Behind the Folklore - A Very Supernatural Christmas

by crystalrach

For Folklore Main Page Click Here

ANTI-CLAUS
Otherwise known as "companions of Saint Nicholas" and have several names, including those specifically mentioned in Supernatural: Belsnickel, Krampus and Black Pete.

Belsnickel is a Pennsylvania Dutch mythical being who visits children at Christmas time. If they have not been good, they will find coal and/or switches in their stockings. The Belsnickel was a scary creature not well loved except by parents wanting to keep their children in line. Among some families of German descent, Bensnickle delivers socks or shoes full of candy to children on the feast day of St. Nicholas, December 6.

In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who by local tradition were typically children of poor families, roamed the streets and sledding hills during the festival. They wore black rags and masks, dragging chains behind them, and occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. These Krampusumzüge (Krampus runs) still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past.
Today, Schladming, a town in Styria, over 1200 "Krampus" gather from all over Austria wearing goat-hair costumes and carved masks, carrying bundles of sticks used as switches, and swinging cowbells to warn of their approach. They are typically young men in their teens and early twenties and are generally intoxicated. They roam the streets of this typically quiet town and hit people with their switches. It is not considered wise for young women to go out on this night, as they are popular targets.

The character of Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) appears only in the weeks before Saint Nicholas's feast, first when the saint is welcomed with a parade as he arrives in the country (in the Netherlands by steam boat, from Spain), and is mainly targeted at children, who come to meet the saint as he visits stores, schools etc. Zwarte Piet was known for stealing childrens money, while Santa left presents for the children.


MEADOWSWEET
Meadowsweet was one of the three herbs held most sacred to the Druids (Vervain and Water-mint being the other two). It is a perennial herb, growing in damp meadows, ditches and bogs, at the edges of ponds, on river banks and in damp open woodland. Common throughot Europe, it is also be found in the eastern US and Canada as far west as Ohio. The creeping rootstock sends up a reddish, angular stem, up to 120cm tall, branched near the top and bearing alternate long-petioled leaves composed of two to five pairs of ovate, serrate leaflets which are widely tomentose beneath. The small, creamy-white five-petaled flowers with over twenty protruding stamens grow in panicled cymes from June to August. Using meadowsweet in rituals: There are several different species of meadowsweet used in magick, though they are generally just referred to collectively as meadowsweet.
In rituals, meadowsweet is used to promote joy, peace and happiness, as well as to aid in divination. It's also associated with Beltane. Bundles of dried meadowsweet places around your home can keep your household peaceful.
As one specfic form of divination, you can use Midsummer meadowsweet to find out more about a thief. Place the fresh herbs in water, and if it sinks, the person who robbed you is a man. If it floats, then it is a woman.
Meadowsweet is associated with the Celtic moon goddess, Aine. She is believed to be the one who gave meadowsweet its lovely smell.


OTHER REFERENCES
Dean: So was I right, was it the serial killing chimney-sweep?
Referencing the Disney movie Mary Poppins (1964), starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews and based on the book by P.L. Travers. In it a magical nanny befriends two young children, and her friend is Bert the Chimneysweep.

Sam: So, I guess we're dealing with Mr. and Mrs. God.
Referencing the children's book, Mr. and Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen (2006), by Nancy Wood.

Mr Carrigan: Hardy boys here make five.
The Hardy Boys is a popular series of detective/adventure books for boys chronicling the fictional adventures of teenage brothers Frank and Joe Hardy


Sources: Wikipedia, Purple Sage.org.uk, Edmonton Pagan Parents Circle