French Christmas Celebration Part 2

Accompanying Saint Nicholas (who comes on December 6th) is the terrifying Père Fouettard . He does not wait for Christmas Eve. He arrives on December 5th night. While Saint Nicholas brings treats (chocolate, mandarins) to well-behaved children, Père Fouettard carries a whip or bundle of sticks for the naughty ones. In some stories, he is a butcher who tried to kill and pickle three boys (Saint Nicholas resurrected them). To this day, in villages like Remiremont, men dressed as Père Fouettard walk the streets with chains, giving "bad" children lumps of coal – or a swipe of a sooty hand.