German Santa Claus/ st. Nick?

[yarmouth]

Is this a German Santa Claus with a group of BDM?

[Tora_Tora_Tora!]

Ah ah ah seems like a Kabuki Mask!!!!!!

[yarmouth]

Ah ah ah seems like a Kabuki Mask!!!!!!

Lol...looks creepy to me.

[byterock]

More in the vain of 'Black Peter' me thinks.

Spanks for the bad girls, or an Onion in some places, presents for good ones.

[yarmouth]

More in the vain of 'Black Peter' me thinks.

Spanks for the bad girls, or an Onion in some places, presents for good ones.

I looked up Black Peter and see a negro helper to St. Nick. Do you have a link to another Black Peter? Thanks very much for your help!

[BEB9]

He doesn't look like any traditional German/Austrian Christmas character that I am aware of. Normally I would say it is probably Krampus, but Krampus is usually depicted with horns and doesn't usually look like that (it could just be a terrible costume though).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

My only other "out there" suggestion is that I read on Wikipedia (so not the most reliable source) that the National Socialists tried to replace Santa Claus with Odin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Nazi_Germany

But the character in your picture doesn't really look like Odin either. Sorry I can't be of more help. I'm sure they had a perfectly reasonable explanation for what was happening at the time in your picture. If only we could work it out!

Cheers

Nicole

[byterock]

Krampus what who I was thinking about. Black Peter from where my family hails from was a black little devil more like Krampus than the Dutch Black Peter.

[yarmouth]

He doesn't look like any traditional German/Austrian Christmas character that I am aware of. Normally I would say it is probably Krampus, but Krampus is usually depicted with horns and doesn't usually look like that (it could just be a terrible costume though).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

My only other "out there" suggestion is that I read on Wikipedia (so not the most reliable source) that the National Socialists tried to replace Santa Claus with Odin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Nazi_Germany

But the character in your picture doesn't really look like Odin either. Sorry I can't be of more help. I'm sure they had a perfectly reasonable explanation for what was happening at the time in your picture. If only we could work it out!

Cheers

Nicole

It's interesting that you mention Odin because apparently Santa Claus was originally Odin in Northern Europe. Thank you!



"Germanic paganism, Odin, and Christianization
An 1886 depiction of the long-bearded Germanic god Odin by Georg von Rosen.

Prior to Christianization, the Germanic peoples (including the English) celebrated a midwinter event called Yule (Old English geola or guili).[14] With the Christianization of Germanic Europe, numerous traditions were absorbed from Yuletide celebrations into modern Christmas.[15] During this period, supernatural and ghostly occurrences were said to increase in frequency, such as the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. The leader of the wild hunt is frequently attested as the god Odin and he bears the Old Norse names Jólnir, meaning "yule figure" and the name Langbarðr, meaning "long-beard" (see list of names of Odin).[16]

The god Odin's role during the Yuletide period has been theorized as having influenced concepts of St. Nicholas in a variety of facets, including his long white beard and his gray horse for nightly rides (see Odin's horse Sleipnir), which was traded for reindeer in North America.[17] Margaret Baker comments that "The appearance of Santa Claus or Father Christmas, whose day is 25th of December, owes much to Odin, the old blue-hooded, cloaked, white-bearded Giftbringer of the north, who rode the midwinter sky on his eight-footed steed Sleipnir, visiting his people with gifts. … Odin, transformed into Father Christmas, then Santa Claus, prospered with St Nicholas and the Christchild became a leading player on the Christmas stage."[18]

[BEB9]

Odin only had one eye (which is shown in the picture you posted). But the character in your photograph depicts two "normal" eyes. I would imagine that the National Socialists would not have omitted this important point if they were depicting Odin.

Cheers

Nicole

[GEB]

Black Pete, servant of St.Nicholas (childrens stories from Holland -1926

“Every winter the good old bishop, St. Nicholas, comes in his ship over the sea from Spain. And who is that with him? It is his servant, the little Moor, named Black Pete. They are bringing goodies and toys for the children of Holland.

…Sometimes the first inkling the children get of the saint's arrival is a rattling of chains outside. His little Moor has done that. How mysterious! Then a shower of sweets bursts into the room, and St. Nicholas appears in his long robe and his tall hat and his bishop's crook. With great dignity, he enters and calls the children by name. To each he points out his faults or praises him. The children are deeply impressed. How strange that Sinterklaas always knows if they have been good or bad. He tells them all to be obedient and helpful to their parents. Then he hands out the presents from a great sack which he has brought. Behind, stands Black Pete with an open sack in one hand. In that he will put all the naughty boys and girls…

Throughout November and even before St. Nicholas sees and hears everything that goes on. Aye, he knows exactly what children do not deserve presents. At night he rides over the roofs on his white horse and sometimes he listens at the chimneys. Then many a little child puts before the fire a wooden shoe filled with hay and a piece of rye bread for St. Nicholas's horse. In the morning it often happens that the hay and bread are gone. The good white steed has eaten them, and in their place are left candy and little spice cakes for the children. It is on St. Nicholas Eve, the fifth of December, that the good saint rides. In his magic red mantle he can go all over Holland in a single night,

But if you want Sinterklaas to come, you must be good. And if ever you see a little black boy, be careful how you treat him. He might be Sinterklaas's beloved and loyal servant.

[17thairborne]

My mother was German and for several years we lived in Germany where my father was stationed. I recall the relatives dressing up as Stankt Niklaus and Schwartze Piet. It was very magical and scary at the same time. We left goodies for the horse outside as mentioned. When Sankt Niklaus arrived it was preceded with the rattling of chains. They came in all dressed up. He read from the book and mentioned all of our faults and good things as well. We were suprised that he knew such personal things about us. We received a present and enjoyed the evening, happy that Schwartze Piet did not stuff us into his coal bag!

[yarmouth]

My mother was German and for several years we lived in Germany where my father was stationed. I recall the relatives dressing up as Stankt Niklaus and Schwartze Piet. It was very magical and scary at the same time. We left goodies for the horse outside as mentioned. When Sankt Niklaus arrived it was preceded with the rattling of chains. They came in all dressed up. He read from the book and mentioned all of our faults and good things as well. We were suprised that he knew such personal things about us. We received a present and enjoyed the evening, happy that Schwartze Piet did not stuff us into his coal bag!

Great memory of childhood in Germany! Thanks for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas!

[17thairborne]

Happy to do it!

It was the original post that brought back the happy memories for me. Thanks Yarmouth