So much attention is showered on Krampus this time of year that it’s surprising for many to learn that most Germans aren’t familiar with the Krampus Legend. More common throughout Germany is the Knecht Ruprecht figure. But who is Knecht Ruprecht? Is he a helper? Or a demon? And how does he fit into the St Nicholas tradition? While the concept of Knecht Ruprecht, or Christmas-time ‘Dark Helper,’ has been around for centuries, the name Knecht Ruprecht shows up on paper relatively recently. And he’s one of the more familiar sidekicks of St Nicholas.
Knecht Ruprecht- Das Festliches Jahr- Public Domaine
Who is Knecht Ruprecht?
There are various origin stories for Knecht Ruprecht. The word Knecht in German means servant or farmhand. And Ruprecht acts as St Nicholas’s helper since they travel together, and he does all the heavy lifting. Some say that Knecht Ruprecht was a wounded foundling that St Nicholas rescued and raised. Others say he is a wild man (with HORNS) who comes out of the forest at Christmastime… a dark elf…. to help St Nicholas. A more obscure legend comes from a story about St Nicholas. St Nicholas arrived at an Inn and discovered a horrible crime. The Innkeeper had killed 3 boys and stuffed them into the pickling barrel. St Nicholas brought the boys back to life… and the Innkeeper was punished by being forced to work alongside St Nicholas as Knecht Ruprecht for all eternity.
Growing up with the Legend
Growing up, I was taught that the Christkind brought gifts on Christmas Eve and that St. Nicholas brought treats on the night of Dec. 5. But, like most German stories, there was an element of danger or warning—a scary balance to the sweetness and light of the benevolent gift-givers. And that was Knecht Ruprecht.
Who is Knecht Ruprecht? He’s a wild man with a bushy beard dressed in a hooded brown cloak. In his hand, he carries a large stick (all the better to beat you with), and at his waist is a child-sized bag… perfect for carrying off bad kids! Some stories say that he has bells tied to his waist so you can hear him coming.
(I’m convinced that part was added by parents who felt they needed to instill fear, but who didn’t have a costume… they could get a family friend to ring bells outside).
When St Nicholas came to the door on the evening of Dec. 5, Knecht Ruprecht would be by his side… he was the muscle of the operation. St Nicholas would open the big book to see if the devil had written anything bad about you. Then Knecht Ruprecht would make sure that you knew your prayers. If it was a bad year, he would give you a switch or a lump of coal… or worse, stuff you in his sack and take you away! Kids who had been good and who could recite the Lord’s Prayer (and maybe some other verses) would be given apples or nuts as a treat.
(As an aside… some parents actually frightened their kids by having someone take them away to scare the heck out of them! I’ve read several accounts of people who remember being taken or having a sibling taken to the woods for a good scare! I can not imagine that flying with child protective services these days!!!)
Although tales of St Nicholas’s helper had been around for ages, it wasn’t until the 17th Century, after the Protestant Reformation, that he was mentioned on paper by name as Knecht Ruprecht in Nuremberg. There, he is listed as part of the Christmas Procession, the perfect balance for the sweet innocence of the Christkindl. (The Christkind can’t possibly punish bad children!)
Dark and scary stories are not unusual in Germany. Using threats of dire consequences was the standard way to keep kids in line. Take a look at the original Grimm’s Fairy tales. Remember that Struwwelpeter was written because Heinrich Hoffmann couldn’t find a book for his three-year-old with the correct moral teachings. These dark stories come from a time when the world was a scary place. The woods were dark and dangerous, starvation was a reality, and children who messed up could put the whole family at risk. We may see it as unnecessarily frightening, but it was a way to keep the kids alive at the time.
Today, parents still make sure that Knecht Ruprecht visits their children alongside St Nicholas. You can see him at Christmas Markets and Events around Germany. He may not instill the same terror that Krampus does, but those bells and that stick were certainly enough to keep this kid (mostly) in line during the holidays!
