Belsnickel is a combination of Saint Nikolas, the original German Santa Claus – a jolly character who rewards good children and Krampus, a half-goat character and the antithesis of Santa Claus, who torments bad children. Being a combination of these two characters, Belsnickel is both kind to the good children and torments the naughty ones.
What is his history?
The Belsnickel character originated in folklore from the Palatinate area of Germany and when people emigrated from Germany to the Americas in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The figure has been well preserved in Pennsylvanian communities as well as some Brazilian-German communities in Santa Catarina. Belsnickel is related to the companions of St Nicholas from the folktales of German-speaking Europe. Although unlike these characters, travels alone and separately to St. Nicholas.
What does he look like?
Unlike St Nicholas, Belsnickel is ragged and dishevelled. He wears animal furs, torn, tattered and dirty clothes and sometimes a mask with a long tongue. He carries a switch (a bunch of twigs tied together used to swat or hit bad children with) but has pocketsful of cakes, candies and nuts for good children.

Drawing interpretation of Belsnickel, Credit: R.D. Dunkelburger, Pennsylvania Folklore Society

Photo of Belsnickel
What does he do?
The Belsnickel’s visit serves to remind children that they still have time to stay out of mischief before Christmas Day and to think twice before misbehaving. Lots of traditions from similar areas in Europe divide the kindred and disciplinary aspects of their Christmas figures between Saint Nicholas and his companion, who would visit children together and reward or punish them based off their behaviour. Unlike these traditions, Belsnickel would travel alone and would have these characteristics combined into his role.

St Nicholas and his companions
Unlike the Christmas characters we’re used to, the appearance of Belsnickel would spark fear in children as he knows exactly which children had misbehaved and would not hesitate to reprimand them.
[image: Old drawing of st Nicholas and his companion [caption: Saint Nicholas and Krampus visit a Viennese home, an illustration from 1896]]
Belsnickel would show up at houses 1-2 weeks before Christmas day to check up on the behaviour of children. He would rap on the door or window with his stick and, in exchange for treats, children would have to answer a question or sing a song. He would then toss cakes, candies and nuts onto the floor and if the children greedily jumped too quickly for the treats or couldn’t recount their good behaviour from over the year, Belsnickel would swat them with his switch! If, on the other hand, they had been well behaved and well-mannered, they would be rewarded with the treats.
Here is a fun song about Belsnickel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7z1BWvO1DI
What is the etymology of his name?
‘Belsnickel’ or sometimes known as ‘Pelznickel’ is a Pennsylvanian German name, derived from the German words ‘Pelz’ (fur) and ‘Nickel’ (referring to St. Nicholas). Despite these widely recognised roots, the word itself refers to the more violent character of Belsnickel – the links between ‘Bels’ or ‘Pels’ and ‘belting/belse’ or ‘pelting/pelzen’, allude to this attribute. Furthermore, some Rhenish (from around the
river Rhine) dialects have the words ‘pelzen’ or ‘belzen’ which translates to ‘to wallop’ or ‘to drub’ whilst Pennsylvanian German has ‘belse’ which is ‘to beat/flog’ in English.
How do people celebrate Belsnickel today?
Interestingly, Belsnickel can also be used as a verb. To Belsnickel means to dress up in a costume of old, ragged clothing and a mask, so much so that that the Belsnickeler is unrecognisable. Then, knocking on neighbours’ doors, the Belsnickeler demands their neighbours guess who they are underneath their Belsnickel disguise. A correct answer means the Belsnickeler must remove their disguise, but a wrong answer means the Belsnickeler must be invited inside their neighbour’s home for refreshments. Belsnickeling is often a group activity and is still a thriving tradition in areas like Pennsylvania or Nova Scotia
Therefore, dear readers, if you have been dutiful and good this year, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you have been particularly naughty or disobedient, beware the Belsnickel!!!
References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsnickel https://www.visitpaamericana.com/blog/post/what-or-who-is-belsnickel/ https://www.themsv.org/belsnickel-wha-holiday-traditions-shenandoah-valley/
https://fr.techtribune.net/scientifiques/belsnickel-la-figure-menacante-de-noel-du-folklore-allemand/644253/