Icelandic folklore doesn't have fairies, we have elves.
Also there's some very disturbing Icelandic cryptids, like Jólakötturinn, a giant cat that eats children on Christmas, and Nykur, a backward-hoofed horse that hypnotizes you to ride it and then it walks you into the sea.

DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe · 4 pts · 2y (2 replies)

Your elves that live in tiny houses under the hills?

Holyhandgrenade@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Those "elf houses" is actually a more recent thing we do for tourists. But according to folk belief, the elves live inside certain rocks and cliffs. Some road constructions have been derailed because an elf rock was in the way and the people were having none of that.

DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe · 1 pts · 2y

Well, obviously those aren't their real houses, they're above the hills, not under them.

Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 2y

I'm pretty sure "mythological creatures" is a subcategory of cryptids, or the other way around.

Either way, the meme didn’t say "modern" and I'm pretty sure the rich tradition of terrifying east- and central European cryptids extends well into modernity lol

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 12 pts · 2y

Like every European village has it's own weirdly specific cryptid of sorts, they go extinct all the time.

Some are weirdly eldritch horrory, but most are just things that kill people, usually attracted by specific (positive or negative) actions or events.

I think one is just a floating bloody (unspecific) tigh. No additional explanation. Poor thing prob popped into existence and promptly got captured by SCP foundation before even doing anything.

Aqarius@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y

Is the difference that Europe's population density is so high it's obvious centaurs aren't real, because we'd have found them by now?

RootBeerGuy@discuss.tchncs.de · 7 pts · 2y

Yeah duuuh, that's not Europe! That's Western Asia!

rimjob_rainer@discuss.tchncs.de · 37 pts · 2y

Someone doesn't know Europe

Anticorp@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 2y (3 replies)

What? Europe has vampires, and werewolves, and trolls, and Grendel, and sirens, and Medusa, and the kraken, and all kinds of scary shit. What do we have, Big Foot?

FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today · 27 pts · 2y (1 reply)

We have skinwalkers and wendigo which are kind of like vampires and werewolves if they were also addicted to crack cocaine.

Anticorp@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y

LOL!

tegs_terry@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 2y

That thing that's always crying because it's so ugly? Either way, asia has a guy with an eye coming out his anus do they win.

ininewcrow@lemmy.ca · 25 pts · 2y (2 replies)

I think it's just a matter of timing and development. Europeans had the same or similar legends a thousand years ago. Indigenous cultures here in North America have the same folklore but we are more closer to it than our European friends.

I'm Indigenous Canadian in northern Ontario. My first language is Ojibway/Cree and for the first ten years of my life, I was surrounded by my culture and history from my Elders and other traditional people.

Sure it was all stories of how characters saved humanity, how humanity saved itself and all those saviour / hero type story lines. They were fun stories .... but over half of those old tales are just messed up freakish stories of death, destruction, fear and horror. The characters of the land, the water, the sky, the gods, the talking animals, good spirits and bad spirits are portrayed as equally good and equally bad. They are seen as more human and they are capable of doing enormous good or conducting terrible evil.

It's a lot like Greek mythology or Scandinavian mythology .... there is superstition, belief and godlike power to everything ... but the beings of other worlds and realms can be as good, holy, wholesome, loving and just as we want them to be .... but they are also just as flawed, stupid, jealous, angry, violent and terrible as we are.

I still spend a lot of time alone on the land at my wilderness cottage and as much as I like it out there .... there are times when it does scare the shit out of me. A quiet still silent bright summer day alone with no other people around can at times be just as frightening as a lonely dark autumn night. Sometimes when you know you are alone out there .... you can't help but feel like someone is watching you.

RatBin@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 2y (1 reply)

That and we are fairly well accostumated to any european cryptid (which is a modern concept) to the point of seeing them as a regular character in tales and legends, games and rpg alike. But, to tell you the truth, the original stories of those creatures were scary. Now we think of witches in a more positive light, a witch in a folk tale is one of the most dangerous entities out there. Werewolves...vampires were not fictional either.

Example:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lazzaretto-nuovo

Analysis on the skull discovered with a brick wedged in the mouth revealed that it once belonged to a woman between 61 and 71 years old. Although her exact story is likely never to be known, it was thought that she must have been believed to be a “Shroud Eater,” a type of vampire associated particularly with Germany and related territories.

