The other day I was rifling through my parents’ loft. Amongst the boxes of school work, Disney VHS tapes and tiny human clothes, I found a dusty old book. It had a rich, red leather cover and was as thick as a baby’s arm. Embossed in gold letters were the words: THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHRISTMAS CREATURES by NIKLAUS VON STUFFINGBALL.

I showed my parents. They said they’d never seen it before and let me keep it. On the train home I flicked through the beautiful thing. Each page had a lovely description of creatures I’d never heard, that creep out only at Christmas time. Some of them are so magical I’ve decided to share one a day throughout December.

Unfortunately, according to the book’s introduction, when he wrote it in 1849 Niklaus Von Stuffingball couldn’t afford to pay an illustrator to draw the Christmas Creatures. So if any artists want to give it a go, just upload them in the comments. Whether you want to draw one or draw them all, you can draw them when you like – just flex those festive fingers.