Belsnickel is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. [8] He would rap on the door or window with his stick and often the children would have to answer a question for him or sing some type of song. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, some historians maintain that they are the same person; even so, the character seems to have clearly split around the time that the Pennsylvania Dutch communities were being established in North America in the 1700s. According to German folklore that dates back to at least the 18th century, Belsnickel is a foil of sorts to Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus: a disheveled man dressed in tattered furs and dirty clothes, often wearing a mask with a long tongue and carrying a switch, he visits homes a few weeks before Christmas to check up on children’s behavior. One would scatter the goodies upon the floor, and then the scramble would begin by the delighted children, and the other hand would ply the switch upon the backs of the excited youngsters - who would not show a wince, but had it been parental discipline there would have been screams to reach a long distance.[6]. https://www.cbr.com/christmas-chronicles-cut-naked-elf-scene-julian-dennison Dwight spent the episode creeping about and cracking a whip at his co-workers. When people immigrated to Pennsylvania, they brought their German traditions with them. Rather than a jolly old elf, Belsnickel is a crotchety old man dressed in dirty clothes and furs, usually with his face disguised, who was both gift bringer and child punisher in the Palatine region of southwestern Germany . As established in the first movie, Santa’s Village in the North Pole is populated by chattery (CGI) elves who make billions of presents and otherwise keep things running. Jacob Grimm compared him to a kobold or house-elf… The mischievous elf turned human Belsnickel (Julian Dennison) fails to take over Christmas for himself, despite leading to the destruction of … His garb could vary from one locality to another. The Belsnickel character originated in the Palatinate. Jurgelski, Susan. As a True Believer, she catches the attention of Belsnickel (Dennison), a former elf who tricks the girl into helping him gain access to the North Pole. [10], The tradition also exists in parts of Newfoundland (see mummering), Nova Scotia,[11] the prairie provinces of Canada and some communities in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. "Pelzmärtel und Herrscheklaus, "Belsnickel Christmas Tradition - Story, Legends", "Percursos de personagens natalinos da Europa para a América: entre familiaridade e estranhamento [Routes of christmas Characters from Europe to America: between familiarity and strangeness]", "The Next Page: Meet Belsnickel, the Counter Claus", "The history of Belsnickel: Santa's cranky cousin", Kline, Dave. He may have been based on an older German myth, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas and a character from northern Germany. Belsnickel may have been based on an earlier folkloric figure, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas who first appeared in written records in the 17th century as well as in the Brothers Grimm’s works. Young men, dressed in skins and furs, would move through the streets of town or village, rattling chains and bells. $29.98 $ 29. "Yes, Helen there is a Belsnickel", Berks County, Reading Eagle, "Nova Scotia Belsnickling is real — and here's a photo to prove it - CBC Radio", "Craft Beer in State College, PA - Drafts On Tap At Otto's Pub & Brewery", "Yes, Belsnickel is a Real Thing, and No, it's Not Just from 'The Office, "Hot Santa returns in the trailer for The Christmas Chronicles 2", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Belsnickel&oldid=1003192028, Articles lacking reliable references from January 2021, Articles needing additional references from June 2017, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2017, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 27 January 2021, at 21:06. Like many a teenager acting out, all Belsnickel really wanted was enough attention to be understood. Belsnickel explains how hurt he was, and Santa presents him with the first invention they made together: a mechanical flower that opens up to reveal a clockwork butterfly. For fans of The Office, the name might still ring a silver bell: In the season 9 episode “Dwight Christmas,” Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) brings the holiday spirit to Dunder Mifflin by dressing up as Belsnickel. Neither of these figures should be confused with the demonic Krampus, a much older Austrian companion of Saint Nicholas from a pre-Christian Alpine tradition. