Myths of Merriment (Part 2 Has Started!)

[Jeremy]

Have you heard of the tale of the legendary Christmas Spider, Grýla the child-eating ogress, the thirteen mischievous Yule Lads, or Krampus the terrifying Christmas demon? These are just a few examples of the strange Christmas and winter solstice folktales that have been told and retold over the last several centuries. In this two-part event, you'll start by telling your own Christmastime folktale. Then you'll retell someone else's tale through art! Over time, folklore changes through adaptation and reinterpretation, which will also be the case for your stories when, one year from now, they are retold again in writing based only on these depictions.

This thread has two different tasks, allowing you to earn up to 80 Snowflakes. Don't forget to come back for part 2!

How It Works and How To Participate

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Part 1, Storytelling: Write a short holiday-themed folktale or description of an invented folklore character. It should be original and have a length between three sentences and three paragraphs.

• Starts: Thursday, December 12th.
• Ends: Monday, December 16th at 11:59 PM EST. CLOSED
• Write your original folktale and post it in this thread before the end date.
• It should be at least three sentences and at most three paragraphs long.

Part 2, Retelling Through Adaptation: Select one of the folktales written by another user and create a drawing that tells the story or depicts the described character.

• Starts: Tuesday, December 17th. OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
• Ends: Tuesday, December 24th at 11:59 PM EST.
• Look through the thread and select a story you'd like to depict.
• You're free to select any story you'd like, but some users may not have theirs drawn by anyone. Let's try our best to draw as many different stories as possible!
• Draw the scene or character, doing the best you can to tell the folktale with a single image using either digital or traditional art.
• Include your full TBT username in the artwork.
• To submit, quote the original post that contains the folktale you are depicting and upload the image you created for it. Check "entry" on the attachment so it gets marked as an event entry.

Christmas Yet to Come: During a future winter event, users will select one of the drawings from part 2 without seeing the original written folktale. They'll be tasked with writing a folktale based on the drawing and we'll see how different the story becomes after multiple retellings.


Rules

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• Only one entry per part per person.
• Do not edit your posts after submitting them unless requested to do so by a staff member.
• Your entries must be suitable for a PG-13 audience and must not violate our Rules and Guidelines.
• A reasonable amount of effort should be put into your submissions. Entries that appear rushed and/or submitted jokingly will not be accepted.
• For written submissions in part 1:
  • The piece must be written by you alone without assistance from other people or AI.
• For art submissions in part 2:
  • Your full TBT username must be clearly visible on both pages for a digital submission or in the photo(s) for a traditional submission.
  • You must attach the images of your entry and check "entry" on the attachment's thumbnail. (See this post from a previous event if you're unsure how.)
  • Your entry must comply with the TBT Art Event Submission Policies and Guidelines. This includes no AI generated work. If we have reason to believe that AI was used to generate all or part of your submission, it will not be accepted.

Prizes

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Part 1, Storytelling

• Participation: 30 Snowflakes

Part 2, Retelling Through Adaptation

• Participation: 50 Snowflakes and 2 Chocolate Coins
• Staff Favorite:
  
  Special Snowflake collectible

FAQs

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Q: Does my folktale need to be holiday-themed?
A: It should be related to the holidays, the winter season, or gift-giving in some way.

Q: Does my drawing need to be based on Animal Crossing?
A: No, your drawing does not need to be based on Animal Crossing at all, but you can draw it that way if you'd like.

 

[Firesquids]

The Jinglehopper
​

The Jinglehopper is a most wondrous Yuletide beast that not many can truthfully claim to have witnessed. Only surfacing from its underground burrow as the season's first snow starts to stick, its pure white fur blends in so well with the fallen snow that it's nearly impossible to spot! Its form is that of a glittering white rabbit with long floppy ears and two delicate twig-like antlers that can be adorned with holly berries. Extremely timid and quick to flee, most "sightings" of the Jinglehopper are actually just accounts of hearing the soft ringing of jingle bells fading into the blanketing quiet of the snow as it makes its escape. It is said that hand feeding the Jinglehopper brings good fortune for the following year.

 

[You got mail!]

Every year, tons of poor snowmen get burned and melted by mischievous pranksters. One very special snowman, named Justy, (short for justice) seeks to avenge the melted and the kind people that took the time to build them. Whenever Justy spots a prankster melting a snowman, he goes in and turns the prankster into a snowman themselves! So give snowmen the respect they deserve or Justy The Snowman will make you chill.

 

[seliph]

The Egg Noggin

This Christmas, be sure to keep an eye on those ornaments! The big-headed creature known as The Egg Noggin will make an attempt to take over Christmas, turning all of your shiny sparkly ornaments into eggs! If you notice one of your ornaments has taken on a more ovular appearance than usual, be sure to dispose of it quickly, for the eggening has begun! If the infection is not handled with haste it will spread to the others around it, and you'll be scrambling to save your precious Christmas tree! The Egg Noggin - He's no yolk!

 

[Jacob]

Legend has it that Jingle doesn't ALWAYS hand out presents to the villagers of Jakecity...

