Greece and the Christmas elves

In Greece, the Christmas season is associated with many legends, tales, and superstitions. It is said that in the depths of the Earth live evil elves – called kalikandzaros – who spend the year sawing off the trunk of the tree that holds the Earth. At Christmas, however, they give up this annoying occupation to come to earth, now to annoy humans.

So they have to be kept away from the house, and because they are very afraid of fire, the flame in the house hearth must never go out. Then, at Epiphany, the magical power of the water, sanctified by the priest, drives them back to where they came from, the bowels of the earth.