Hello, you little shownote reader you. Welcome to What You Don’t Know About Christmas.

In this episode, we talk about Perchta. An ancient goddess that was the subject of a smear campaign.  How did a protector of forests, women and children, end up being an enforcer of social norms? Have you finished your spinning? Is your house tidy? If not hurry up if you value your intestines!

Content warning: Perchta is into inflicting gory punishments on adults and children and we do talk about them so if you have sensitive little ones or that’s not your bag you might want to give this one a miss. We also mention child death.

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If you hear anything you think needs correcting, get in touch.  If there’s anything you would like to know, get in touch! I’d also love to hear your own Christmas traditions whether it’s specific to your family, your country, or your culture.

Email - [email protected]

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Sources:

Perchta: Evil Witch Of The Alps - An Old Tradition That Still Continues - Ancient Pages

What is Frau Perchta? Alpine White Woman or a Belly-Slitter? (germangirlinamerica.com)

Perchta and the 12 Days of Christmas (Part 2) - Stephen Morris, author (stephenmorrisauthor.com)

The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year eBook : Raedisch, Linda: Amazon.co.uk: Books

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A Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!