Le Père Fouettard (French for The whipping Father[1]) was a character who went with Saint Nicholas in his rounds at Christmas giving the naughty children the whip while St. Nick gives gifts to the well behaved.[2] He wore a long, dirty, dark colored robe and had a beard that was poorly groomed.[1]
He is known mainly in the Eastern regions of France. In Alsace, Le Père Fouettard is synonymous with the bogeyman.[3]
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