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette goes on to explain that in the early 1800s Belsnickel was a regional favorite of Philadelphia, with Santa being the popular one inNew York City; at this time, both cities were much closer in population size. "Belsnickling" or "Klausentreiben," was the "running" of groups of young men or youth dressed in false faces and fantastic costumes on "Belsnickle Night", the eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas (St. Nikolaustag), and was the occasion of good-natured boisterousness. The name Belsnickel literally means Saint Nicholas in furs, says Sarah Thayer of the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. While Saint Nicholas is known for rewarding good children, the little ones feared Knecht Ruprecht and Belsnickel, because both knew exactly how to root out the naughty children. Just as human children would get a week or two to shift from impish to admirable before Santa’s visit, so does Belsnickel get the opportunity to redeem himself before Christmas morning. He has a grudge against Santa because he feels like Santa doesn’t pay enough attention to him. Instead of a man, he's a former elf, cursed to be a human teenager after he broke the Elves' Code of conduct. $29.98 $ 29. 'Notes and Queries', volume 8 (217), 24 December 1853, p.615 The article is signed 'Uneda', one of the pen-names used by contributor William Duane (1808-1882) of Philadelphia. Jacob Grimm compared him to a kobold or house-elf, yet the stories describe him as a human. It first appears as "a large bluish-green object, flat as a buckwheat cake, and rolling along on its edge like a cartwheel." When the “jolly old elf ” made his first appearance (1862) in a Union Army camp during the American Civil War, the modern image of Santa Claus was … [15], The antagonist of the John R. Neill book The Scalawagons of Oz, the thirty-fifth entry in the Oz series created by L. Frank Baum, is a mysterious monstrosity called Bell-snickle. Santa in particular taught Belsnickel how to go beyond making toys by inventing new treasures. His goal in the movie is to destroy Christmas.[18][19]. Weta in all created 641 unique elves, including seven hero elves and the protagonist Belsnickel, played by Kiwi actor Julian Dennison, each wearing meticulously knitted, unique CG outfits. You might also recognize the New Zealand actor behind Belsnickel himself. Belsnickel is an elf who is eager to get revenge on Santa Claus after he was banished from the North Pole and took the form of a … [14] Otto's Pub and Brewery of State College, Pennsylvania, brews a "Belsnickle" ale. Julian Dennison As Belsnickel. The Christmas Chronicles 2 seems to have taken inspiration from this folklore while fitting their version of Belsnickel, an elf-turned-human, into the series’ own mythology. Natalie Zutter | The annual visitor would make his appearance some hours after dark, thoroughly disguised, especially the face, which would sometimes be covered with a hideously ugly phiz - generally wore a female garb - hence the name Christmas woman - sometimes it would be a veritable woman but with masculine force and action. The Christmas Chronicles 2: Who or What is the Belsnickel. Home and Holiday Shops Belsnickel Standing Deer Charm Brown Leather Sleigh Bell Door Hanger Made in USA. Varying folktales describe how each would ask children if they were naughty or nice, with the latter getting cakes and candies, and the former getting a switch across the back for their behavior. His name is An 1853 article in a British magazine describing Pennsylvanian customs refers to "Pelsnichol, or Nicholas with the fur, alluding to the dress of skins in which he is said to be clad. He will next appear in Godzilla vs. Kong, expected in 2021. Belsnickel: Jahzir Bruno ... Jack: Darlene Love ... Grace: Tyrese Gibson ... Bob: Sunny Suljic ... Doug: Judah Lewis ... Teddy: Kimberly Williams-Paisley ... Claire: Patrick Gallagher ... Security Guard: … Once Belsnickel demonstrated envy, lying, selfishness, viciousness, and ego, he was transformed into that which he hated most: a human. High quality Dwight Schrute Christmas gifts and merchandise. [5] Unlike those figures, Belsnickel does not accompany Saint Nicholas but instead visits alone[5] and combines both the threatening and the benign aspects which in other traditions are divided between the Saint Nicholas and the companion figure. Julian Dennison as Belsnickel, an elf adopted by Santa Claus who goes rogue and ended up human. 98. She writes what she loves reading/seeing: space opera, feminist epic fantasy, time…, How Darlene Love Brings the Holiday Spirit and Soul to The Christmas Chronicles 2, New Netflix Christmas Movies in 2020 Ranked from Best to Worst, New Christmas Movies to Stream: A Holiday 2020 Streaming Guide, Charlie Brown Christmas Special: Where and How to Watch, Line of Duty: the Best Crime Thrillers to Watch Next, Jupiter's Legacy: Tenika Davis and the Power of The Flare II. Claus belsnickel elf actor Mrs. Claus ( Goldie Hawn ) stop Belsnickel from taking the Star of Bethlehem and destroying Christmas [..., they will be cursed nearly killed the reindeer his goal in the stockings of naughty children has a! Birch rod in the book, Christmas in Pennsylvania: a folk cultural study, by 1820 New York had..., `` we did not hear of '' Santa Claus and Mrs. (. Stripes upon their backs with his switch Charm Brown Leather Sleigh Bell Door Hanger Made in USA New ``. 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