Knecht Ruprecht

He first appears in written sources in the 17th century, as a figure in a Nuremberg Christmas procession. The companions of Saint Nicholas are a group of closely related figures who accompany Saint Nicholas in territories formerly in the Holy Roman Empire or the countries that it influenced culturally. These characters act as a foil to the benevolent Christmas gift-bringer, threatening to thrash or abduct disobedient children. Jacob Grimm (in Deutsche Mythologie) associated this character with the pre-Christian house spirit (kobold, elf) which could be either benevolent or malicious, but whose mischievous side was emphasized after Christianization. Knecht Ruprecht is Saint Nicholas' most familiar attendant in Germany. In the Mittelmark, Knecht Ruprecht is known as Hans Ruprecht, Rumpknecht, but is also referred to as De hêle Christ ("The Holy Christ"), while in Mecklenburg he was called Rû Clås (Rough Nicholas). In the Altmark and in East Friesland, he was known as Bûr and Bullerclås. Knecht Ruprecht first appears in written sources in the 17th century, as a figure in a Nuremberg Christmas procession.