Belsnickel: a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of Southwestern Germany

Belsnickel is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. Belsnickel is a man wearing furs and sometimes a mask with a long tongue. He is typically very ragged and disheveled. He wears torn, tattered, and dirty clothes, and he carries a switch in his hand with which to beat naughty children, but also pocketsful of cakes, candies, and nuts for good children. When people immigrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their German traditions with them. Belsnickel was known in Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. The traditional Belsnickel showed up at houses 1–2 weeks before Christmas and often created fright because he always knew exactly which of the children misbehaved. He would rap on the door or window with his stick and often the children would have to answer a question for him or sing some type of song. In exchange he would toss candies onto the floor. If the children jumped too quick for the treats, they may end up getting struck with Belsnickel's switch. Although he may seem like a harsh character, the tradition of Belsnickel is an amusing one and rather benign. - excepts from Wikipedia article on "Belsnickel"

For a short video involving Belsnickel click here

Now, hold your bowls forward. The belsnickel will decide if you are impish or admirable.



Wikipedia Article on Belsnickel[en.wikipedia.org]
Belsnickel Moments from - "The Office"