Kallikantzaroi

[GBUN]

In Greek legend malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. What should you do to get rid of them? a. Placate them with gifts of rice puddins b. Burn either salt or an old shoe c Sing hymns in a loud voice d. Throw your sandals at them Has anybody any ideas? Thanks

[kettledrum]

It would appear that burning an old shoe is the answer

.....Besides this ecclesiastical purification there are various Christian precautions against the Kallikantzaroi - e.g., to mark the house-door with a black cross on Christmas Eve, the burning of incense and the invocation of the Trinity - and a number of other means of aversion: the lighting of the Yule (= Christmas time) log, a large log of wood called a skakantzalos, the burning of something that smells strong (sometime the Greeks will also burn old shoes, the smell of which keeps the wicked elves away), and - perhaps as a peace-offering - the hanging of pork-bones, sweetmeats, or sausages in the chimney.