Old-timers in Indiana still remember Belsnickel, the "Pelznickel" (literally "Fur-Nikolaus") of the Palatinate. Belsnickel's name appears in many variations such as Bells Nickel, Belschnickle, Belsniggles and Belsh Nickle, etc. When he arrived at their door, he represented a nostalgic reminder to the adults of their childhood days, however, the children viewed him with mixed feelings. Known to 19th-century children as a servant of Saint Nicholas, "der Belsnickel" would carry a bunch of switches which were a threat to those who had been bad, and he carried goodies of peanuts, cookies or candy in a burlap bag or ample pockets, as he made his rounds to check on the behavior of boys and girls. He would have a large book in which the names of the children and their good or bad deeds were kept. Only good children were to receive treats. If a child had been naughty he could also receive a lump of coal or a stick as a reminder to behave in the future.

Mary Lou Golembeski in the Harmonie Herald, Old Economy, PA, tells us: "Not only did the spellings vary but changes also occurred in his appearance and his antics from one community to another." Belsnickel may wear a long, black or brown coat or robe, held together at the waist with a rope, and a fur cap or bear skin hat, decorated with bells. He may have a band of Black Peters with blackened faces, or other rough characters with him. They would be dressed in fantastic costumes, some trimmed with fur, and move through the streets and from house to house, rattling chains and bells. The bells would announce Belsnickel's approach and that of his retinue before they would come into view. If the children were good, they received some fruit or sweets, but if they were bad--or doubted the "reality" of Belsnickel--they got a switch!

Dr. Elmer Peters of Brookville, Franklin County testified to that: "Belsnickel came--at times with Christkindl played by a gentle woman. When some of the teenage boys denied the existence of Belsnickel, the usually sturdy helper of St. Nikolaus grabbed the doubting Thomas and gave him a good whipping with his stick--which was great entertainment for the older folks." ("You Better Believe in Belsnickel!", in Eb. Reichmann's Hoosier German Tales (1991), 80.

Knecht Ruprecht F. Götz, 1784

Belsnickling or "Klausentreiben," the "running" of groups of masked young men or youth, came to Indiana with the immigrants from German-speaking lands. It is chronicled in the Jasper Weekly Courier:

December 9, 1881: "ST NICHOLAS DAY Last Tuesday being the birthday of this patron saint and giver of good things to the young folks, a number of young boys on the evening before dressed in false faces and fantastic costumes and essayed the teaching of lessons of charity to still younger ones. They made a hideous looking appearance, and if St. Nicholas looked anything like them, children would shun him instead of clinging to his knees, and climbing to his shoulders with joy."

December 11, 1891: "Quite a number of boys were before Esq. Vest this week for whipping a boy of Mr. John Haller on "St. Nicholas, or Belsnickel's" night last Saturday, which the boys celebrated instead of on the 6th, which comes on Sunday. It was evidently a case of the officers wanting some flour in their barrels, for while the boys were technically guilty of assault and battery, numbers of these cases could be hunted up every year for similar performances on that night, and it has never been thought anything of except an exhibition of rough fun and boisterousness and has been generally encouraged by the parents of the victims. This example shows that sometimes the wrong person may be struck for the pockets of the boys or their parents, and it will be a good thing if it breaks up a bad observance of the night. The boys pleaded guilty and it cost them about $7 each, so it is safe to say they are not likely to engage in acting 'Belsnickel' again."

Dec. 10, 1897: "A lot of boys had great fun Monday night masquerading as observers of "Belschnickle" anniversary. It is said one of the "devils" caught a confectionery lady in his arms and kissed her, and about 20 of them visited Mr. Hunter's, where a number of young girls had met, and drove the neuralgia away from the host's head by compelling his laughter."

December 11, 1909: "Saturday night was 'Belschnickle' night and was observed by a large number of Jasper youngsters, who with their masks and odd makeups furnished amusement for those at home who did not venture out. This is an ancient custom of the "old country" but is still observed annually by the little folks in Jasper, who have great fun on this occasion. Jasper is probably one of a very few places in which this custom is still observed."

