Hans Trapp
In Alsace, Hans Trapp is the character who accompanies the “Christkindel” in his round the evening by Christmas. It is a horrible appearance, glaze of fur, black of face, a long beard, hair hirsutes. It makes a terrible noise with its shoes which scrape the ground, its large chain which it agitates and this large bag that it holds in the hand. He threatens to carry the not very wise children or those which balk to recite their prayers. But after an impressive show of force, very arranges itself…
It is in 1737, in the Comté of Hanau-Lichtenberg which it appears for the first time. At the origin of this character, there would be for the ones the Marshal Jean de Dratt, rough bloodthirsty man who terrorized the population. Of its castle close to Wissembourg, he held to ransom and plundered travellers and peasants. For the others, that would come from the word “trappen”, noise of its steps to drive out the spirits.
In the legends of Noëls of Alsace, a trio is supplemented with wonder. “Hans Trapp” plays the part of the malicious one, Saint Nicolas is faithful to its role of guard of the children and the “Chriskindel” is a character full with kindness distributing his present.
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