The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GERMAN SUPERSTITION

JUST AS ST. NICK'S DAY WAS CELEBRATED ON DECEMBER 6TH, SO WAS THE
CELEBRATION OF "KRAMPUS" (DEVIL) DAY. ON THAT DAY EVERYONE WOULD
TRY ESPECIALLY HARD TO BE GOOD. IF THE CHILD WAS GOOD, HE WOULD
GET CANDY AND FRUIT, BUT IF THE CHILD WAS BAD, HE WOULD GET HIT
WITH A STICK. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CHILD WOULD EITHER RECEIVE
CANDY OR GET HIT WITH THE STICK.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS PRACTICED IN THIS INFORMANT'S HOUSE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. HE
COULD NOT REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THIS CELEBRATION, BUT IT WAS
CLOSE TO THE CELEBRATION OF ST. NICK'S DAY.
SAINT NICHOLAS
THE INFORMANT PRACTICED THIS CUSTOM ONLY IN GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR

Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1961