Perchta

Perchta is a figure from Alpine folklore who has varied over the centuries (like almost all folkloric creatures) from a goddess to a cultural figure, she has fairly positive roles for most of her incarnations but has also shown malicious and petty actions common to older folklore.

Pre-Christianity
Perchta's origin dates back to Aline Paganism where she was a goddess (though it is uncertain exactly what roles she served) - her spread in folklore would come much later when she became associated with the Twelve Days of Christmas and associated merging of Christian rituals and traditional folklore.

Christmas Tradition
Perchta's traditional role is the upholder of cultural taboos (actions seen as "sinful" or "forbidden") - she was said to roam the countryside during midwinter and enter homes during the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, much like Santa Claus she was said to be able to tell if the children or young servants of the home she had entered had been well-behaved and hard working all year and if they had she would reward them with a small silver coin the next day in a shoe or pail, if they had been badly behaved or lazy she would slit their bellies open, remove the stomach and guts and stuff the hole with straw and pebbles.

Perchta would also slit people's bellies open and stuff them with straw if they ate anything on the night of her feast day other than the traditional meal of fiesh and gruel.