Werewolf cheer!

 

Happy Christmas and Happy Yule season. Enjoy the Christmas holidays. In folklore it's believed that those born on the 25th December are werewolves. There's nothing to worry about though. This idea comes from the Middle Ages and possibly also the ancient Greeks. It's a magical trait these babies have who were born on Christmas Day, in order to protect their villages and flocks from outside animal predators. Some say only boys born on Christmas day become werewolves and girls become witches and healers. Kind of like the birth of new stars and home guardians. Anyway enjoy the season, have good cheer and be merry!

She Wolf Night

Lussi

There is a ghost in Norwegian folklore that frightens children each Christmas. Her name is Lussi, and she appears as a pale spectre at the windows who screeches in anger. Her purpose is to check on everyone at home each night of December leading up to Christmas Day and make sure that all household chores have been done. Because if not, she would strike people down and damage the chimneys. Lussi could also become mostly active on the 12th and 13th December, which is the most scariest time. As we just had the 13th December on a Friday, it makes it all the more creepy.  

If this isn't scary enough, Lussi brings paranormal creatures with her including trolls and demons and the Oskorei or Wild Hunt. Her reputation became known as Lussi Langnatt or "Lussi Long Night". The 12th and 13th December have been associated with Lussi because it's during a time when spirits and the undead walk. It was once the longest night of the year in the old sense before switching to the modern calendar. People have been too afraid to go out on such nights as Lussi and her evil hunters will kidnap them. It's a time when animals could talk to each other and many other magical events. 

It's connected to the fun festival of Saint Lucy, which is a Swedish celebration that reveals her to be a pretty young woman dressed all in white, with a crown of leaves and candles. Children sing Lucy songs and eat special buns and cakes. It's almost like a mystical time before the darkest and coldest season. St Lucy and the witch Lussi are like forces of light and darkness. St Lucy brings hope in a time of grim winter and Lussi Long Night brings fear. 

She Wolf Night

Cold moon

The full moon in December is known widely to be called the Cold Moon. This is especially by those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Alternative names for the full moon seen during December are Full Cold Moon, Oak Moon, the Long Night Moon, Moon Before Yule and Yule Moon. 

It's during December when Winter begins from the season of Yule and mainly the Winter Solstice that temperatures lower, making nights last longer and darker. It's bitterly cold and icy. Frost will appear in the mornings. Expect to see falling snowflakes to heavy snowfall. Sharper clear night skies of glistening stars and pale puffs of drifting clouds packed with snow. 

The full moon in December will happen on the 15th although it will be quite unique. This will be a slightest northern moonrise. It won't be completely bright as only 98% of it will be full and the least bright in 2024. However none of the moons of 2024 have been 100% full but 99% full. It will be on 15th Dec that the moon will rise at the most northerly position, which is a rare event. 

Often the moon and sun will rise at slightly off positions than most people would expect them to but this December's cold moon will rise further north in the sky. This behaviour of the December moon is called a "major lunar standstill". We should expect the moon to do this again in the year 2043 so that will be a long time off. The 15th full moon will be a special event. 

She Wolf Night