23. Perchta and the Retinue Will Leave You a Silver Coin if You’ve Been Good
During the festive 12 days of Christmas, the Perchten spirit emerges in Alpine folklore, presenting two contrasting faces. The Schönperchten, or “Beautiful Perchten,” are benevolent female spirits, bestowing luck and gifts. In stark contrast, the male Schiachperchten, or “Ugly Perchten,” resemble the fearsome Krampus and are akin to devils, with the most hideous among them being the ultimate Schiachperchten.
While the Schönperchten reward the virtuous, the Schiachperchten mete out punishment to wrongdoers. The truly chilling aspect of encountering a Perchten is the uncertainty it brings: will you be rewarded for your good deeds or reprimanded for not doing enough? This duality adds a layer of suspense and intrigue to the holiday season in regions where these myths persist.