The Shroud Eater is a different sort of vampire, not found biting the necks of voluptuous victims, but instead found still in their grave. Believed to>!!< be a sort of undead corpse, they were known for making hideous chewing sounds and were thought to cause death and destruction from a distance. There are several theories about how this particular myth came to be, but it seems to be particularly prevalent in times of plague or disease, when one death eventually leads to many more, often of friends and family members.

If you were a regular person in the late 1500's this would keep yoy awake at night. And it wasn't fiction than. But then again we took these old myths and got past their scare fators as they became simple ideas. Vampires are not scary today, they wear fancy clothes and take part of teen dramas. Or just become ancient aztec deities of fitness. Whatever we want them to be. But if you look at the quoted description, well, I wouln't want that thing. I'd rather fight a rake barehanded.

Aqarius@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y

Hell, the word "vampire" came to English with news reports from the early 1700s about people in eastern Europe looking for vampires to kill.

someguy3@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I can't be the only one, so:

cryptid noun

Any creature that may or may not exist. Sightings of various cryptids have been reported, but their reality has not been proved.

KISSmyOS@feddit.de · 1 pts · 2y

According to that definition, my cat is a cryptid.

Kyrgizion@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 2y (2 replies)

Laughs in Beast of Gevaudan and Tarrasque

Not all European cryptids are meek. Especially the French ones apparently.

sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Looks like there's some real beasts in there

GBU_28@lemm.ee · 5 pts · 2y

Wait is the barbegazi skiing on his feet? Fuck yeah

x4740N@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Japanese folklore sounds more fun then both of these

BuryMyHorse@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y

They should make a religion out of that

Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de · 9 pts · 2y

then we have nordic cryptids, which is rocks that look like people and just literal actual gnomes except EVEN SMALLER

ekZepp@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Dude, we had fucking DRAGONS! Werewolfes, vampires, human eating gigant spiders, and dozen on other horrible creature infesting our forests FOR CENTURIES!!!

All you had before the boom of YouTube was a dude in an hairy furry costume walking in the woods.

CryptidBestiary@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y

Obviously this is all for the meme and I agree with you that Europe has a lot of famous myths and folklore but you are daft if you think North America only has Big Foot/Sasquatch before creepypasta. Let me name a few for you: Jersey Devil, Wendigo, Mothman, UFO aliens, Flatwoods Monster, Skinwalker. Almost every state in the US has a cryptid. We got the Native American folklore to derive from. Not even including Mexico's vast folklore and cryptids.

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y (4 replies)

US people know nothing about Europe, chapter < Unsigned Integer Overflow>.

PugJesus@kbin.social · 6 pts · 2y (3 replies)

I know all about Europe. It's that country over the sea with all the stars on their flag and the royalty.

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y

Ok, yes, you pass.

KISSmyOS@feddit.de · 1 pts · 2y

I mean... That's spot on.

kureta@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2y

Land of the fromage and home of the leprechauns.

itsgroundhogdayagain@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 2y (4 replies)

The Jersey Devil is undefeated.

PugJesus@kbin.social · 6 pts · 2y (3 replies)

MOTHMAN

ChicoSuave@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Wendigo ate the Jersey Devil and Mothman watched.

DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe · 2 pts · 2y

Tbf, the Mothman did warn him about it

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y

The one with metal dump truck of a bum?

Def would bring a floodlight with me.

Etterra@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y (12 replies)

Europe even have cryptic outside mythology? Nessie doesn't count.

KidnappedByKitties@lemm.ee · 34 pts · 2y (9 replies)

Werewolves, vampires, baba yaga, fae, bean sidhe, vättar, tomtar, will o the wisp, trolls, Näcken, sylphs, undines, changelings, sirens, cyclops, gorgons, demon boars galore, and loads more local legends

ininewcrow@lemmy.ca · 45 pts · 2y (4 replies)

Italians

PugJesus@kbin.social · 23 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Terrifying

DoucheAsaurus@kbin.social · 15 pts · 2y

I heard once that they supposedly have to speak with their hands. Sounds horrific.

RamblingPanda@lemmynsfw.com · 7 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I'VE SEEN ONE ONCE, IT WAS TERRIFYING! IT WAS ALL "bibedi bobedi" AND WANTED ME TO EAT PIZZA!

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 2y

Just wear pineapple around your neck, you'll be fine.

Unless the specific cryptid is attractive. Which they are. Then you will be the one chasing them around begging then to make you pizza. Its a weird power they have.

oce@jlai.lu · 6 pts · 2y (3 replies)

Dragons, basilisks, unicorns, fire breathing salamanders were part of the average folk beliefs in the European middle ages and Renaissance. For example, in the gorgeous Lady and the Unicorn tapisseries from ~1500 you can see in Paris.