Much like a more familiar acting Santa Claus, Jingle actually keeps both a nice AND naughty list throughout the year. Except, getting coal for being bad would be a treat compared to the myth of what Jingle punishes naughty villagers with on Toy Day.

The nasty Grinchoid has been known to appear under the tree on Toy Day, but instead of making a routine silly noise all year like his other gyroid cousins, the Grinchoid has a habit of throwing things at whoever he's been gifted to. I'm talking Snowballs... coal... tomatoes sometimes... Anything Grinchoid can get his hands on, he's chucking right at your face.

I have chills just thinking about it!

 

[Alolan_Apples]

The Present Phantom

Every year, a family puts toys or other stuff in boxes before wrapping the boxes. However, they forgot to put one toy in its box before wrapping the present. The empty present came to life and started haunting others. It can suck in anything to store it, and it spits out what it stores as a way to attack others. It can even eat snow and use it to spit snowballs at people.

 

[Yanrima~]

The Clawed Present
​

These monsters appeared during winter disguised themselves as various packages and presents to scare unsuspecting villagers. They may look like a normal gift when being seen, but they actually look hideous and at times horrifying in their true forms.

The true form is described to have Ribbons that were shaped like claws and they can grow multiple of these ribbon-like arms, the box-like body possesses multiple eyes in which they can see through everything. Inside these clawed presents lies an empty black hole that can sometimes include missing items although it's an ilusion. You can only escape from the black hole once you have a star fragment in your possession which you can get outside during night or within the depths inside the black hole.

 

[Plainbluetees]

​

"Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"
Most people have come to learn this familiar quote regarding our late and dearly departed gingerbread man.
However, most are not aware of the backstory.
You see, the gingerbread man was initially baked my Mrs. Claus. She put intricate detail into his design. Two gumdrop eyes, frosting smile, candy buttons. She could not force herself to consume him, so she had the elves work some Christmas magic, and voila, a new gingerbread friend came to life.
Everything was going good for the gingerbread man. He had it made, living an easy life of luxury at the North Pole. However, one characteristic of our good friend the gingerbread man was that boredom came to him too easily. He tried ziplining, sky diving, base jumping, nothing seemed to get him excited. He was tired of being bored all the time, so he decided that he would move out of the North Pole to become a bull fighter in Spain. Mrs. Claus was sad to see him go, but supported his dream.

In his first practice, the zealous, eager gingerbread man could not get the bull to notice him. He tried waving his petite red flag. No response. He used the biggest thing he could to get the bull's attention: his voice.
Now, you'll be surprised to hear, that in a drastic turn of events, Mr. gingerbread man's fate is not decided by the bull, but instead by the bird sitting in a nearby telephone pole, who was in need of a tasty snack. Thus, the moral of the story, is never keep your guard down, especially if you're only 5 inches tall.

 

[skarmoury]

A tall tale of the Fugitive Feline Felon.

Be cautious of leaving out cookies and milk on the table on Christmas Eve... I heard a few homes around the world have noted a creature with cat-like ears and a cat-like tail jump into chimneys and eat the gifted treats before the holiday man Santa can even get to them, causing his immense disappointment. A thief in the night, it lets out a chilling meow before leaving the home, indicating you have become a victim! And if that wasn't enough damning evidence, in the morning, unsuspecting people visited by this thief will note a chocolate pawprint on the empty plate of cookies.

Is it a cat, you ask? They say no. Close to one, they suppose, but some witness accounts state they describe it more as an odd creature. Who's to say, though? No one has actually caught this fugitive feline felon.

 

[Snek]

The Snuffing-Out Stocking

Be careful if you decide to leave stockings out because on Christmas morning there may be an extra one laying in wait. This stocking is described as "excessively decorated" with tinsel, candy canes and many other Christmas decorations. BUT BEWARE! Even though it appears to be stuffed full of goodies it is laying in wait to take your soul. It only feeds on positive yuletide energy so always check your stocking before putting your hand inside...or the Snuffing-Out Stocking may get a present instead.

 

[Airysuit]

The Stone Owl

The story goes that every year, on December 1st, all stone owl statues placed as decorations in pine trees come to life every night until January 1st. Their big eyes light up so they can search through the villages and forests for lost presents that might have fallen off Santa’s sleigh.
When they find a present, they pick it up and deliver it to the rightful owner, ensuring everyone receives all their gifts. Then, on New Year’s Eve, the owls perform a celebratory flight among the fireworks before settling down to sleep as stone statues until the next year.

 

[ShinyDungeoneer]

The Misty Reindeer​

Legend tells of a strange reindeer that only appears on Christmas night. This strange animal appears to be made entirely of mist, and disappears as quickly as it arrives. Many adventurers have come to this very town to try and catch a glimpse of the elusive creature, but they never return. Beware, for if it seeks you out... You may never be seen again. The only way to ward it off is to trick it by making it think it's a different holiday. I hope you believe this tale.

