Frau Perchta, also known as the Christmas witch, is a demonic witch in Alpine folklore.
Biography[]
In literature[]
in the folklore of Bavaria and Austria, Perchta was said to roam the countryside at midwinter, and to enter homes during the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany (especially on the Twelfth Night). She would know whether the children and young servants of the household had behaved well and worked hard all year. If they had, they might find a small silver or gold coin the next day, in a shoe or pail. If they had not, she would slit their bellies open, remove their stomach and guts, and stuff the hole with straw and pebbles. She was particularly concerned to see that girls had spun the whole of their allotted portion of flax or wool during the year. She would also slit people's bellies open and stuff them with straw if they ate something on the night of her feast day, other than the traditional meal of fish and gruel.
Minions[]
Perchta is known to have sinister Krampus looking demon minions known as the Perchtens. The Perchtens’ appearances are known to be made into masks in parades. In the 16th century, the Perchten took two forms: Some are beautiful and bright, known as the Schönperchten ("beautiful Perchten"). These come during the Twelve Nights and festivals to "bring luck and wealth to the people." The other form is the Schiachperchten ("ugly Perchten") who have fangs, tusks and horse tails which bring fear and drive out other demons and ghosts. Men dressed as the ugly Perchten during the 16th century and went from house to house driving out bad spirits.
Appearance[]
Perchta bears a resemblance to the Scandinavian goddess Frigga. She is often depicted with a beaked nose made of iron, dressed in rags, perhaps carrying a cane, and generally resembles a decrepit old crone. But this old crone packs a mighty wallop…. and carries a long knife hidden under her skirt. She is also depicted in a “good form” sometimes, in which she is often portrayed as a pale-skinned beautiful young woman with light hair, and it is believed that this form is what she appears as to good people, while the ugly old woman form is used to frighten bad people before she mutilates and probably kills them.
Personality[]
Frau Perchta is usually portrayed as a cruel and sadistic witch who delights in the torture of young children who have been bad and guts people and, takes it to another level by replacing all their ordinary organs with straw, adding up to her ruthless nature for decorations. It is generally believed her main goal is to get rid of all children, but she does bear some respect for good children, bestowing coins and money upon them. Other myths depict her growing mad and cursing people who have wronged her, implying she is very irritable when it comes to people, especially children, doing things she doesn’t like (such as being bad or eating non-traditional meals before bed).
Trivia[]
- She appears in the horror film Mother Krampus, or, more accurately, The 12 Deaths of Christmas.
- Frau Perchta is often mistaken by many to be Krampus’s wife or the “female Krampus” though according to most actual legends this is not true. Perchta has her own intentions and goals.
- Other legends equate Frau Perchta with the legend of the Wild Hunt, and say that she flies through the night sky attended by an army of lost souls, the Perchten.
