Knecht Ruprecht

Generally, Knecht Ruprecht is one of Saint Nikolaus’ best known companions. “Knecht” means servant. Originally, “Servant Ruprecht” was a dark sinister figure clad in a tattered robe with a big sack on his back.  In the earlier versions of this Weihnachten legend, Knecht Ruprecht  often put “naughty children” into his sack—not unlike the Krampus, another holiday companion of Saint Nikolaus.

Nevertheless, in this poem, Knecht Ruprecht’s “great sack” is already filled—with apples, almonds, fruits, and nuts. True, Knecht Ruprecht still does have a rod/cane that can be used to chastise the “naughty children” in this poem. This mild chastisement threat was certainly less frightening than the concept of vanishing into Knecht Ruprecht’s sack, never to be seen again by family or friends.

Knecht Ruprecht

From out the forest I now appear,
To proclaim that Christmastide is here!
For at the top of every tree
Are golden lights for all to see;
I saw our saw our Christkind [Christ-child] in the sky.

And in among the darkened trees,
A loud voice that called to me:
“Kneckt Ruprecht, old fellow,” it cried.
“Hurry now, make haste, don’t hide!”
All the candles have now been lit –
Heaven’s gate has opened wide!

Both young and old should now have rest
Away from cares and daily stress;
And when tomorrow to earth I fly
“It’s Weihnachten [Christmas] again!” will be the cry.

And then I said: “O Lord so dear.
My journey’s end is now quite near;
But to this town, I still must go,
Where there are good children, I know.”

“But have you then that great sack?”
“I have,” I said, “it’s on my back.
For apples, almonds, fruits, and nuts,
For God-fearing children are a must.”

“And is that rod there by your side?”
“The rod’s there too,” I did reply;
But only for those, those naughty ones,
Who have it applied to their backsides.”
The Christkindlein [Christ-child] spoke: “Then that’s all right!
My loyal servant, go with God this night!”

From out the forest I now appear;
To proclaim that weihnachtet [Christmastide] is here!
Now speak, what is there here to be had?
Are there gute Kind [good children], are there böse Kind? [children bad?]

I committed this extraordinary offense against his excellent translation, because I think it is useful for English speakers to see the original German terms, like weihnachtet and Christkind.

German:
Knecht Ruprecht

Von drauss’ vom Walde komm ich her;
Ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Allüberall auf den Tannenspitzen
Sah ich goldene Lichtlein sitzen;
Und droben aus dem Himmelstor
Sah mit grossen Augen das Christkind hervor,
Und wie ich so strolcht’ durch den finstern Tann,
Da rief’s mich mit heller Stimme an:
“Knecht Ruprecht“, rief es, "alter Gesell,
Hebe die Beine und spute dich schnell!
Die Kerzen fangen zu brennen an,
Das Himmelstor ist aufgetan,
Alt’ und Junge sollen nun
Von der Jagd des Lebens einmal ruhn;
Und morgen flieg’ ich hinab zur Erden,
Denn es soll wieder Weihnachten werden!
Ich sprach: “O lieber Herr Christ,
Meine Reise fast zu Ende ist;
Ich soll nur noch in diese Stadt,
Wo’s eitel gute Kinder hat.“ -
“Hast denn das Säcklein auch bei dir?“
Ich sprach: „Das Säcklein das ist hier:
Denn Äpfel, Nuss und Mandelkern
Fressen fromme Kinder gern.“ -
„Hast denn die Rute auch bei dir?“
Ich sprach: „Die Rute, die ist hier:
Doch für die Kinder nur, die schlechten,
Die trifft sie auf den Teil den rechten.“
Christkindlein sprach: “So ist es recht;
So geh mit Gott, mein treuer Knecht!”
Von drauss’ vom Walde komm ich her;
Ich muss euch sagen, es weihnachtet sehr!
Nun sprecht, wie ich’s hier innen find’!
Sind’s gute Kind’, sind’s böse Kind’?

(Theodor Storm, 1817-1888, German writer)
Knecht Ruprecht, Entstehung 1882, Erscheinung 1889

Another English translation:
"German to English: Von Drauss vom Walde komm ich her"

Servant Ruprecht

Ruprecht:

Have good evening, old and youngly,
Be to all probably confesses genung.

From drauss ' from the forest come I;
I must say to you, it weihnachtet very much!
Allüberall on the fir tops
If I saw gold little lights sitting;
And up there from the sky gate
If the infant Jesus saw with big eyes out;
And how I so roams ' by finstern Tann,
There it called me with bright voice:

Servant Ruprecht, called it, old join,
Lift the legs and spute quickly!
The candles start to burn,
The sky gate is opened,
Now old ' and boy should
From the hunt of the life once ruhn;
And tomorrow fly I down to the earths,
Since it should become a Christmas again!
So go then rapidly from house at home,
Select to me the good children,
With it I theirs may think,
With beautiful things them (her) may present.

I spoke: "O dear Herr Christ,
My journey almost is over;
I should only in this city,
Where it has vainly good children."
"Have then the little sack also with you?"
I spoke: "the little sack, this is here:
Since apples, nut and almond
Dinners pious children gladly."
"Have then the rod also with you?"
I spoke: "the rod, that is here;
But for the children only, bad,
She meets them (her) on the part, the right one."
Little infant Jesus spoke: "So it is right;
So go with God, my faithful servant!"

"From drauss ' from the forest come I;
I must say to you, it weihnachtet very much!
Now speak, how I hierinnen find!
These are a good child, these are a bad child?"

Father:

"The children are probably good all,
Have only now and then what stubborn courage."

Ruprecht:

"Egg, egg, for trotzgen children's courage
If my long rod is good!
If one does not say with you then now and then:
Down the head and the pants down?"

Father:

"How one sins, he is punished;
The children are already good all."

Ruprecht:

"If they put the Nas also hard in the book,
Reading and write and count enough?"

Father:

"They (You) learn with their (her) small force,
We hope to God that at last it works."

Ruprecht:

"If they pray then anch to old custom
In the bed their (her) evening little piece also?"

Father:

"Recently hears I in the little chamber
A small voice speak only;
And when I to the door kicked,
For all loves she hears I praying."

Ruprecht:

"So take then Christkindleins greeting,
Cakes and apples, apples and nut;
Once tries from his (its) gifts,
Tomorrow you should have what better.
Then comes with his (its) candle light
Little infant Jesus to you in.
Heut holds it still in the sky Watches;
Now sleep gently, have good night."

--Klaus Dorn (X)

Sources

Theodor Storm (1882), Knecht Ruprecht, translated by Denis Jackson, Isle of Wight, 2006.

Klaus Dorn (X), Von drauss vom Walde komm ich her.. English translation: JUST FOR FUN, Dec 17, 2001

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