 

[Mutti]

The Horned Nutcracker

The night before Christmas as the street lights turn on, people in the village hide away as the horned
Nutcracker emerges from the dark woods, looking for presents to snatch and chomp with his
CRUNCH and piercing anything in his way with the almighty horns
Every year is the same for all, finish your chores and stay inside as the sun sets as the night time moonlight Belongs to him, searching high and low throughout the village for stray presents misplaced to make use of his
Mighty cracking jaw, from teddies to bicycles, dolls to bath sets anything is up for crunch.

The tale is as old as time itself, the mystery of how or where he spends the rest of the year is kept as dark as the woods he lives in
But we all need to remember, finish your chores before sunset or face the horns and almighty crunch

 

[Asarena]

The Snokapi​

If you ever find yourself lost outside during a winter storm, then you may find your savior in the form of the Snokapi. If you are lucky, the Snokapi will allow you to ride on its back as it carries you to safety, away from the bitter cold. The Snokapi is said to resemble an okapi, but its fur is snowy white. The horns (ossicones) on its head glow with lights of changing colors, two beacons that pierce through even the harshest blizzards.

 

[.: Meri :.]

The Christmas Caterpillar

Said to be born from a small child’s (somewhat strange) wish to Santa, the Christmas Caterpillar is a wondrous worm that occasionally appears on Christmas trees. Initially, it doesn’t resemble a caterpillar at all, being made of a solitary spherical segment simulating a Christmas ornament, save for a single telltale eye. If it goes unnoticed, it will inch its way around the tree when no one is looking and lengthen itself with the baubles it locates, which become an inseparable part of its body. Once long enough, it will consume the tinsel on the tree in preparation for its chrystmasalis stage.

While some view it as vermin for demolishing decorations, if left alone and allowed to enjoy the seasonal spirit, it will eventually transform into a beautiful butterfly with golden wings shaped like a star. As if in return for the trinkets it took, there it will stay atop the tree for the rest of the holiday, before vanishing without a trace with the turn of the new year.​

 

[Xara]

the healing magic of a cat's purr

As December paints the world in festive reds, greens, and golds, there is an essence of grief and uncertainty in the air. Christmas doesn't feel as magical as it used to; the news is drowned in devastation after devastation, and existing is too expensive. The holidays are hard for a lot of people, and this knowledge summons The Purracle Worker every December.

No one's really sure of The Purracle Worker's origins. Some say they're one of Santa's helpers, a fluffy red and white cat with a mistletoe collar and a candy cane tail, whereas some say they're an angel from the universe itself. Unlike Santa, The Purracle Worker isn't capable of visiting everyone who needs them in one night or even several, so they have to be careful and visit only those they sense need them the most.

The Purracle Worker comes in the quiet of the night when those they're visiting are asleep, sneaking in through anything that's open: a window, a door, or even an open box. The Purracle Worker can't fix anything that's wrong with their host or the world, but they can provide comfort. They curl up next to their sleeping host, the bell charm on their ear ringing a gentle lullaby, and softly purr. Come morning, The Purracle Worker is long gone, not a trace of them to be found, but their hosts always awaken with a sense of peace and magic they haven't felt since they were a child.​

 

[Jhine7]

Magic Cat

It is said that once every December, one lucky cat, chosen by the Christmas spirit, will bless your family with all the Christmas goodies, but only if you give the cat treats every single day for that month. If your cat is chosen as this year's magic cat, and you forgot to give your cat treats, expect nothing but tuna for Christmas. Treats for the magic cat, goodies for you. Or only tuna, that your magic cat will enjoy, but you will want out of the house as fast as possible. Your choice!

 

[Snowifer]

The Shivering Snowmen

It's said that you should never leave your snowman bare. Without a hat, gloves or scarf, snowmen are left out in the cold all winter. they can be seen shaking violently on cold nights. Sometimes the shaking is so bad that they even lost their faces.
So please, dress up your snowman!

 

[Suguri]

Have you ever lived somewhere where it never snowed (or it does, but it's rare) and wondered why that's the case? It might not just be the nature of its formation... it could be the work of Sno-way José!

Gaseous in appearance, Sno-way brings heat wherever he goes, changing the temperature of the clouds. Of course, due to a variety of complex factors, his success varies. His work is most obvious in places like California and Fiji, where snow either occurs in certain elevations or never happens at all.

While Sno-way has yet to reveal his intentions, we can safely deduce that he might be trying to prevent hypothermia from reaching humans, as temperatures in places where snow is prevalent tend to be much lower than those without snow. Regardless, remember to do what you can to be healthy at this time of year!

 

[Midoriya]

The Legendary Snow Sphinx!

Have you ever wondered what a sphinx would look like if it was made out of snow instead of sand??? Well, wonder no longer! These giant creatures love to jump around mountains, making heavy crashing noises when they land and sending snow and ice everywhere. But be careful if you ever get close to one, because you might be crushed by an avalanche! The snow sphinx can also disassemble and reassemble itself using snow and ice anywhere, so be extra careful, because despite their large size, these creatures are quick! However, if you're able to befriend one of these legendary creatures, it can become your strongest ally!​