Christmas is a holiday filled with tradition. Some traditions, however, can be puzzling.
Consider the Christmas stocking. The tale of St. Nicholas placing gifts in stockings is centuries old.
You might remember warnings to be good or you would only find a lump of coal in your stocking on Christmas morning. You might also have wondered: What is coal?
How did the odd tale of getting coal for Christmas begin?
It begins with the idea that a child’s behavior influences the type of presents they receive.
Santa’s “Naughty and Nice” List of good boys and girls has roots in several old European Christmas legends that leverage Christmas as a way to discourage misbehavior. Among these fables are LaBefana, the Krampus and Belsnickel.
La Befana: Italy’s Christmas Witch
The folk story of La Befana dates from 13th century Rome. “Befana” may come from the word “epiphania,” Latin for epiphany.
The legend tells of an old woman who encounters the Three Wise Men during their search for baby Jesus. They ask her for directions and invite her to join them on their journey. She turns down their offer, but later changes her mind and tries to catch up with them.
Unable to find the manger on her own, she gives the gifts intended for the baby to other children. Even today, on Epiphany Eve (January 5), La Befana is said to fly across the countryside on her broomstick in search of the Christ Child.
In anticipation of her search, Italian children hang their stockings by the chimney for the old woman to fill. Good children might receive befanini (Christmas shortbread cookies), candies, nuts and small toys.
If they’ve behaved badly through the year, however, they may instead discover something less appealing in their stocking. Common gifts from La Befana to “naughty” children include garlic, coal or a hard, black candy called carbone (charcoal), reminding children to “do better.”
Although La Befana appears witch-like – ragged, wearing a kerchief on her head and riding a broom through the sky – Italian children see her as a kindly and generous figure.
Who is Krampus? Santa’s Terrifying Germanic Counterpart
Elsewhere, in Germany, Austria and bordering countries, the devil-like Christmas Krampus is neither kind nor generous.
This half-goat, half-demon is covered in fur, with bells and chains slung round his body. He has twisted horns, hoofed feet and a long, forked tongue. Beware the whip or bundle of sticks he carries to beat unruly children, and the sack or basket on his back to steal a child away for further punishment – or take them to hell. Talk about a bad Santa!
As unlikely a companion as he may seem, Krampus is said to join Santa during his travels on St. Nicholas Eve (December 5). If the children have been good, Santa leaves gifts. However, badly-behaved children may encounter the Krampus.
In modern times, the Krampus has become something of a winter celebrity. Some European cities hold festivals or parades featuring throngs of people in Krampus costumes and masks.
Belsnickel: Checking up on Children
Belsnickel, another Germanic companion to Santa Claus, seems a slightly gentler version of the Krampus. This ragged character wears a hat and long fur coat and carries a stick or small whip. He may wear a mask with a long tongue.
The name Belsnickel may come from the German terms pelz (fur) or belzen (to thrash) and Nickel, short for Nicholas.
Belsnickel roams the countryside a few weeks before Christmas to gather information for St. Nicholas. He visits children at home and questions them about their behavior. Good children receive treats, but bad and greedy children get smacked with his switch.
“Belsnickeling” was once a popular tradition in parts of America settled by German immigrants, including areas of Pennsylvania and the Shenandoah Valley area of West Virginia and Virginia.
Belsnickelers – neighbor men dressed in ragged costumes and homemade masks – went from home to home to make mischief and enjoy offerings of food and drink.
The Symbolism of Coal
Today, we understand Christmas as a season of love and generosity. These sentiments contradict the concept of any form of punishment, including getting a lump of coal for Christmas.
We may find it hard to understand that teaching children piety and proper manners was once considered so essential to a child’s upbringing that even Christmas served as a “teachable moment” used to reinforce responsibility, accountability and good behavior.
In addition, a moralistic view of Christmas includes consequences for misbehavior. However, coal has not always been the penalty of choice.
Traditionally, naughty American children sometimes received stones, sticks or even cold potatoes in their Christmas stockings. By the early 1900s, the infamous Christmas coal had become a familiar symbol of discipline.
At that time, many households, especially in the city, used coal for heating. It’s easy to imagine Santa snatching a convenient piece of coal from the scuttle on the hearth and popping it into a child’s stocking on his way up the chimney.
The disciplinary use of coal also may be symbolic.
Coal is associated with the depths of the earth. It is black and marks whatever it touches – characteristics that parallel the qualities of sin. Since coal burns, it may even suggest the idea of eternal punishment in hell.
Will You Get a Bag of Coal for Christmas?
Today, while the fear of Christmas coal has faded, fake coal and coal candy are sometimes given as gag gifts. Nevertheless, exploring how this humble household item transformed over time and across cultures adds a delightful layer to the Christmas tale.
To find Christmas decorations, stockings and gifts for the people on your “good list,” check out everything Christmas Central has to offer!