Pere Fouettard

Santa Claus is well-known for having a naughty and a nice list. And in France, according to a centuries-old legend, Santa has a sidekick that takes care of those not-so-good kids. Named Père Fouettard, meaning Whipping Father, he accompanies Saint Nicholas on the religious feast day of December 6. His dark, brutish appearance coupled with his name leaves little unspoken for: Père Fouettard threatens bad children with a spanking.
Krampus

Perhaps the scariest incarnation around Christmas appears in the form of Krampus. A mythical anti-Santa, Krampus is known as the “holiday devil.” To a much more extreme extent than Pere Fouettard in France, Krampus punishes naughty children while St. Nicholas delivers gifts. Found in Alpine countries from Austria to Slovenia, Krampus is thought to stuff kids who’ve been less than nice into his large bag and bring them back to his lair.











