[4] Unlike those figures, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits alone[4] and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. A couple of notes: This is a very rich, soft, dough. Belsnickel (also Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel, from pelzen (or belzen, German for to wallop or to drub) and Nickel being a hypocorism of the given name Nikolaus) is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. Instead, the tradition called for a visit by a different character altogether: He was known as Kriskinkle, Beltznickle and sometimes as the Christmas woman. to The Lutheran Witness, 12:17 (Feb. 7, 1894), p. 135. A google search shows us they are made of melted sugar — and that’s all. I certainly never heard of the guy growing up. He opens and closes his mouth like shears; Now there’s the Christmas spirit I’ve been searching for! Un dengelt gar bumm’risch die Sinder. danielboonehomestead.org 12/7: A Homestead Christmas 12-4pm Admission Adult (13+) $6.00, Child (5-12) $4.00. Vum Belscnickel hab ich nau ebbes gelernt, [8], There are two versions of Belsnickel, the rural and the urban characters. He may have been based on an older German myth, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas and a character from northern Germany. Perhaps it's time for him to share the burden and ask for some help. Kick Santa to the curb and turn Belsknickel loose upon the land. Wer gut is, kann lese, — wer schlecht is, den — whack! They’re just sugar cookies, but if you call them Belsnickel cookies, it will make you superior in precisely the way you’ve been hoping listening to NPR and attending Krampuslaufen would do. If the children jumped too quick for the treats, they may end up getting struck with Belsnickel's switch. Here’s an explanation of the difference from an 1890s guide for Pennsylvania Germans learning English (hence the short, simple sentences): In the evening the Kristkindel goes around to the houses and distributes Christmas presents. One would scatter the goodies upon the floor, and then the scramble would begin by the delighted children, and the other hand would ply the switch upon the backs of the excited youngsters - who would not show a wince, but had it been parental discipline there would have been screams to reach a long distance.[5]. I suspect it was somewhat of a social honor to portray the belsnickel. [4], The tradition of Belsnickel was brought to Indiana by immigrants from the Palatinate. I love the blog. Santa Klaus is exhausted. They still use those same molds, which are very specific. He flogs him thoroughly. Belsnickel is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. Out fall the cakes and chestnuts; In the Belsnickel's world, Christmas shouldn't be so enjoyable for the naughty kids. A tail like an ox, yes, that he has, right? It’s written in Pennsylfaanish Deitsch, the Pennsylvania German dialect, which means that the words and spellings aren’t standard Hochdeutsch (high German) and may confuse even those of us who supposedly remember our college German. Cheers, Katherine. I will never forget it: "Pelzmärtel und Herrscheklaus, "Belsnickel Christmas Tradition - Story, Legends", "Percursos de personagens natalinos da Europa para a América: entre familiaridade e estranhamento [Routes of christmas Characters from Europe to America: between familiarity and strangeness]", "The Next Page: Meet Belsnickel, the Counter Claus", The history of Belsnickel: Santa's cranky cousin, Kline, Dave. — If he approved of their answer he’d give them candy, nuts, or little cakes; if not, he’d beat them. Es dhut um gut Wetter gschwind bettle. He comes at night, dressed in dirty furs, face blackened with charcoal. Wow! German illustrator H.J. Cut into small rounds or other shapes. Apparently pepper-spray-wielding shoppers at Target aren’t scary enough for Americans these days, because various cities are holding a Krampuslauf, or Krampus parade, this month. Die Frucht vun seim Werk ausgemesse. By the end of the nineteenth century, just as the Pennsylvania German dialect was losing out to English (with the active backing of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I might add), the Belsnickel was melting into Santa Claus, whose worst punishment was a stockingful of coal. And beats, very badly, the sinners. Der Belsnickel Oh, do you know that ugly, that nasty man? Un find ‘r eens, geht er uf eemol zum Punkt, Nau schittelt d’r Belsnickel grausam sei’ Sack, Add the eggs, beating one at a time, into the mixture. For those who haven’t heard, he’s an old-world Germanic mythical creature who terrorizes naughty children at Christmas. And a hairy pelt like the bears. They were either made to dance, do tricks, sing or recite poems, depending on what Belsnickel wanted to hear. I’ll tell you, though, they taste like magic, like no other kind of candy I’ve had. Whoever is good can pick them up; whoever is bad, then whack! From the Belsnickel I have now learned something, After you sow, then in the harvest If one of them, as is sometimes the case, was right mischievous; If he comes into your house, there’ll be noise enough, The creature does have arms and legs, as well as facial features; it wears bells on its ears, explaining at least one portion of its name. I’m tempted to try…. I bet he won’t laugh at Belsnickel’s