Frau Perchta: The Belly Slitter

This season’s last Dark Christmas Tradition delves into Frau Perchta. From goddess to witch, this Christmas figure covers a lot of ground. Most of the information for this post comes from The Old Magic of Christmas by Linda Raedisch. Now, let’s find out what we need to know to avoid having our bellies slit open.

Origin Story: Goddess

It is believed that Frau Perchta began as the goddess Frigga (also Frigg and Frig). Frigga was the wife of Odin and one of the major deities of the Norse pantheon. She is the goddess of hearth, home and social order. Frigga is also a spinner and weaver. Friday derives its name from Frigga. Thursday night was Frigga’s Eve. Frigga disliked when women would spin on Frigga’s Eve. She preferred to see an empty distaff and a basket of full spools. When she saw this, she would know that the inhabitants were diligent and industrious. All wool and flax needed to have been spun by 12th Night (January 6th), or else she would punish the inhabitants for being lazy.

As worship of the Norse gods spread, so did their traditions and practices. Occasionally name changes occurred. As celebration of Frigga moved along parts of the Germanic areas of Europe, her name evolved. She became Perchta, Berchta, and Bertha. There is even a northern incarnation known as Frau Holle.

From Goddess to Witch

As Christianity spread across Europe, we see the worship of a goddess begin to change. Her name gets the addition of Frau, which means Mrs. Even though she still performs the same tasks, she is seen as more of a witch figure. She also begins to gather some helpers.

Known as Perchten, these helpers were either Schonperchten (pretty Perchten) or Schiachperchten (ugly Perchten). The ugly Perchten are reminiscent of Krampus. One way to tell them apart is the time of their arrival. Krampus arrives with St. Nick around December 5th. The Perchten arrive the three Thursdays before Christmas (Berchtl Nights) and Epiphany (January 6th).

The pretty Perchten visit homes and leave coins, either silver or gold, for the good and industrious inhabitants. the Ugly Perchten wander around and stamp their hooves, bare their fangs and brandish whips. They do all of this to drive out demons and bad spirits.

Frau Perchta, How Bad Could She Be?

While Frau Perchta has several helpers, she is the one who deals out her punishments. Perchta is associated with spinning, domestic work and maintaining traditional feasts. Like her goddess Frigga incarnation, she checks in to make sure all the flax and wool have been spun and the household chores have been completed. If these duties have been fulfilled, she rewards those industrious individuals with coins in their shoes or pail.

If these duties have not been fulfilled, she punishes those deemed to be lazy or ill-behaved. These individuals will wake during the night to find an elderly old crone standing over them. The old crone slowly draws out a dagger from her skirts. Frau Perchta then slits open the victims’ stomachs. She pulls out their entrails and stuffs straw and unspun flax and wool into their body cavities. Just for good measure she tosses in some stones and then stiches them back up.

Frau Perchta is all about celebrating traditional feast days, especially her own. Her feast was to be eaten at night. Fish and gruel are to be served. If other foods are eaten, or if a person eats before the meal, they will be visited by Perchta. They too will have their bellies slit open and straw and stones stuffed inside. She is serious about her feast meal!

What Else Does She Get Up To?

Frau Perchta is also associated with the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt occurs in several northern European folklore traditions. The Hunt traditionally involves a chase led by a mythological figure. The host of the hunt is made up of ghostly or supernatural figures. In many tales, the Wild Hunt is led by the Norse god Odin. But several other figures have led the Hunt.

Frau Perchta is thought to lead the hunt during the 12 Days of Christmas. In her host can be found the ghosts of unbaptized babies. Traditionally it is bad luck to witness the Hunt, heralding dark times or just killing the witness. The Wild Hunt is usually loud. Wind whipping the treetops, thunder booms and storms roll in.

Dark Traditions Concluded

We have come to the end of the holiday season. Epiphany is only a day away, so make sure your house is tidy and all your spinning is complete, or you may wake up with one hell of a belly ache.

Interested in other Dark Christmas traditions? Read my blog about a horse skull parade.