Read More about the other Companions like Krampus, Belznickl, and Frau Holle Here
See them in Action
Knecht Ruprecht Poem by Theodor Storm
Theodor Storm- Knecht Ruprecht
Von drauß’ vom Walde komm ich her;
Ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Allüberall auf den Tannenspitzen
Sah ich goldene Lichtlein sitzen;
Und droben aus dem Himmelstor
Sah mit großen Augen das Christkind hervor;
Und wie ich so strolcht’ durch den finstern Tann,
Da rief’s mich mit heller Stimme an:
“Knecht Ruprecht”, rief es, “alter Gesell,
Hebe die Beine und spute dich schnell!
Die Kerzen fangen zu brennen an,
Das Himmelstor ist aufgetan,
Alt’ und Junge sollen nun
Von der Jagd des Lebens einmal ruhn;
Und morgen flieg ich hinab zur Erden,
Denn es soll wieder Weihnachten werden!”
Ich sprach: “O lieber Herre Christ,
Meine Reise fast zu Ende ist;
Ich soll nur noch in diese Stadt,
Wo’s eitel gute Kinder hat.”
“Hast denn das Säcklein auch bei dir?”
Ich sprach: “Das Säcklein, das ist hier:
Denn Äpfel, Nuss und Mandelkern
Essen fromme Kinder gern.”
“Hast denn die Rute auch bei dir?”
Ich sprach: “Die Rute, die ist hier;
Doch für die Kinder nur, die schlechten,
Die trifft sie auf den Teil, den rechten.”
Christkindlein sprach:” So ist es recht;
So geh mit Gott, mein treuer Knecht!”
Von drauß’ vom Walde komm ich her;
Ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Nun sprecht, wie ich’s hierinnen find!
Sind’s gute Kind, sind’s böse Kind?
Theodor Storm (1817–1888)
Knecht Ruprecht- Translation David Millard
From afar, from the forest I come here;
I must tell you, it is truly Christmastide!
Everywhere, on the tops of the fir trees
I saw little golden lights were placed
and above them from the Gate of Heaven
I saw with wide eyes the Christ Child before me.
And as I wandered through the shady trees,
He called out to me with a clear voice:
“Knecht Ruprecht!”, he called, “Old Companion,
Pick up your legs and hurry along!
The candles are starting to burn,
The Gate of Heaven has been opened;
Old and young must now
rest awhile from the pursuits of life,
and tomorrow I will fly down to earth;
then it truly shall be Christmas!”
I said: “O dear Lord Christ,
my journey is nearly at an end;
I need only visit this city
where there are only good children.”
“Have you your little bag with you, then?”
I said: “The little bag is here;
its apples, nuts and almonds
the pious children will gladly eat.”
“Have you the birch-rod also with you?”
I said: “The birch-rod, it is here;
and so, as for the bad children,
they will receive their fair share of strokes!”
The Christ Child says: “That’s as it should be;
go with God my faithful servant!”
From afar, from the forest I come here;
I must tell you, it truly is Christmastide!
Now tell me, what will I find herein—
a good child, or a wicked child?
Translation by David Millard
Knecht Ruprecht – Christmas- Flower Child – Waldorf
Saint Nicholas – Christmas- Holiday Decoration – Waldorf
German Knecht Ruprecht Stories for Children
You add these German stories to your bedtime reading. Written and illustrated for children… they are in German!
Knecht Ruprecht
Knecht Ruprechts Arbeitsstube
This brings back many memories. Every child could recite the Knecht Ruprecht verse. It usually was performed in a school Christmas play. I remember the second line as: Ich muss Euch sagen es Weihnachted SEHR! Meaning it’s starting to look like Christmas!
I have a handblown wine bottle brought back from WWI that is covered with a gesso-type material (and where it is flaking shows German typing – maybe newspaper) and a figure is formed that is an old gentleman in a brown, hooded robe carrying a young child under one arm and a sack in the other hand. Could this be Knecht Ruprecht?
sounds like it… or Belsnickl