FOR the First Sunday of Advent, an appropriate adoption: my reindeer (although it might have been more appropriate on St. Nicholas Day, but (a) I couldn't wait that long <g> and (b) St. Nicholas rides a white horse—or a donkey, depending on the country—not a reindeer). I wanted a unique name, so he is "Belsnickel," or "Nicky" for short. (Poor thing: he is best friends with "testcolour4," a very common adoption glitch these days.)
The real "Belsnickel" isn't as benevolent as the stuffed type. According to folklore, Belsnickel is "[a] German Christmas servant (and pseudo-precursor to Santa), his name comes from the two German words "Pelz" (fur) and "Nichol" (Nicholas), meaning "St. Nicholas dressed in fur". The Belsnickel has been variously described as thin or portly, and as a man or woman. His only truly consistent trait appears to be his commitment to justice over holiday good will." He was the one that kept the naughty and nice list and was quite capable over the years of leaving presents for the good children and awarding the naughty ones with coal, nothing, or even a switching!
The stout, vintage Santa decorations you see, with Santa in a robe instead of a suit, are often called "Belsnickels."
Here's the rest of the Belsnickel article.
And a fascinating article about 19th century "Belsnickeling" in Indiana.
Christmas Adoption
