Mythical Creaturologist Holiday Edition
Art + Words by Iman Joy El Shami
Published Issue 132, December 2024
Best of Birdy, Originally Published in Issue 072, December 2019
Wild Thing
Though the book is undoubtedly magical, Spike Jonze’s film rendition is chock-full of beautiful visuals and music, and great actors and voice talents.
Carol (an impulsive Wild Thing): “And on our way … I can show you your kingdom. This is all yours. You’re the owner of this world. Everything you see is yours. Oh, except that hole over there, that’s Ira’s. The tree’s yours, but the hole is Ira’s. But everything else is yours. Except for that rock over there, that’s not yours. That little rock next to the big rock. But everything else in the kingdom … except for that stick. That little stick right there, that’s not yours. I want you to be king forever, Max.”
Max: “Yeah, definitely.”
Mr. Hankey
Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo is the ninth episode of the first season of South Park created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, originally airing on Comedy Central on December 17, 1997. The Jewish character Kyle feels excluded from the town’s celebrations during Christmas and is comforted by Mr. Hankey, a talking and singing lump of feces wearing a red hat.
The character was based on an idea Parker’s father created when he was toilet-training Trey as a child, who refused to flush the toilet. His father told him if he did not flush down his stool, which he called “Mr. Hankey,” it would come to life and kill him.
“Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo” was the first Christmas-themed South Park episode, the first musical episode, and the only episode in season one — or the first time in the series — in which Kenny does not die.
Salacious B. Crumb
Salacious B. Crumb was a Kowakian monkey-lizard who worked as a jester in the court of the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure during the Galactic Civil War. Known for his shrill laughter, Crumb kept his master amused until his death during the rescue of Han Solo by members of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Crumb’s association with Jabba began when the thief stowed away on the Hutt’s starship and was found and captured by the Twi’lek Bib Fortuna. Jabba struck up a unique deal with the monkey-lizard: If Crumb could amuse Jabba at least once a day, he would be allowed to eat and drink as much as he pleased; if he failed, however, he would be slain. Crumb lived in this manner for over a dozen standard years, and henceforth sat beside Jabba to mercilessly tease and imitate captives, amusing his master greatly with his mimicry and laughter.
Caga Ti
The Tió de Nadal (Christmas Log), or simply Tió (Trunk or Log) or Tronca (Log), is a character in Catalan mythology relating to a Christmas tradition widespread in Catalonia and some regions of Aragon, Spain.
The Tió is a hollow log roughly 30 centimetres long. Its stick legs, painted face, red barretina and nose were added only recently, altering the more traditional and rough appearance of dead wood.
On Christmas Day or Eve, a family puts the Tió partly into the fireplace or under their tree and orders it to defecate. They do so by beating the log with sticks while singing various songs of Tió de Nadal. Before this occurs all children must leave the room to pray, asking for the Tió to deliver a lot of presents (today, they usually just leave to warm their sticks by a fire). Relatives then place presents under the Tió’s blanket.
The Three Wise Men traditionally bring larger gifts but the Tió “drops” candies, nuts, turróns, sometimes dried figs, and small toys. As a communal experience, everyone shares these presents. The Tió is popularly called Caga Tió (Shitting log or Poo log).
Slimer
Slimer (also known as Onionhead, Little Spud or The Green Ghost) is a ghost made up of pure Ectoplasm and the first successfully captured by the Ghostbusters. The ghoul is well known for his gigantic appetite and the slime he leaves behind when he passes through solid objects.
Throughout the first film (which takes place during the holidays), Slimer appears to lack intelligence, comes across as shy and only cares about snacks. In the second movie he can drive a bus, and his ability to understand human concepts has continued to grow in the video game and cartoon.
Slimer is classified as a focused, Non-Terminal Repeating Phantasm, or a Class 5 Full Roaming Vapor. And a real nasty one at that.
Nuuttipukki
Nuuttipukki was the traditional guest during St. Knut’s Day. The creature was a man dressed up to look frightening, especially to children. The tradition’s source is believed to be the lore of the Sámi, the indigenous Finno-Ugric people, who featured a goat-horned figure for centuries.
In early January groups of mostly young adult men would dress in threadbare clothes and furs worn inside-out, donning a pair of horns and a mask made from leather, wood bark or paper. They went around to their neighbors’ homes demanding beer and drinking it in copious amounts, singing rowdy songs and playing pranks if the hosts were stingy. The hosts stayed entertained by trying to guess who their guests were. Nuutti’s Day was also known as Yeast-nuutti or dregs-nuutti as the beer barrels would have been almost empty at this point in Christmas celebrations.
The celebrants believed their dead relatives would visit on Christmas but would need to be evicted after the festivities. Wearing a disguise was the best way for the living to avoid angering the deceased. The tradition is still alive in areas of Satakunta, Southwest Finland and Ostrobothnia.
Iman Joy El Shami-Mader resides in Italy where she has illustrated thousands of mythical creatures and counting that span hundreds of countries, time periods and artificial borders. Each beastie is accompanied with historical, cultural and legendary background. See more of Imi’s creatures and learn their stories on: Instagram | X