GBU_28@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 2y (2 replies)

Where salamander

oce@jlai.lu · 3 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Symbol of Francis I of France, visible in his castle in Blois.

GBU_28@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y

Very cool.

I was searching the tapestry like where's waldo.

Prunebutt@slrpnk.net · 21 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I'd say that cryptids are a modern iteration of the same phenomenon which used to be mythologic creatures.

ininewcrow@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2y

Now they call it angels, demons and the book of Revelations

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

wiki/List_of_cryptids

... I think the SCP is censuring the list. But I trust them, the memes told me that I do so.

Anyway, focusing on European cryptids - this seems like a good list with 321 entries & detained descriptions and up-to-date sightings. Tho it does feel fairly light on the outer parts, like Greek, English, Russian, Moroccan (the Spain part) pets, I mean cryptids: cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/European_cryptids

This is a shorter list but does contain some additional entries: cryptozoologycryptids.fandom.com/wiki/European_Cryptids

Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y

From cryptidz:

A	
	Aatxe
	Achlis
	Afanc
	Afonya
	Aiatar
	Air Rods
	Aitvaras
	Akerbeltz
	Alderney Yellow Light
	Alien Big Cats
	Alien Octopoids
	Alien Sightings of Croatia
	Alien sightings of Portugal
	Alien Sightings of Spain
	Alien Sightings of Sweden
	Allier River Monster
	Almas
	Amphisbaena
	Arre River Monster
	Arzamassian Monster
	Avians
B	
	Baba Yaga
	Banshee
	Banyoles Monster
	Bar Juchne
	Bare-Fronted Hoodwink
	Barghest
	Barguest
	Barmouth Monster
	Barnacle Tree
	Basajaun
	Basilisk
	Bat Beast of Kent
	Bauk
	Beast of Bevendean
	Beast of Bodmin Moor
	Beast of Brassknocker Hill
	Beast of Dartmoor
	Beast of Dean
	Beast of Gevaudan
	Beast of Ljig
	Beast of Neamt
	Beast Of Tenby
	Beast of Tunbridge Wells
	Behemoth
	Belarussian Shore Muddler
	Belorussian Sky Squid
	Bergkonge
	Biosbardo
	Bird Beast of Var
	Black Beast of Exmoor
	Black Bird of Chernobyl
	Black Goat-Man of Wittingau
	Black Shuck
	Bogeyman
	Bonnacon
	Bownessie
	British Dragon
	British Flying Rods
	Brosno Dragon
	Brownie
	Bugbear
	Bukavac
	Buratsche-Al-Llgs
C	
	Calopus
	Calygreyhound
	Camacrusa
	Canvey Island Monster
	Centaurs
	Classic Dragons (Western Cultures)
	Cockatrice
	Cocollona
	Corfu Island Creature
	Crimean Creature
	Cumberland Spaceman (Solway Firth Spaceman)
	Cussac Aliens
	Cuélebre
	Cyclops
	Cynocephali
	Cù-sìth
D	
	Dahu
	Dalby Spook
	Dard
	Dark Faerie
	Dobhar-chu
	Domsten Blobs
	Donestre
	Doppelgänger
	Dragon
	Dragons of Rabka
	Drekavac
	Dutch Flying Jellyfish
	Dwarves
E	
	Eachy
	Elwetritsch
	European Wildman
F	
	Fachen
	Fear Liath Moor
	Felixstowe Fire Demon
	Fern Flower
	Fish-man of Liérganes
	Fiskerton Phantom
G	
	Galley-Trot
	Gargouille
	Gargoyle
	Gensou Hyouhon Hakubutsukan
	Germakochi
	Getzko
	Ghillie Dhu
	Ghoul
	Giant Catfish
	Giant Goldfish
	Giant of Castelnau
	Giant Rat
	Giglioli's Whale
	Girona Gremlin
	Girt Dog of Ennerdale
	Gizotso
	Gnome
	Goatman
	Goayr Heddagh
	Goblins
	Gog-Magog
	Grampus
	Great Auk
	Greece
	Greek dolphin
	Gremlin
