Belsnickel (Companions of Christmas)
$5.00
One of the SchweizerCraft "Companions of Christmas" series (#F 05)
Belsnickel was a hermit in Germany’s large and wild Black Forest, a fur trapper who wanted nothing more than to be left alone, but he lived near the entrance of a cave that children from a nearby village liked to explore.
The Krampus and other such hairy wild men were known to live in and around the forest, and Belsnickel decided to carve a Krampus mask so that he could easily scare children away when they ventured too close to his cabin. Belsnickel was an excellent wood carver (it was his hobby and passion, both), and his mask was very convincing.
And so, for years, he spent his days fur-trapping and his evenings carving wood, and chased away any children that he encountered.
One day, however, he came across a little girl who had gotten lost in the snowy woods. The child was obviously scared and cold and hungry, and Belsnickel felt too much pity to terrify her further. He carried her back to his cabin, let her warm herself by the fire, and gave her food before taking her back to the village.
The little girl told all of her friends about this bearded, fur-clad man who had rescued her, and how his cabin was filled with the most beautiful woodcarvings of animals and fantastic beasts. The village children determined that this mysterious man must, in fact, be Saint Nicholas, hiding away to make the toys that he delivered each Christmas.
They began to write Belsnickel letters, and to leave them at his cabin when he was away trapping. At first, Belsnickel was furious that his treasured privacy was being so upended, but as he started reading the letters (which not only asked him to carve a toy, but told about who they were) he started to get to know the children of the village, and his heart warmed to them. And so, on the following Christmas, he brought toys to the children who had asked, visiting each house (though, valuing his own privacy and wishing to extend to others the courtesy he would himself appreciate, he always knocks and waits to be invited in, and never comes in unannounced through the chimney).
1/4” Baltic Birch, roughly 3.62” tall
This figure can be purchased individually here, or as part of the Closest Companions set, or with the 25-figure Advent Collection.
Figure comes with a 2.75 x 8.5” card telling his story. The card fits in the story shelf on the Santa’s Workshop DisPlayset.
