With Christmas season in full swing, Germany is aglow with holiday spirit. The air is heavy with spiced Glühwein and smoky bratwurst. Wooden stalls adorned with evergreen garlands glow under the twinkle of fairy lights. Friends and families huddle over steaming drinks, sharing laughter and stories. It’s a celebration of togetherness wrapped in the warmth and Gemütlichkeit of the season—a magic we savored to the very last drop (or was that the Glühwein?) on our recent detour.

Growing up in East Germany, the Christmas season wasn’t all sugar and spice and everything nice. Sure, we had St. Nikolaus, the bringer of treats, but we also had Knecht Ruprecht, the bearer of punishment. To a child, Knecht Ruprecht wasn’t just a name—it was a warning. Known by many names across regions—Black Peter, Schmutzli, or Krampus—he was the shadow to St. Nicholas’s light, the enforcer who ensured you stayed on your best behavior.