Perchta: Evil Witch Of The Alps – An Old Tradition That Still Continues

A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com  – Ancient legends of Perchta (also known as Berchta or Berta) are native to Austria, especially Salzburg, and the Alpine regions of Switzerland, and southern Germany.

Perchta is a very old mythological figure, which remembers pre-Christian times.

A Bohemian depiction of Frau Perchta from 1910. Wikimedia/Public Domain

In the modern era, Perchta (‘bright’, ‘luminous, ‘brilliant’) is a Christmas character, which is well-known for her activity during the Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, a period between Christmas and Epiphany (the thirteenth day).

Ugly Perchta – The Shapeshifter

In some descriptions, Perchta has two forms; she may appear either as a beautiful and white-robed female or as an elderly and suffering spirit. She was once considered among the Germans, a deity associated simultaneously with fertility and death. She was the goddess of winter.

See also:

Grandfather Frost And Snow Maiden Bring Gifts On New Year’s Eve

Gryla: Cannibalistic, Evil Troll And Her Sons ‘Yule Lads’ – In Icelandic Folklore

Beautiful Legend Of La Befana – Witch Who Delivers Gifts To Children In Italy On Epiphany – Twelve Days After Christmas

In Northern Germany, Perchta is a benevolent creature, ‘”white as snow”, and in Southern Germany, she is an evil old witch that scares children.

Today Perchta is the Christmas witch, who is usually depicted as having a goosefoot (or swan foot), which is related to ancient beliefs that goose fat helped witches fly.

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