	Griffins
	Grindylow
	Grotte Cosquer Animal
	Gruagach
	Gryttie
	Gulon
H	
	Hat Man
	Hebrides Blob
	Hellhounds
	Herensuge
	High-Finned Sperm Whale
	Hippocampus
	Hippocerf
	Homo Gardarensis
	Horned Cats
	Hrökkáll
	Hungry Grass
I	
	Imap Umassoursua
J	
	Jaculus
	Jimmy Squarefoot
	Jure Grando
K	
	Kallikantzaros
	Karakonjul
	Kellas Cat
	Kelpie
	Kemza
	Kinnula Humanoid
	Knucker
	Koskolteras rhombopterix
	Kraken
	Kędzierzyn-Koźle Undead
L	
	Lagarfljot Worm
	Lake Ladoga Monster
	Lake Van Monster
	Lambton Worm
	Lariosauro
	Lavellan
	Le Loyon
	Leprechaun
	Leshy
	Leviathan
	Lindworm
	List of Jinn Types
	Lizard Men
	Lizzie
	Loberno
	Loch Awe Monster
	Loch Ness Monster
	Loch Oich Monster
	Lou Carcolh
	Lough Dubh monster
	Lough Foyle monster
	Lynx
M	
	Magician's Monster
	Manticore
	Marabbecca
	Mari Lwyd
	Marine Lion
	Marked Hominids
	Meeribiu
	Meeting With Monsters (book)
	Men in Black
	Mermaids (Merfolks)
	Mirygdy
	Moddey Dhoo
	Moha Moha
	Moly
	Mongitore's Monstrous Fish
	Monster of Bor Lake
	Monster of Gračanica Lake
	Monster of Lake Fagua
	Monster of Silver Lake
	Monuca
	Mora
	Morag
	Morgawr
	Muc-sheilch
	Muckie
	Muladona
N	
	Nameless Thing of Berkeley Square
	Nissi
	Nixie
	Nuckelavee
	Nymph
	Nyruk
O	
	Octo-squatch
	Ogre
	On the Map
	Ophiotaurus
	Oracular Trees
	Oude Rode Ogen
	Owlman
P	
	Pale Crawlers
	Panther
	Paparrasolla
	Peluda
	Peryton
	Pesanta
	Phantom Kangaroo
	Pilou
	Plant-Eating Crocodile
	Po Orangutan
	Polypus
	Pomórnik
	Porphyrios
	Poskok
	Prespan lake monster
	Pérák
Q	
	Quickfoot
	Quinotaur
R	
	Ramidreju
	Raskovnik
	Ratman of Southend
	Redcap
	Rephaite
	Rijeka Reaper
	Roc
	Roch Ness Monster
	Runan-shah
	Russian Sirins
S	
	Sakhalin Island Sea Wolf
	Salamander
	Sam Harris
	Sarmatian Sea Snail
	Sea Monk
	Seljordsormen
	Shadow People
	Shellycoat
	Shore Laddie
	Shug Monkey
	Silphium
	Sirens
	Skeljaskrímsli
	Skvader
	Sky Serpents
	Spaghetti tree
	Sphinx
	Spring-Heeled Jack
	Storsjöodjuret
	Strigoi
	Stronsay Beast
	Surrey Puma
	Swan Maidens
	Switzerland
T	
	Tarasque
	Tatzelwurm
	Teggie
	Thames River Monster
	The Merman
	The Pig-Man of Cannock Chase
	The Sandown Clown
	Troll
U	
	UFO
	Undead
	Unicorn
	Unknown Norwegian Creature
	Urco
V	
	Vampire
	Varberg Fortress Moat Monster
	Vatnagedda
	Ved
	Vedi
	Villaricos Horned Serpent
	Vine of Sodom
	Voronezh Aliens
	Vorota Beast
W	
	Wanderlight
	Werebear
	Werehyena
	Werewolf
	Whale Eater
	White Stag
	Wild Haggis
	Wolpertinger
	Woodwose
	Wulver
	Wyrm
	Wyvern
Y	
	Yale
	Yggdrasil
Z	
	Zanfretta's Aliens
	Zmeu
Ú	
	Útburður
Š	
	Šumske Dekle

PP_BOY_@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y

Just look at this little guy

gedaliyah@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y

Interesting factoid: it's actually neither a moth nor a man. It's a legume.

Kolanaki@yiffit.net · 0 pts · 2y (2 replies)

I can only think of one NA cryptid that isn't just a different flavor of bigfoot, and that is the Dover Demon. Which I'm pretty sure was just made up by teenagers.

lemonmelon@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y

Mothman, Jersey Devil, Caddy, chupacabra, Igopogo, Manipogo, Winnepogo, and Champy all avoid being Bigfoot variants. I think wendigos and possibly wechuge toe the line.

5in1k@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y

Jersey Devil, chupacabre, Detroit’s Nain Rouge.