Père Fouettard, aka Father Whipper,  is primarily known as the dark counterpart to St. Nicholas in the far north and eastern regions of France, in the south of Belgium, and in French-speaking Switzerland. Father Whipper stands in stark contrast to St. Nicholas, embodying the shadows that haunt the season of light and goodwill. So why does Santa Claus allow Père Fouettard to follow him around during the most wonderful time of the year? See the video podcast version: youtube.com/@MysteriousPals --------------------MUSICTheme Music by Dethlehem (dethlehem.bandcamp.com)--------------------SOCIAL LINKSWebsite: www.mysteriouspals.comEmail: mysteriouspalsonline@gmail.comYoutube: @MysteriousPalsFacebook: @mysteriouspalsInstagram: @mysteriouspalsX/Twitter: @mysterious_palsPodcast Feeds: www.mysteriouspals.com--------------------EPISODE RESOURCES ‌“Beware the Christmas Cannibal of France.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pere-fouettard-french-christmas-monster “Le Père Fouettard: The French Christmas Cannibal Who Serves Santa Claus.” History Answers, History Answers, https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/le-pere-fouettard-the-french-christmas-cannibal-who-serves-santa-claus/ “Move Over, Krampus: France's Père Fouettard Is St. Nick's Sidekick.” Mental Floss, Mental Floss, https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/pere-fouettard-st-nicholas-evil-sidekick “Père Fouettard: Unraveling the Dark Side of Christmas in France.” French Moments, French Moments, https://frenchmoments.eu/pere-fouettard/ “Encyclopaedia of the Impossible: Père Fouettard, or 'Father Whipper.’” The Ghost in My Machine, The Ghost in My Machine, https://theghostinmymachine.com/2021/12/13/encyclopaedia-of-the-impossible-pere-fouettard-or-father-whipper/ --------------------IMAGESEpisode Thumbnail: History Answers (https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/le-pere-fouettard-the-french-christmas-cannibal-who-serves-santa-claus/)--------------------TIMESTAMPS00:00:00 - Beginning00:00:10 - Introduction00:03:05 - Father Whipper00:11:05 - The Origins of Father Whipper00:24:38 - Common Theories00:30:22 - Our Theories00:38:04 - Closing--------------------ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS PALSThe Mysterious Pals is a mysterious show about history and friendship.#mystery, #history, #unsolved, #unsolvedmysteries, #santaclaus, #christmas, #christmastraditions, #france, #fatherwhipper, #PèreFouettard,  #mysteriouspals, #staymysterious, #Belgium, #Switzerland