Myths of Merriment

[Chere.]

The Snow-Feathered Crane​

Have you ever wondered where snow actually comes from? It does come from clouds, but not in the way you might think. It comes from a bird that lives inside the clouds, the Snow-Feathered Crane.

These avian creatures soar through the clouds, with snowflakes falling gently off their wings as they fly. Their wings are also made of snow, so they can’t live in warmer climates, which is why they live at such high altitudes. While they inhabit all clouds, in warmer areas, their snowflakes will melt before they touch the ground if it’s too warm, so it’s less noticeable if it’s not cold enough. They make their nests on top of clouds and usually need a lot of sleep. Their eggs and, by extension, children, also need a lot of attention and care, so they have a lot to deal with at a time. If it ever feels really cold but it’s not snowing, that’s probably why.

If you’re going to visit someone out of the country this holiday season, keep an eye out for one of these cranes when you’re flying. There’s hundreds of them in just one cloud, so you might be able to spot at least one.

Here's my entry! I just knew I had to try my hand at Yoshi's concept. :> I really wanted to paint a winter piece with warmer colours. Painting light passing through feathers/wings was a hard but fun challenge!

Spoiler: entry

This is a low quality version to tick off the entry box since the hq version is too big sfkdgk.

 

[Midoriya]

The Advent Trickster

Be wary if you receive or purchase an advent calendar this year, for there legend says there's a trickster that will suddenly appear. 24 days through December, the trickster will pick a day and show up whenever. They say if you've been nice, the trickster will leave you alone. However, if you've been naughty, the trickster will take all of your advent gifts because to him that's the way to atone. So think twice before you see a calendar this season for the trickster will do what he wants with no rhyme or reason.

Now presenting the Advent Trickster! I tried to incorporate mostly everything that Jav wrote in his description for the creature. I included an actual calendar for December for days 1-25 and put it in the middle of his body. I also included a clock on his head to tell the time. In his right hand (left side) is a candy cane and a tattoo on his arm that says "Nice?" In his left hand (right side) is a baseball bat and a tattoo on his arm that says "Naughty?" Also included a background and Christmas tree as well. Beware of the Advent Trickster this holiday season!

 

[DaCoSim]

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.

I chose to do a more simple drawing in hopes that it could capture the quiet stillness of the jinglehopper without startling her. I decided to use a black background so that I didn’t have to make her quite stark white but more glittery, almost white silver color that could easily blend in with snow. Thank you firesquids for painting such a lovely picture in my head. I hope I do her at least a little proud.

 

[Asarena]

The Tiny Holiday Mermaids​

The tiny Holiday mermaids are fast, cute, and tiny mermaids of the sea. How many mermaids are there? Some say there are Twelve like Twelve days of Christmas or eight like Hanukkah or seven like Kwanzaa, but nobody knows cause they're so tiny and swim fast. Between December 1st through January 1st they swim the sea leaving a trail of gifts behind and holiday spirit undersea above the surface. So if you're fish or ice fish between those days, you might catch one of their gifts and depending on what person you are, a nice gift or a naughty one.

I drew the holiday mermaids! I decided to draw twelve of them, and I made them colorful like Christmas lights! I also gave them a few jellyfish friends/helpers~

 

[LateGamer]

​

"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.

 

[Minou]

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!

Since I love cats, I chose Jhine7's story:

 

[Dunquixote]

It was really hard to pick. I’d do another one if I could.

I picked @Yanrima~’s clawed present.

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.

 

[Giddy]

The Gleamdeer ​

There is a rumor that right after the holiday season you might catch a glimpse of a mysterious, one of a kind deer. When it steps, the sound of jingling bells can be heard all around, its massive antlers glow with many colors from bulbs attached to them, and delicate, luminescent strands float around the creature, almost like an angel's hair. It is said to be the spirit of the forest, bringing good luck to those fortunate enough to see it.

Some folks say it's just a regular deer that rummaged through holiday garbage and ended up with decorations stuck on its antlers. But they're just mean and don't understand the true magic of the nature.

When I read this one, I knew I just had to make a deer art!
Such a beauty of a creature for sure! I had a lot of fun making this, soft pastels for the baubles so they woul illumate a lot more!

There have been so many grand myths it was so hard to pick, so for fun I will do some other drawings when I have the time

 

[OswinOswald]

 the solstice star 

  way up near the north pole, lies a quiet sleepy town nestled between the snowy mountains. legend has it that every winter solstice a meteor shower occurs up high in the northern sky. at the top of the highest mountain, a star falls out of the sky at night and grants one wish to whoever is brave enough to fair the trip up to the peak and catch it. many have tried to make the journey up to the summit and failed, swallowed whole by frosty blizzards and blistering winds....​

 

[Muna]

It was really hard to pick. I’d do another one if I could.

I picked @Yanrima~’s clawed present.



View attachment 604246

Smallfry spotted! So cute!!!

View attachment 604287

When I read this one, I knew I just had to make a deer art!
Such a beauty of a creature for sure! I had a lot of fun making this, soft pastels for the baubles so they woul illumate a lot more!

There have been so many grand myths it was so hard to pick, so for fun I will do some other drawings when I have the time

Absolutely fabulous!

 

[Princess Mipha]

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.

Poor Teddy

 

[Holla]

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.

