Le Père Fouettard

Companion of St. Nicholas in folklore

Le Père Fouettard (French for The whipping Father[1]) was a character who went with Saint Nicholas in his rounds at Christmas giving the naughty children the whip while St. Nick gives gifts to the well behaved.[2] He wore a long, dirty, dark colored robe and had a beard that was poorly groomed.[1]

Le Pere Fouettard

He is known mainly in the Eastern regions of France. In Alsace, Le Père Fouettard is synonymous with the bogeyman.[3]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Inc, World Book (1996). Christmas in France. World Book .com. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7166-0876-9. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. Laszlo, Pierre (2001). Salt: Grain of Life. Columbia University Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-231-12198-9.
  3. Pagoeta, Mikel Morris; Morris, Mikel (2001). Europe Phrasebook. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-86450-224-4.