Is Belsnickel a Real Elf

Belsnickel is related to other companions of Saint Nicholas in the folklore of German-speaking Europe. He may have been based on an older German myth, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas and a character from northern Germany. … Belsnickel is a man wearing furs and sometimes a mask with a long tongue.

Why did Belsnickel turn human?

Unfortunately for elves, if they break the five-part elves’ code, they will be cursed. Once Belsnickel demonstrated envy, lying, selfishness, viciousness, and ego, he was transformed into that which he hated most: a human.

Is Belsnickel scary?

Many say “Belsnickel” roughly translates to “Nicholas in furs.” And he’s been varying degrees of terrifying. Some of the old-school Belsnickels of the 1800s smacked the naughty children. Some versions of the tradition intersected with trick-or-treating.