Lutzelfrau
Lutzelfrau (German: [ˈlʊtsl̩ˌfʁaʊ]) is a witch in German folklore who gives gifts — particularly apples, nuts and dried plums — to children on Saint Lucy's Day (December 13).[1] Lutzelfrau customs are also common in Slovenia and Croatia, where a "dark Luz" was contrasted to the Christian saint.[1] When acting as a malevolent figure, Lutzelfrau may disembowel or drown children.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kretzenbacher, Leopold (1959). Santa Lucia und die Lutzelfrau. R. Oldenbourg.
- ^ Al Ridenour (22 November 2020). "The Krampus and the Old Winter Ways". enchantedlivingmagazine.com. Enchanted Living Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
The saints themselves assumed sinister forms during the month of December. On Saint Lucy's Day, the shrouded Lutz or Lutzelfrau might eviscerate or drown children, and on Saint Thomas's Day, "Bloody Thomas" stalked the forest with a hammer.
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