Christmas Creatures and Villains from Around the World

In this one-time class, scholars will learn about various Christmas mythological and folklore creatures and tales from around the world. The lesson will open up by asking scholars what Christmas creatures and legends they currently know about before diving in to exploring! This class will be a great opportunity for mythology fans and fans of Christmas tales to learn about how the holiday is viewed from various points of view throughout time. 

Some of the cultures/countries that we will delve into within this course include:
-Icelandic folklore
-Russian folklore
-Italian folklore
-Germanic folklore 
-Austrian folklore

We will examine several sources, both primary and secondary, and discuss what these different sources tell us about beliefs during that specific time period. We will be paying special attention to most known versions of Christmas folklore and certain aspects of stories that may have been omitted and the reasons why. The majority of sources provided in this class will be from NatGeo Kids, the History Channel, as well as other scholarly sources. My goal for this class is for scholars to walk away with an honest viewpoint of cultural folklore and how views can change with time. Scholars will be able to use this class to have an informed picture of how Christmas is viewed from different perspectives and will have the chance to connect with their peers in a safe space while learning in the process. Perfect class for the holiday season!

Special Note: We will not aim to prove any one cultural viewpoint as "right" or "wrong". It's important scholars have an open mind towards learning of differing cultural beliefs. 

Let's have some fun!