Europe certainly has its share of Christmas characters, in Austria and Germany one in particular stands out. With a distinct dislike for naughty children Frau Perchta or Berchta (English Bertha) meaning Shining One, can either appear as white as snow with extreme beauty, or old and hag like with a swan foot indicating her supernatural powers. Versions of this yuletide sorceress can be found across Europe.

 Perchta seems to have a particular passion for spinning, making sure that young maidens had spun their allotted wool and flax over the course of a year. Everyone should stop working on her feast day and only eat Fish or Gruel. You probably wouldn't want to provoke this Winter Witch as she has a penchant for slitting open the bellies of people who upset her, with a knife hidden under her skirt. Replacing their insides with straw and pebbles.

  Likely based on other female figures in folklore such as Frau Holle, a kind of Germanic goddess made popular by The Brothers Grimm or the Scandinavian Goddess Frigga (also spinning obsessed).

Sometimes flying through the night sky conducting "The Wild Hunt" with an army of lost souls including the spirits of unbaptized Children. A visitation from  Frau Perchta could be a blessing or a curse. She could honor the generous or punish the not so generous. Enjoying fibbing Children the most, if you don’t want to end up a freakish Christmas human scarecrow spilling straw on the floor beware of Bertha!