Knecht Ruprecht
(Black Peter)
(German)

This German Santa originally represented the dark side of Santa's personality. His clothes are always black from soot gathered on his way down the chimney. In the past children feared him because he only brought switches to beat those who were bad during the past year. But as he "mellowed" over the centuries he also started bringing trees and toys and fruit... although he never forgets his quiver of switches for the unruly child.

 

 

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