Most people know the Christian stories, teachings, beliefs about the roles of Joseph, Mary and Jesus in the traditions of Christmas.
Most also know about Santa Claus and his reindeer and elves.
Fans of classic literature and Charles Dickens have most assuredly been introduced to the ghost of Jacob Marley who carries the child apparitions of ignorance and want beneath the folds of his nightshirt and reveals them to Ebenezer Scrooge prior to sending the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future to the sinful old miser in hopes of redemption for the cold-hearted humbug of a man.
Less known are the folklore and traditions of northern European countries, the Alps, Netherlands and beyond.
According to legend and lore, Dec. 5 is the night Krampus and other helpers of Saint Niklaus accompany him from the spirit world to the mortal world to help him cleanse evil and ensure night (dark) will continue to become day (light). St. Nick’s helpers include Krampus and Krampi, Frau Perchta and a legion of Perchten, Zwarte Piet, a freed Moorish slave, and Knecht Ruprecht, a foundling farm boy Saint Niklaus saved and took under his wing.
In some cultures like Pennsylvania German, this character accompanies der Belsnickel and is known as der Snickelfritz.
All of these assistants clear the way for St. Nick’s Day on Dec. 6, which officially begins the Christmas or Yuletide season.
Celebrants of the ancient traditions leave an empty shoe on the fireplace hearth on the evening of the 5th so Saint Nick will leave a present on the morning of the 6th, but only if the celebrant has been good. If they’ve been bad, they may have to contend with his helpers mentioned above and most of them aren’t particularly fuzzy, warm and friendly.
Krampus sorts out the bad ones and scares them into being good or, if that’s not possible, he simply stuffs them in his sack or puts them in chains and takes them away to parts unknown. Frau Perchta descends on villages from the forest and seeks out those whom Saint Niklaus has declared unfit for goodness and reward. Beware Frau Perchta because she doesn’t mess around with half measures.
There’s no gentle way to present what she does, so let’s just say that folklore, fairy tales and morality stories are often very graphic. That’s because the original creator of the tale, often lost to time, wanted to make a point that had immediate and memorable impact.
With that in mind, Frau Perchta’s punishment to bad people generally includes slicing their bellies open, removing their organs and replacing them with sod, dirt, moss, lichens and sticks before sewing them back up. I don’t know about you, but if someone told me that I had a choice to be good or bad and the price of being bad would be disembowelment and re-stuffing like a scarecrow, I think I’d choose to be good. Honestly, is this any more terrifying than the concept of hell? Hell is the ultimate place that you never want to find yourself going to so be good for goodness sake.
Der Belsnickel (St. Nick character from Palatinate and Pennsylvania origin), La Befana (the Christmas Witch from Italy), Tió de Nadal (the Christmas Poo Log from Catalonia), Caganeer, (who fertilizes farmland, also from Catalonia), and Los Reyes Magos (the Three Kings or Wise Men in Spanish tradition) all arrive later, from Dec. 24 through the 12 days of Christmas until Jan. 6.
All of these any many more are part of the collective Yuletide and Christmas narrative. Look them up and learn more because you’ll be shaking your head in disbelief at some of their purposes and activities.
The point of all of this is, good souls have nothing to fear, and these spirits that accompany St. Nick help him to maintain a balance in the world between good and evil. These are the folkloric beliefs. Are they so much different than other beliefs created by humankind through proclamations of organized religions?
Humankind searches for meanings, explanations, answers and help. It’s an eternal part of the experience of being human. When we don’t know answers, we make them up by creating legends and stories and anthropomorphic characters to act them out. Reading these stories on a cozy winter’s evening by the fireplace can be very informative and engaging. Enjoy.
Dave Kline is an award-winning writer, photographer, show host and producer, singer-songwriter, travel guide and community advocate. Reach him at davesmountainfolklore@gmail.com
Source: Berkshire mont
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