whip— Can you call that fellow a human being? — derf m’r den Kerl e Mensch heese? Seh juscht ‘mol sei’ Aage, sei Naas — alle Welt! Today, the Belsnickel is nearly forgotten, and most of what remains of the original tradition comes from a poem by Henry Harbaugh, written in the 1860s. He said his grandfather had picked up the molds and brought them west to make candy. The Belsnickel — which roughly translates as “Nicholas in furs” — came to Pennsylvania with settlers from western Germany in the 17th and 18th centuries. He has one purpose: To ... → This and That — The history of Santa Claus - Delphos Herald Belsnickel came from Pelz Nichol, stemming from St. Nicholas and the December 6th gift giving holiday. He or she would be equipped with an ample sack about the shoulders filled with cakes, nuts, and fruits, and a long hazel switch which was supposed to have some kind of a charm in it as well as a sting. → Belsnickle Santa of yesteryear was not so jolly - The Herald-Dispatch More details here on the legendary Belsnickel. Trust me. The children suddenly become very good In exchange he would toss candies onto the floor. Jim: Well, yeah, but … He might wear a long, black or brown coat or robe, held together at the waist with a rope, and a fur cap or bear skin hat, decorated with bells. Naughty children were also made to do a penance such as recite a Bible verse or poem for their transgressions. The creature has the egotism and petulance of a spoiled child. Nooch dem dass mer se’t werd eem ah in der Aernt I just spent AN ABSURD amount of money buying clear toys for the children for Christmas. Learn how your comment data is processed. [13] Otto's Pub and Brewery of State College, Pennsylvania, brews a "Belsnickle" ale. This is lifted straight from Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking, first published in 1938. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Schunk, Gunther. When people immigrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their German traditions with them. Hu! A Rankin-Bass-style stop-motion Belsnickel turns in his whip when he learns the True Meaning of Christmas?). Offering kids treats, then beating them when they take them! I talked to Jim Startup who was most curious to know how I’d ever heard of clear toys. He throws chestnuts around, and when the children run to pick them up, he hits them with a whip. Written by Robert Padnick Directed by Charles McDougall Original Air Date: December 6, 2012 Transcribed by Shawn Jim: [Sighs] I’m having second thoughts about one of the shirts I packed. Oh, do you know that ugly, that nasty man? Ja, dass er en Mensch is mag glaawe wer kann, Schneider depicts him "in a long cloak, pointed hood, a fur round his neck, with a long white beard, and a big bag. The annual visitor would make his appearance some hours after dark, thoroughly disguised, especially the face, which would sometimes be covered with a hideously ugly phiz - generally wore a female garb - hence the name Christmas woman - sometimes it would be a veritable woman but with masculine force and action. He is a rather scary creature who visits children at Christmas time and delivers socks or shoes full of candy, but if the children were not good, they will find coal and in their stockings instead. Writing of a period around 1830, Brown says, "we did not hear of" Santa Claus. [citation needed], In "Dwight Christmas", a season nine episode of The Office, Dwight Schrute dresses as Belsnickel and spends a significant portion of the episode deciding if his co-workers were impish or admirable at the company Christmas party. The Belsnickel character originated in the Palatinate. Pour melted butter over sugar in a bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. Wanted to mock his mother’s whip; 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. It was a book written for tourists, and maybe the author found the whole Belsnickel thing embarrassing. ' 'Twas the night before Christmas' begins the classic holiday poem by Clement Clarke Moore. He stands there with that terrible whip, “O kennscht du den weischte, den gaschtige Mann?” sung to a tune reminscent of “Here Comes Santa Claus” by the Ray Conniff singers? [14], The antagonist of the John R. Neill book The Scalawagons of Oz, the thirty-fifth entry in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum, is a mysterious monstrosity called Bell-snickle. → Is He Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Pelznickel? He opens and closes his mouth like shears; A tail like an ox, yes, that he has, right? Katherine: I’d never heard of clear toys until now, I’m afraid, although now that you mention it I do recall seeing brightly colored hard candies molded in Christmas shapes… but I don’t think I ever heard the name. In my mind's eye, the fanciful events depicted in Der Belsnickel Suite portray two special days on a family farm in a rustic and sturdy home built from field stone. I wonder if you could mold them in cookie cutters? An 1853 article in a British magazine describing Pennsylvanian customs refers to "Pelsnichol, or Nicholas with the fur, alluding to the dress of skins in which he is said to be clad. Timothy also presents an old song and a poem about Belsnickel uncovered in the … — Is He Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Pelznickel?