As written in 17th Century German folklore, Knecht Ruprecht appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) carrying a long staff and a bag of ashes (collected by climbing down chimneys). He asks little children if they pray, and if they answer “yes,” they receive a bag of apples. If they answer “no,” he beats the children with his bag of ashes. 

As written in 17th Century German folklore, Knecht Ruprecht appears in homes on St. Nicholas Day (December 6) carrying a long staff and a bag of ashes (collected by climbing down chimneys). He asks little children if they pray, and if they answer “yes,” they receive a bag of apples. If they answer “no,” he beats the children with his bag of ashes.