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'''Belsnickel''' (also ''Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel'', from pelzen (or belzen, German for to wallop or to drub<ref>[http://www.spr.germanistik.uni-wuerzburg.de/udi/pdf/presse/Nikolaus_Volksblatt.pdf German article on (among others) origins of Pelznickel.]</ref>) 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)|Palatinate]] region of southwestern [[Germany]] along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. |
'''Belsnickel''' (also ''Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel'', from pelzen (or belzen, German for to wallop or to drub<ref>[http://www.spr.germanistik.uni-wuerzburg.de/udi/pdf/presse/Nikolaus_Volksblatt.pdf German article on (among others) origins of Pelznickel.]</ref>) 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)|Palatinate]] region of southwestern [[Germany]] along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. |
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The figure is also preserved in [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] communities. |
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| ⚫ | The Belsnickel shows up at houses 1-2 weeks before Christmas and often created fright because he always knew exactly which of the children misbehaved. <ref> [http://berkscountry.readingeagle.com/?p=2529 Yes, Helen there is a Belsnickel] Retrieved January 31, 2013 </ref> |
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[[File:Belsnickel in Modern Day Travel Attire.JPG|thumb|Modern day Belsnickel on his way to scare children in his travel attire to the schools in Norwich, New York. December 2012.]] |
[[File:Belsnickel in Modern Day Travel Attire.JPG|thumb|Modern day Belsnickel on his way to scare children in his travel attire to the schools in Norwich, New York. December 2012.]] |
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| ⚫ | Belsnickel is a man wearing fur which covers his entire body, and he sometimes wears a [[mask]] with a long [[tongue]]. He is related to other [[companions of Saint Nicholas]] in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. Unlike these figures, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits alone<ref> [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/the-next-page-meet-belsnickel-the-counter-claus-663519/ The Santa who didn't make the cut] Retrieved February 1, 2013 </ref> and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. |
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==Pennsylvania Dutch== |
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The tradition is preserved in [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] communities. In the old tradition, Belsnickel might visit any time during Advent, his arrival heralded with the ringing of sleigh bells.<ref>[http://www.amishnews.com/featurearticles/germanchristmas.htm Igou, Brad. "Pennsylvania German Christmas Traditions", ''Amish Country News'', Winter 1998]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The Belsnickel shows up at houses 1-2 weeks before Christmas and often created fright because he always knew exactly which of the children misbehaved. <ref> [http://berkscountry.readingeagle.com/?p=2529 Yes, Helen there is a Belsnickel] Retrieved January 31, 2013 </ref> While His appearance varies from time to time and from community to community, he is generally dressed in |
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| ⚫ | Belsnickel is a man wearing fur which covers his entire body, and he sometimes wears a [[mask]] with a long [[tongue]]. He is related to other [[companions of Saint Nicholas]] in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. Unlike these figures, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits alone<ref> [http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/the-next-page-meet-belsnickel-the-counter-claus-663519/ The Santa who didn't make the cut] Retrieved February 1, 2013 </ref> and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. |
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ragged clothes, ratty furs,<ref>[http://articles.mcall.com/2000-12-01/topic/3330218_1_green-tomatoes-der-belsnickel-christmas-eve Blanngger, Tim. "A sweet or switching from Der Belsnickel ?", ''The Morningg Call'', December 1, 2000]</ref> and he carries a [[Switch (corporal punishment)|switch]] in his hand with which to beat bad children. The children escape unharmed, but they are scared into being good so that Santa will bring them presents on Christmas. |
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[[Krampus]] and Belsnickel are two separate Christmas characters. Krampus is a wild, horned figure akin to the devil. His name translates to "claw". Belsnickel, on the other hand, dressed in furs and was very human, save for his short stature. He may have been a fur trapper, a hermit, or a very tall [[elf]] or [[tomten]] as the little people were called in the Scandinavian countries. His folk tale was passed down to generations of Germans who immigrated to America, primarily to Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Dutch or Deutsch). |
[[Krampus]] and Belsnickel are two separate Christmas characters. Krampus is a wild, horned figure akin to the devil. His name translates to "claw". Belsnickel, on the other hand, dressed in furs and was very human, save for his short stature. He may have been a fur trapper, a hermit, or a very tall [[elf]] or [[tomten]] as the little people were called in the Scandinavian countries. His folk tale was passed down to generations of Germans who immigrated to America, primarily to Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Dutch or Deutsch). |
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There are two versions of Belsnickel, the rural and the urban characters. Both are described in the book, ''Christmas in Pennsylvania: a folk cultural study'', by Alfred L. Shoemaker and Don Yoder. |
There are two versions of Belsnickel, the rural and the urban characters. Both are described in the book, ''Christmas in Pennsylvania: a folk cultural study'', by Alfred L. Shoemaker and Don Yoder. |
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By the 1920s the century-old Christmas legend had all but disappeared, but in 1985 the Hershey Museum of American Life, revived the custom for the holidays. It was so successful that it has been repeated annually by request, says Tanya Richter, spokeswoman for the facility. "For too many years, the legend was lost," she says.<ref>[http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-11-22/features/1992327249_1_hershey-museum-christmas-eve-landis-valley-museum Fegan, Lois. "Christmas hobgoblin hobnobs in Lancaster, Hershey", ''The Baltimore Sun'', November 22, 1992]</ref> |
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==Popular culture== |
==Popular culture== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.unioncountyhistoricalsociety.org/Page3-4.pdf Gray, Nada. "The Christmas Belsnickel", ''Accounts'', Vol. 2, No. 2, Union County Historical Society, 2012] |
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* http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/27354004-47/belznickle-christmas-rural-santa-visit.html.csp |
* http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/27354004-47/belznickle-christmas-rural-santa-visit.html.csp |
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http://pelznickel.blogspot.com.br/ |
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{{Christmas|state=collapsed}} |
{{Christmas|state=collapsed}} |
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Revision as of 06:08, 17 October 2013
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2010) |
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with Companions of Saint Nicholas. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2011. |
Belsnickel (also Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel, from pelzen (or belzen, German for to wallop or to drub[1]) 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.
