Santa is not the only semi-mythical entity to stalk the holiday season. He's just the most benign. At the Questionable offices, we rather like three other characters who enter your home on dark and snowy nights: The Krampus, the Belznickel, and La Befana.
The Krampus and the Belznickel are cut from the same cloth: They are two dark characters who will appear on St Nicholas's Eve (December 5th), sometimes with St Nicholas in tow, and deal with the kids on Santa's naughty list. Both of them have the same three props: a chain, a sack or basket strapped to their back, and a bundle of birch sticks in their hands. The bad kids get slapped around with the birch sticks, chained up, dropped in the bag or basket, and carried off.
La Befana is more mischievous than downright threatening. She's a witch with a broom that she uses to sweep up the kitchens of the holy on Twelfth Night. If you catch her, she may give you a lump of coal, but don't despair: It's probably a piece of black rock candy. Of course...if she's feeling puckish, she may actually give you coal, so lick anything she puts in your hand carefully before you pop it in your mouth.
Questionable.info is releasing two epic poems about Santa's Wrecking Crew this holiday season, as an antidote to Clement C. Moore this year: One about the Belznickel, and one about La Befana.
Keep your eyes peeled for links to download these poems free of charge.
Ho ho ho!
