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Companions of Saint Nicholas
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{{short description|Folkloric figures who accompany the gift-bringer}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2016}} [[File:Nikolaus krampus.jpg|thumb|Saint Nicholas and Krampus visit a [[Vienna|Viennese]] home (1896 illustration).]] [[File:Hans Trapp.jpeg|thumb|The ''Hans Trapp'' character in a 1953 photograph taken in Wintzenheim, Alsace.]] The '''companions of Saint Nicholas''' are a group of closely related figures who accompany [[Saint Nicholas (European folklore)|Saint Nicholas]] throughout the territories formerly in the [[Holy Roman Empire]] or the countries that it influenced culturally. These characters act as a [[Foil (literature)|foil]] to the benevolent [[Christmas gift-bringer]], threatening to thrash or abduct disobedient children. [[Jacob Grimm]] (''[[Deutsche Mythologie]]'') associated this character with the pre-Christian [[Household deity|house spirit]] ([[kobold]], [[elf]]) which could be benevolent or malicious, but whose mischievous side was emphasized after [[Germanic Christianity|Christianization]]. The association of the [[Christmas gift-bringer]] with elves has parallels in English and Scandinavian folklore, and is ultimately and remotely connected to the [[Christmas elf]] in modern [[American folklore]]. Names for the "dark" or threatening companion figure include: ''[[Knecht Ruprecht]]'' in Germany, ''[[Krampus]]'' in Austria, [[Bavaria]], Parkelj in Slovenia, [[Friuli]], Croatia, Hungary (spelled ''Krampusz''); ''Klaubauf'' in Bavaria, Austria; ''Bartel'' in [[Styria]]; ''Pelzebock''; ''[[Befana]]''; ''Pelznickel''; ''Belzeniggl''; ''[[Belsnickel]]'' in the [[Palatinate (region)|Palatinate]] (and also [[Pennsylvania]], due to [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] influence); ''Schmutzli'' in the German-speaking part of Switzerland; ''Rumpelklas''; ''Bellzebub''; ''Hans Muff''; ''Drapp''; and ''Buzebergt'' in [[Augsburg]]. The corresponding figure in the Netherlands and [[Flanders]] is called ''[[Zwarte Piet]]'' or ''Black Pete'', and in [[Swiss-German folklore]] ''Schmutzli'', ([[wikt:Schmutz|schmutz]] meaning dirt).<ref>[[Jacob Grimm]], ''[[Deutsche Mythologie|Teutonic Mythology]]'' (trans. Stallybrass): "Their pranks, their roughness, act as a foil to the gracious higher being from whom the gifts proceed ... how to explain the Swiss ''Schmutzli'' I do not rightly know, perhaps simply from his smutty sooty aspect? Instead of Grampus there is also in Styria a ''Bärthel'' (pointing to Bertha, or Bartholomew?) ''Schmutzbartel'' and ''Klaubauf'', who rattles, rackets and throws nuts."</ref> In the Czech Republic, Saint Nicholas or ''svatý Mikuláš'' is accompanied by the ''čert'' (Devil) and ''anděl'' (Angel). In France, Saint Nicholas' companion is called ''Rubbels'' in German-speaking [[Lorraine (region)|Lorraine]] and ''Hanstrapp'' in [[Alsace]], East of France<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.abcog.org/xmas2.htm | title = Christmas Eve Pre-Christian Traditions| access-date = 15 Dec 2010}}</ref> and the ''[[Père Fouettard]]'' ([[Wallonia]], Northern and Eastern France).
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