December 9, 1910: "Tuesday night was Bellschnickel night and was observed here as usual by many boys and even some girls who masked and visited homes just for the fun of it."

Christmas in American churches and homes reflects a multicultural origin of its observation. And individual families have been adding to the varieties of customs. The late Lillian Doane of Jasper remembered that "in Fall there was the hunt for the finest red ear of corn to save and proudly lay out for Saint Nick to feed his reindeer during the holiday season."

Pam Service of Bloomington reports that her family took the old custom of St. Nicholas and Belsnickel, moved it to Dec. 31, and gave it a new twist: "I think they did that to keep us kids good while we were out of School." According to her father, "Benschnickel" was Santa Claus' skinny mean brother. He wore a green suit, lived at the South Pole, and his sleigh was drawn by Penguins. On New Year's Eve, Service said, her family would put their hats on the hearth. And if they were good, Benschnickel would leave gifts in the hat. If they were bad, the visitor would deposit limps of coal and switches. (Sunday Herald Times, Dec. 26, 1993, p. A8).

The custom of Belsnickel was quite common until the early 1940s. But then it began to fade out for various reasons. Mary Lou Golembeski in the Harmonie Herald reports:

"At each house he would visit, Belsnickel received some refreshments such as cider, beer or wine. However, after too many visits and after a long evening, the many refreshments would dull his awareness and his punishment to the children would be a painful remembrance of his visit. A community sometimes had several Belsnickel roving about and at times a woman would have to portray this important character. The custom of Belsnickel was quite common among the Pennsylvania Dutch until the early 1940s when one of the last known public appearances was in 1955 in Fredericksville."

While the custom disappeared in the U.S., in German-speaking areas, especially in the Alemannic region, it is observed and thriving. The celebrations are as varied as is the retinue of St. Nikolaus. In Bavaria the Saint may be followed by the Klaubauf, a shaggy monster with horns. In Lower Austria he is followed by a similar horned creature, called Krampus, covered with bells and dragging chains; in Styria this attendant is named Bartel. Sometimes a female figure appears with him, usually a boy dressed up as Budelfrau in Lower Austria, Berchtel in Swabia, and Buzebergt in the neighborhood of Augsburg. Buzebergt wears black rags, has a blackened face and unkempt hair. Others are Rumpel- klas, Bellzebub, Pelznickel, Hans Muff, Klaubauf, Drapp or Zwarte Peter.

On the Eve of St. Nikolaustag, young men, dressed in skins and furs, will gather for the "Klausentreiben" and move through the streets of town or village, rattling chains and bells. Midwinter customs are generally thought to be of pagan origin and in most of them the noise is to drive evil spirits away. The Klausentreiben, however, is solely focused on the improvement of children. Good children are rewarded and naughty ones will come into the sack--(Do you know the story of the "Struwwelpeter?").

The Klausentreiben customs must not be confused with celebrations that will go on during the wild nights at the end of the twelve days of Christmas (around January 6), like, for instance the running of the "Perchten". These customs are ushering in "Fastnacht" and are exclusively focused on the driving out of winter.

There are several very large St. Nikolaus festivals such as the "Klausenjagen" at Küßnacht in Switzerland. It is organized by the Küßnacht St. Nikolaus Society and involves 1,300 walkers and 30,000 spectators. It begins on the eve of Dec. 5 and lasts through most of Dec. 6. All around Salzburg there are Krampus Runs around December 5th. The largest one is organized by the Grossgmainer Krampusse and supported by the Organization for the Preservation of Valuable Customs in Grossgmain, Austria.

Eberhard and Ruth Reichmann
IUPUI Max Kade German-American Center
401 E. Michigan St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317 464-9004 (office)
317 630-0035 (fax)
https://liberalarts.iupui.edu/maxkade/

Return to Nikolaus' Helpers for further info and links