Merry Christmas! Today, we slip into the icy shadows of Alpine legend to uncover the true story of the winter goddess, Frau Perchta. Long before she was painted as a terrifying, belly-slitting crone, Perchta was a revered figure of winter’s balance—a guardian of hard work, rest, and the turning of the year. We trace her roots back to Frau Holle and the ancient pagan traditions that honored her, then follow the trail as Christianity reshaped her into a figure of fear, warning children and adults alike to stay in line.