Christian perspective
Belsnickel is a man wearing fur which covers his entire body, and he sometimes wears a mask with a long tongue. He is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. Unlike these figures, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits alone[2] and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure.
Pennsylvania Dutch
The tradition is preserved in Pennsylvania Dutch communities. In the old tradition, Belsnickel might visit any time during Advent, his arrival heralded with the ringing of sleigh bells.[3] The Belsnickel shows up at houses 1-2 weeks before Christmas and often created fright because he always knew exactly which of the children misbehaved. [4] While His appearance varies from time to time and from community to community, he is generally dressed in ragged clothes, ratty furs,[5] and he carries a switch in his hand with which to beat bad children. The children escape unharmed, but they are scared into being good so that Santa will bring them presents on Christmas.
Krampus and Belsnickel are two separate Christmas characters. Krampus is a wild, horned figure akin to the devil. His name translates to "claw". Belsnickel, on the other hand, dressed in furs and was very human, save for his short stature. He may have been a fur trapper, a hermit, or a very tall elf or tomten as the little people were called in the Scandinavian countries. His folk tale was passed down to generations of Germans who immigrated to America, primarily to Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Dutch or Deutsch).
There are two versions of Belsnickel, the rural and the urban characters. Both are described in the book, Christmas in Pennsylvania: a folk cultural study, by Alfred L. Shoemaker and Don Yoder.
By the 1920s the century-old Christmas legend had all but disappeared, but in 1985 the Hershey Museum of American Life, revived the custom for the holidays. It was so successful that it has been repeated annually by request, says Tanya Richter, spokeswoman for the facility. "For too many years, the legend was lost," she says.[6]
The tradition also exists in parts of Newfoundland, the prairie provinces of Canada and some communities in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina.
Popular culture
A writer to the letters column of “The Times” refers to an illustration of ‘Pelz-Nickel’ in a book by English author Harriet Myrtle, The Little Sister (1851). German illustrator H.J. Schneider depicted him as a Santa-like figure ‘in a long cloak, pointed hood, a fur round his neck, with a long white beard, and a big bag.’ [7]
Dwight K. Schrute portrayed Belsnickel in The Office episode "Dwight Christmas".
In Norwich, New York, a local unknown male resident annually dresses up as Belsnickel and scares local residents into being good for Santa. He travels to the local school where he hands out pinecones to admirable teachers and hits the impish teachers with his switch. This is an annual tradition that local residents look forward to each holiday season.
See also
References
- ^ German article on (among others) origins of Pelznickel.
- ^ The Santa who didn't make the cut Retrieved February 1, 2013
- ^ Igou, Brad. "Pennsylvania German Christmas Traditions", Amish Country News, Winter 1998
- ^ Yes, Helen there is a Belsnickel Retrieved January 31, 2013
- ^ Blanngger, Tim. "A sweet or switching from Der Belsnickel ?", The Morningg Call, December 1, 2000
- ^ Fegan, Lois. "Christmas hobgoblin hobnobs in Lancaster, Hershey", The Baltimore Sun, November 22, 1992
- ^ HILDA BARRON. "Father Christmas." The Times [London, England] 23 December 1942: p. 5.
External links
- Gray, Nada. "The Christmas Belsnickel", Accounts, Vol. 2, No. 2, Union County Historical Society, 2012
- http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/27354004-47/belznickle-christmas-rural-santa-visit.html.csp
