Beware The Servants of Saint Nicholas
Posted by Ross Rosenberg
The Companions of Saint Nicholas go by many names: Knecht Ruprecht (Farmhand Ruprecht or Servant Ruprecht), Krampus, Klaubauf, Bartel, Pelzebock, Pelznickel, Belzeniggl, Belsnickel, Schmutzli, Rumpelklas, Bellzebub, Hans Muff, Drapp or Buzebergt, Hanstrapp, Le Père Fouettard, and Zwarte Piet (Black Pete).
These servants accompany Saint Nicholas, in various European traditions, and are usually portrayed as the inverse of him in both dress and character. More often than not they are clothed in black and carry a sack and club (though weapons range from switchblades to pistols). Their intentions range from pure evil, to merely mischievous. France’s Père Fouettard, for example, is said to have butchered three children, all of whom Saint Nicholas resurrected. In his shame, Fouettard became a willing servant in order to repent. In Croatia, Krampus is represented much like the traditional Devil, and is said to take children away in his sack if they have been naughty.
Similar traditions are even found in parts of the United States with 19th century accounts of, not Santa Claus, but someone known as “Kriskinkle, Beltznickle and sometimes as the Xmas woman.” A person would dress up as this individual, usually in female garb and a hideous mask, and scatter treats on the floor with one hand for children to snatch up, while with the other they would whip them with a switch.
Today, in Austria, there is an annual Krampus festival which draws hundreds of people, who parade through the streets of Schladming, dressed in goat hair costumes with carved masks, striking onlookers with bundles of sticks. It seems a more interesting alternative to having to endure weeks of adult contemporary/bubblegum pop versions of sappy Christmas carols.
Companions of Saint Nicholas [Wikipedia] : MONSTER BRAINS
Categories: Folklore, Horror, Monsters
Posted at 11:40 am on December 4, 2007
8 Comments -
Now THAT’S how you celebrate Christmas! It’s like a parallel universe where Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas succeeded! Thank you, Ectoplasmosis, for spreading your unique brand of holiday cheer.
Comment by Robert — December 4, 2007 @ 11:48 am
If that’s Santa’s little helper then what does Rudolf look like? Battlecat with excema?
Comment by Scott — December 4, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
For some reason when I read the post title I thought you were talking about the machine elves mentioned in many DMT accounts by Terrence McKenna.
Poo.
Comment by Melissa — December 4, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Ha! Scott said Battlecat! I’m ashamed that I immediately knew what he meant. Maybe Rudolf just looks like Cringer with bad acne…
Comment by scott — December 4, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
I think I bought drugs once from a guy named Zwarte Piet.
Comment by El Tiburon — December 4, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
It’s TODAY?
That means that there is a festival honouring the demon servants of St. Nicholas happening on my birthday.
BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Comment by Robin L. — December 4, 2007 @ 3:59 pm
i used to have a Krampus party on the first weekend of december. horns and hooves on everyone. and a beautiful and delicious proscuitto krampus head to eat (use your imagination). something about the devil figure has always bothered me: why does he have mixed feet? it’s not in all images of him, and it applies to devil figures in general. are they just so anti that they don’t have matched feet? was there not enough of the transmogrifying elixir to turn him back? anyone?
~H.
Comment by Haux — December 5, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
[...] Nackles is the Anti-Santa. He’s very similar to Krampus. [...]
Pingback by Nackles at williac.com — December 5, 2007 @ 10:44 pm