Bellsnickel and Pennsylvania Christmas Motifs Small Christmas Stocking

Add a quirky, but cool touch to your mantel this year with a Belsnickel themed personalized Christmas stocking. This stocking features a cartoon illustration of the Belsnickel. This holiday folktale character has his roots in the Palatinate region of Germany and was popular with Pennylvania's German settlers including the Pennsylvania Dutch or Amish. According to legend this figure dressed in ragged clothing and carry a tree branch switch as well as treats would visit homes in the weeks leading up to Christmas to check whether the children were being naughty or nice. Good kids were rewarded with treats, but unfortunately the Belsnickel hit the bad kids with his switch. Is it any wonder that Santa Claus is the more popular Christmas folk legend today? In addition to the Belsnickel you'll find Pennsylvania Dutch motifs, evergreen boughs, pretzels, gingerbread cookies including wickelkind baby cookies, Moravian stars and some holiday birds.