to any human to keep well clear of them.

The Callicantzari (also spelled Kallikantzari) are a clan of Goblins that live in Greece. Each Yule they leave their mountain cave homes and come slipping and sliding down to the towns while chattering and gibbering loudly. When the Callicantzari get to the towns, they slide down the chimneys of houses where Yule feasts are being held. Once in the celebrating house, the Callicantzari wreck as much havoc as they can – they make the feast go rotten; they ride on the shoulders of the householders; they terrorize the family cats and dogs; and they pinch and poke the children until the children cry. The Callicantzari often wear wooden or iron boots, the better to kick people – and kick people they do! Other legends from other areas insist that they are hooved, not booted. Sometimes they travel from town to town with legions of wolves or even monkeys, making a mess where ever they stop.

To ward off the Callicantzari, it has been the tradition of the Greeks to hang a jawbone of a pig over the fireplace, since a pig jawbone is thought to be a protective talisman against the Callicantzari. Protective herbs such as hyssop, thistle, and asparagus are also suspended by the fireplace, to keep the Callicantzari away. Other households resort to simple bribery and put meat out for the Callicantzari – again, this seems to be a more substantial snack than the milk and cookies put out for Santa. The Greek families also keep their Yule fires burning all during the Yule season as Callicantzari repellent. Often they use the wood from fruit trees in the fire, plus sprinkle dried fruit in the fire. These things too are thought to help keep the Callicantzari away!