When everyone is indoors, reveling in the merriment of the season. That is when Belsnickel becomes most embittered for being disturbed.

The gift-bringer has quite the history in traditional German folklore; not only is the story behind this alternative to Santa Claus is an interesting one, but it is also fitting of Dwight's character. Among them is Knecht Ruprecht. Most Americans learned about Belsnickel, the haunting German gift giver, from the hit TV show The Office.

Belsnickel has also been known to feed wild onions to the dairy cows, So their milk will taste of onions and will be unfit for use by the intruders. The name Belsnickel literally means Saint Nicholas in furs, says Sarah Thayer of the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. The Belsnickel originated in the various companions and servants of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus) in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. However, if you’ve ever lived in Pennsylvania or have German or Swiss family, Belsnickel is a familiar (and terrifying) face. A Belsnickel is the German companion of Saint Nicholas which is still in use as a Christmas figure in the Pennsylvania Dutch community. Ragon House Yellow Belsnickle Santa Candy Container 13" Primitive Christmas .

Belsnickel is a companion of Saint Nicholas in the Palatinate (Pfalz), Germany.

Dwight Schrute memorably dressed up as Belsnickel for The Office season 9 Christmas episode. German Belsnickel, Belsnickle Krampus Figure, Christmas Chalkware Santa 12" tall.

Belsnickel is a man wearing fur which covers his entire body, and he sometimes wears a mask with a long tongue. $123.99. He is a rather scary creature who visits children at Christmas time and delivers socks or shoes full of candy, but if the children were not good, they will find coal and in their stockings instead. The folktale is that Belsnickel, dressed in fur, arrives just before Christmas and figures out which children have been naughty.

Bethany Lowe Large Gold Belsnickle Paper Mache.

The crotchety Belsnickel was a forerunner of the modern day Santa.

When Belsnickel was introduced to America on The Office, many viewers believed the twisted creature was simply another […] $85.50. $79.99.

About Belsnickel Enterprises How We Got Our Name Many years ago, the “adventurous” Larry Moyer was portraying a Belsnickel at a Colonial Christmas Village in Lancaster County, PA, as a favor for his wife, who had organized the festivities.

But most of all, Belsnickel and Rupert await Christmas Eve. 1996 Linda Lindquist Baldwin Snowsnickle 6”Glittered Belsnickle Santa Enesco.