These enemies were forced to eat, drink and be merry – including carnal pleasures – during the week, and on December 25 th they were brutally murdered. The authorities selected an enemy of the Roman people to symbolize the “Lord of Misrule” – which was repeated throughout the different communities in the Roman Empire. No one could be punished for hurting people, performing bizarre sexual acts or damaging property during this time. The idea of flipping the rules on a special period of celebration began in Roman times, where the Pagan holiday of Saturnalia included a time between December 17 th and 25 th where laws were ignored and courts were closed. If you know you’ve been more naughty than nice, you might want to leave an offering to appease this violent witch, in case she decides to pay a visit. This gruesome punishment is also reserved for those who eat anything but the traditional feast of gruel and fish – on the night of her feast day.įollowers of Perchta leave food and drink for her, in the hopes of gaining favor, along with riches and abundance for the following year. Otherwise, she will slice their guts open, take out their entrails and stomach, then stuff the gaping hole with stones and straw. She’ll appear in her maiden form and leave a silver coin for those who’ve behaved themselves. Said to stalk the countryside during midwinter, Perchta visits during the twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany (particularly the twelfth night) – where she judges the children and young people of the homes she investigates. She was mostly featured in the folklore of Austria and Bavaria.
Originally a Pagan Goddess who governed cultural taboos, like rules against spinning wool on the holidays, she soon morphed into a frightening, two-faced witch who could appear as a sweet maiden or a hook-nosed, green faced crone. These devilish, bloodthirsty creatures were often featured on quaint Christmas cards and later evolved into the garden gnomes you see today, although most people nowadays think of them as harmless little statues. The Tomtin would then take the hearts and livers of their victims and give them to their Master. When the blood was flowing, the Tomtin would lick the blood flowing from their wounds. If they were ignorant or answered wrongly, the Tomtin beat them with their sticks while St.
Nicholas and drag children out of their beds to interrogate them about their faith. Nicholas – to make him more acceptable, while the Tomtin were replaced with Christmas elves – also known as Santa’s little helpers. The Christians later replaced him with St.
Updated – Before Christianity arrived in Germany’s Black Forest, the Tomtin were Nacht Rupert’s evil assistants.ĭressed in red (to signify the color of blood), these nasty, dwarfish creatures accompanied Nacht Rupert on his visits, where he would give gifts to the faithful and kill those who had strayed.Ĭhristmas bells take on a horrifying twist when you consider that Nacht Rupert carried chains with bells on them.
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