The Christmas Troll And Other Yuletide Stories

Varla Ventura, fan favorite on Huffington Post’s Weird News, frequent guest on Coast to Coast, and bestselling author of The Book of the Bizarre and Beyond Bizarre, introduces a new Weiser Books Collection of forgotten crypto-classics. Magical Creatures is a hair-raising herd of affordable digital editions, curated with Varla’s affectionate and unerring eye for the fantastic. Beware the Scandinavian Christmas Troll! They love to dance and drink through the night on Christmas Eve. If you are in Bavaria, take heed of the Berchte--a wretched bogey who cuts the stomachs open of naughty children. In this wonderful collection of folkloric traditions from early 20th century author Clement A. Miles you will find werewolves, devils, goblins, curses, hexes, and rituals of the dead, all as they relate to Yuletide celebrations around the world.

Christmas is Treva's favorite time of the year. But this year, decorations and presents are mysteriously disappearing. When Treva follows a small creature making off with the Christmas pudding, she discovers two irresistible trolls who want to have Christmas, but don't understand it. Jan Brett's trademark luminous paintings give readers a magical Christmas full of surprises.

Carol, The Ancient Yuletide Troll is the first in a series of stories about Carol, a good troll who serves as a Santa figure for monsters. It introduces Carol, and explains how she became Santa’s helper for delivering toys to the monsters. When Carol sees that the other monsters don’t like her because she’s the only one who receives presents from Santa (as she is the only monster who is “nice”), Carol pays Santa a visit. Santa encourages Carol to be the one to help turn the monsters around and get them on his nice list too. Carol tries, but the other monsters just ignore her, inspiring her to take matters into her own hands. She begins secretly giving toys to the naughty monsters instead of continuing to try and turn them into nice ones. Despite her good intentions, will Carol’s actions go against Santa’s wishes and put her on the naughty list as well? This fun, original story will not only teach children the importance of good behavior, but will teach them a great lesson in friendship, kindness, and sharing. Carol, The Ancient Yuletide Troll shows children the true spirit of Christmas in a new way from a not-so-scary monster named Carol.

An assortment of original holiday stories, reminiscences, and retold folk and fairy tales.

When Treva investigates the disappearance of her family's Christmas things, she finds two mischievous trolls who have never had a Christmas of their own.

It is a funny take on a Norwegian tale of the Christmas Troll and why he feeds the animals at Christmas. It is also a book to provide a subtle teaching experience for appropriate pragmatic skills of calling others by their proper name. It also gives a great insight into the Norwegian culture of trolls and Christmas. The author lived in Norway for nine years and her daughters were lucky to grow up there. This book provides the author's grandchildren an insight into the culture that their grandparents experienced, The Christmas troll discovers that the farm animals are tired of eating only hay. In his compassion he promises to find them something better to eat. By peeking into a window he sees bowls of steaming Norwegian porridge on the table. That is exactly the food the animals will surely like. The farmer and his wife are awakened during the night by farting sounds and smells. At first the wife thinks it is her husband but then he denies it. Then, there is a crash and clatter as the troll trips over the Christmas tree. He then runs out with only three bowls of porridge and the wife is left with a mess on the floor. Then, they have to cook more porridge in the morning. Well, the father discovers why the troll has stolen the porridge. Norwegians are a very loving and compassionate people. The mother decides that every Christmas she will leave porridge out for the troll to feed the animals. And, the young girls are given a lesson in what they should call the troll, a farting four-toed troll or by his real name - Christmas Troll or the Norwegian name, Julenisse.

'Tis the Season for Witches, Elves, and a Legion of Ghosts Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen. Along the way, you'll discover how to bring the festivities into your home with cookie recipes and craft instructions, as well as tips for delving more deeply into your relationship with the unseen. Praise: "Steeped in history and adorned with a bit of enchantment, The Old Magic of Christmas is the perfect book to read by a winter's fire with a mug of mulled cider in hand."--Deborah Blake, author of The Witch's Broom "...[A] fascinating journey into the stories behind the tinsel and bows."--Doreen Shababy, author of The Wild & Weedy Apothecary "...[A]n intriguing little tome that explores the darker side of the Yuletide holiday."--Ellen Dugan, author of The Enchanted Cat

Three traditional tales concerning successful attempts to outwit grumpy trolls.

This book is a history of trolls from their first appearances in folk tales - some people reported actual encounters with trolls, and others found such encounters plausible even if they were not sure - and follows a natural transition from folklore to trolls in other domains of popular culture. Indeed, trolls would not be interesting had they not made this jump, first to illustrations in the Nordic book market, then on to Scandinavian literature and drama, and far beyond. Since then they have never gone away, and in their various guises they continue to appeal to the imagination around the world. From the Vikings to the Moomins, the Brothers Grimm and the Three Billy Goats Gruff, this book explores the panoply of trolls and their history and their continuing presence today