Sinterklaas & Frau Perchta

Sinister Sisters

Merry Christmas, all you naughty boys & girls! This week, it’s a little ho-ho-horror for the holidays with a double feature of Christmas creatures!
Felicia unwraps the first present with the legend of Sinterklaas, or Sint-Nicolaas - a mythical figure based on the patron saint of children, Saint Nicholas. If it wasn’t obvious, Sinterklaas is one of the sources for the classic Santa Claus mythology and has mainly been celebrated in the Netherlands as far back as the early 19th century. Felicia actually has some of her own personal experience with the story from attending the Sinterklaas Festival Day in Rhinebeck, NY. Though things turn sinister as she explores some of the more offensive origins of the figure and festival.
Next, Lauren stuffs your stocking with another Christmas icon - Frau Perchta aka the Christmas witch! This 10th century German winter goddess has a beaked nose made of iron and stalks humans to make sure they have completed their spinning of flax and/or other domestic chores by Twelfth Night. And you thought your family’s holiday traditions were boring! Other versions of the legend even feature an army of lost souls, including the Krampus-like demonic-looking Perchten. Her story may sound similar to other dark Christmas mythologies - after all, she knows who has been bad or good…but her way of dealing with naughty people is much more vicious than a lump of coal. Deck the halls with disembowelment!
Listen to hear more about both of these Christmas creatures and how they tie-into our modern mythology.
PS: As always, thank you for listening and supporting our show throughout 2023. Have a safe & scary New Year’s evil and we’ll see you with lots more sinister stories in 2024!