Here’s my entry. Upon reading this I imagined a literal stone owl coming to life (see ref). They are a little derpy so I purposely left the eyes not quite the same. To make it more fitting to the tale I made the eyes glowing as if it’s getting ready to take off into the night in search of lost presents. I also added some snow as a bonus.

Spoiler: Stone Owl Ref

 

[S.J.]

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.​

I really loved this tale, and was really excited to draw it!

Admittedly it turned out a little darker than I anticipated, because I put the brightness of my iPad up way too bright all the time.

Spoiler: 👁️

My entry is the standalone image, but given that the only way to tell she is a caterpillar is by her single eye, I thought it would be cute to make a blinking .gif just for fun. I got a bit lazy with optimising the number of frames, but she's still cute.

There's no references to attach, because it's literally just baubles and an eye!

 

[Chibi.Hoshi]

The sassy gnomes

Not to be confused with Santa's elves, the sassy gnomes are found to be particularily active during holiday season in late December. They like to hide away in dark and cozy cracks and crevices, coming out at night or when unobserved to play little pranks on unsuspecting folks. Maybe check your shoes before putting them on for acorns and your socks if perhaps they have been sewn together. Occasionally you might notice missing buttons on coats, or you can only find one earring. They have a fascination with everything smooth and shiny.
​

 

[skarmoury]

the jackaslope

the wintry counterpart of the fabled jackalope, jackaslopes are thought to be the original snow bunnies and where inspiration for those very snow creations originated. mostly nocturnal, their silvery fur helps them blend in perfectly with their snowy environments, and their antlers seem to shimmer like snowflakes, glowing under the moonlight. the folktales say that while people's carefully crafted snow bunnies might seem to simply melt away overnight, they are actually brought to life by the mystical jackaslope and hop off into the wilderness to enjoy winter's chill. so, if you're ever in the woods at this time of year and think you see something glimmering between the trees, or snow shifting in the corner of your eye, it might just well be a jackaslope, guiding snow bunnies in harmony.​

run, jackaslope, run !
​

 

[Flyffel]

The Squirrel of First Snowfall

This folktale originates from northern New England, where forests are abundant and winter snows tend to come in when you least expect it. Squirrels are common creatures in this part of the world, nesting in the trees that grow thickly together. Most of them are brownish in color and scamper by unnoticed. However, as legend would have it, as the first snowflakes of winter cluster together and form a thick blanket on the ground, you just might catch sight of something bounding near the woods. So the story goes, if you put on your boots and sneak over, you'll see a squirrel as blindingly white as the snow itself, gathering its last acorn for winter. And supposedly, if you follow its path into the woods, it will lead you to a hollow in a tree where it nests. According to the few people who insist they've seen this elusive creature, it stashes glittering treasures among its food. The young girl who first told this story came home with a handful of centuries-old gold coins, much to the astonishment of her parents. No one has managed to provide concrete proof of this elusive white squirrel though, and most who hear this folktale are doubters.​

 

[michealsmells]

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.

Nah cause this idea is so metal its not even funny. I may have taken some artistic liberty and given it a bulb at the end of its tail, too. I can imagine seeing it whipping around in the distance like a lantern frantically trying to cut through the snow.
I hope you appreciate this boy! It was super cool reading through everyone's entries to find someone to draw. Kinda why this took so long lmao.
*edit: immediate adjustment i posted the wrong file without my name @ first sorry

 

[roseflower]

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.​

Very cute tale, I drew the "beautiful butterfly with golden wings shaped like a star"!

 

[Zerous]

The Little Christmas Snuggler
This little adorable creature is a tough one to spot, but there are often clues. If you're careful, you can spot it pretty easily, but it's pretty rare as it uses its small size as an advantage. You may see its action as cheerful, but really, it's just trying to find a spot to snuggle and keep warm for the night. It's attracted to Christmas stockings and Christmas trees as its often seems to be warmest spots among the holiday decorations.

It is said if this friendly creature comes to your house, it's been deemed a house full of holiday spirit and the creature believes it is to be safe. The sound it's little paws are reported to make either jingling sounds or tunes close enough to mistake for snow globes. If you randomly hear it, look out for a wide eyed creature with a little rounded nose. It's adorable in nature and to cute or boot with that big smile of theirs. Last thing to note, is their little antlers tucked behind their ears that almost resemble those of bats. It is said their antlers could almost rival those of the notable reindeers. Who could say who has the better antlers? Nobody!

True to their nature, if you see those little red, green, white, (and sometimes the rare gold) furs with a variety of markings and patterns, leave them be! Let them snuggle in the Christmas stocking above the fireplace, or in the trees surrounded by lights. They're just tiny travelers looking for a safe place to cuddle for the night and they'll be gone by the morning. Some say if you let them stay the night, they'll leave some treats for you in return! (How? Nobody isn't quote sure.)​

The little Christmas Snuggler
This is what I imagined reading it, I love the idea, it's really cute!!​

 

[xlisapisa]

Eevee Noel the Pointed Earred Moosedog

This strange creature starts making her appearance as soon as Christmas decorations come up. She has an eye for all things glittery and it is said that she loves to steal glittery ornaments off of Christmas trees the most. It is thought by some that she ingests these glittery things because she thinks it will make her fly, (though the only evidence found from said ingested bling has been sparkly… umm… )
It is also rumored that if she can’t find anything sparkly, she will headbutt her way through any door and use all her body weight to jump on the bed of sleeping children.