 Krampus (2003 Perchtenlauf in Woelfnitz, Austria) Knecht Ruprecht, companion of Father Christmas or Saint Nicholas, is also known as Servant Ruprecht, Farmhand Ruprecht, Pelzebock, Pelznickel (Nicholas in furs), and Schmutzli in Switzerland, sometimes associated with Saint Rupert. Download high resolution version (974x1194, 219 KB)Perchtenlauf Pagan tradition in Austria Photographed by Klafubra on the 19. ...
Download high resolution version (974x1194, 219 KB)Perchtenlauf Pagan tradition in Austria Photographed by Klafubra on the 19. ...
For places in the United States with this name, please see Santa Claus (disambiguation). ...
Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift...
Other names include Rumpelklas, Bellzebub, Hans Muff, Drapp and Buzebergt in the neighborhood of Augsburg. In northern France he is known as Père Fouettard (Whip Father). Augsburg is a city in south central Germany. ...
He is often associated with, but is distinct from Saint Nicholas' blackamoor slave helpers, called Zwarte Piet or Zwarte Peter in the Netherlands and Flanders, and Black Peter mosty other places. After the Maghreb came under Muslim rule, the term Moors was transferred in European usage to refer to any non-Christian inhabitants of the area; and after North African Muslims conquered Spain, it came to refer equally to Muslims in Spain. ...
The word slaves has several meanings and usages: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ...
A white Netherlander in blackface costume and afro wig as Zwarte Piet In the Dutch language of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet (meaning Black Pete(r)) is a companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch Sinterklaas) whose yearly feast is on 6 December, when they distribute presents to all (good) children. ...
Appearance
Often the subject of winter poems and tales, Ruprecht travels with Santa Claus or his various equivalents, carrying with him a rod (sometimes a stick, bundle of switches or a whip, and in modern times often a broom) and a sack. He is sometimes dressed in black rags, bearing a black face and unruly black hair. A common portrayal of Santa Claus. ...
This reproduction of a 1900 minstrel show poster, originally published by the Strobridge Litho Co. ...
In many contemporary portrayals Knecht Ruprecht looks very much like a dark or sinister version of Saint Nicholas himself, with a similar costume but with a darker color scheme.
Myths His is a character found throughout Germanic peoples and cultures. In Bavaria Saint Nikolaus is accompanied by Klaubauf, a shaggy monster with horns. In Austria the horned creature is covered with bells, drags chains, and is called Krampus, which is almost synonymous with "devil". In Styria he is the servant Bartel. Germanic peoples are ethnic groups of Germanic origin, the linguistic, cultural, and racial descendants of the old Germanic tribes. ...
With an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ...
Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift...
The Devil is the name given to a supernatural entity who, in most Western religions, is the central embodiment of evil. ...
Styria (Steiermark in German, Štajerska in Slovenian) can refer to: Styria - a federal state of Austria Styria - an informal province in Slovenia Styria - a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire and crownland of Austria-Hungary This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise...
Tales In some of the tales the children would be summoned to the door to perform tricks, such as a dance or singing a song to impress upon Santa and Ruprecht that they were indeed good children. Those who performed badly would be beaten soundly by Servant Ruprecht, and those who performed well were given a gift or some treats. Those who performed badly enough or had committed other misdeeds throughout the year were put into Ruprecht's sack and taken away, variously to Ruprecht’s home in the Black Forest, or to be tossed into a river. In other versions the children must be asleep, and would either awake to find their shoes filled with sweets, coal, or in some cases a stick. Over time, other customs developed: parents giving kids who misbehaved a stick instead of treats and saying that it was a warning from Nikolaus that "unless you improve by Christmas day, Nikolaus' black servant Ruprecht will come and beat you with the stick and you won't get any Christmas gifts." Often there would be variations idiosyncratic to individual families. A map of Germany, showing the Black Forest in red. ...
Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ...
Historical Accounts In some regions, the local priest was informed by the parents about their children's behavior and would then personally visit the homes in the traditional Christian garment and threaten them with rod-beatings.
In parts of Austria, Krampusse, whom local tradition says are Nikolaus's helpers (typically children of poor families), roamed the streets and sledding hills during the festival. They wore black rags and masks, dragging chains behind them, and occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. These Krampusläufe (Krampus runs) still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past. Sledding is a common activity in wintry areas. ...
A festival or fest is an event, usually staged by a local community, which centers on some theme, sometimes on some unique aspect of the community. ...
In parts of the United States in the 19th century, "Pelznickel" traditions were maintained for a time among immigrants at least as far west as the US state of Indiana. In this branch of the tradition, the father or other older male relative was often "busy working outside" or had to see to some matter elsewhere in the house when Pelznickel arrived. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...
State nickname: The Hoosier State Other U.S. States Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Governor Mitch Daniels (R) Official languages English Area 94,321 km² (38th) - Land 92,897 km² - Water 1,424 km² (1. ...
Modern Perspective Heiliger Abend, or Christmas Eve thus became known as the time when children were best behaved, and the tales of Ruprecht gave a balance to the winter festivals which might seem disquieting to some, but which were not especially grim or atypical of customs of times past. The story is still popular throughout the German-speaking world. See also Christmas The Christmas Eve (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Christmas Eve, December 24, the day before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas festivities. ...
Controversy Originally, Knecht Ruprecht would be portrayed as being African, like Zwarte Pete in Holland. However, over time this caused controversy and today he is usually portrayed as caucasian.
Literary References -
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- "haste the Sack with you?"
- I spoke: "the Sack, that is here;
- because apples, nut and almond core
- eat pious children gladly."
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- "haste the rod also with you?"
- I spoke: "the rod, it is here;
- but for the children, only the bad,
- those it meets them right, upon their part."
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- (translated excerpt of 'Farmhand Ruprecht' by Theodor Storm)
Theodor Storm (1886) Theodor Woldsen Storm (September 14, 1817 in Husum, Germany - July 4, 1888 in Hademarschen, Germany) studied and practiced law in northern Germany. ...
See also Procession in Klagenfurt The eastern and central Alpine region is rich in traditions dating back to pagan times, the pre-Christian Germanic (1st millennium), or even the Celtic (1st millennium BC) period. ...
A white Netherlander in blackface costume and afro wig as Zwarte Piet In the Dutch language of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet (meaning Black Pete(r)) is a companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch Sinterklaas) whose yearly feast is on 6 December, when they distribute presents to all (good) children. ...
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