Palatines and Presents: A German Christmas – A Celebration of 18th-Century Traditions

Story & Photos by Dave Warner

Little Falls – What a delightful way to step back in time last Sunday! The General Herkimer Home in Little Falls, New York, hosted its annual Palatines and Presents event on December 7, 2025, from 3 PM to 6 PM.

This free community gathering (with a suggested donation of new, unwrapped toys for the Stuff The Bus CNY toy drive) brought to life the subtle, heartfelt holiday customs of German Palatine immigrants in the 18th-century Mohawk Valley.

Unlike our modern dazzle of lights and tinsel, these celebrations emphasized family reflection, natural elements, and moral lessons—rooted in both Christian and pre-Christian German folklore.

Historical Vibes and Key Activities

Drawing from the event’s colonial mansion and surrounding grounds, interpreters like Edward Heinrichs recreated an authentic 18th-century atmosphere:

• Decorations: Subtle and natural—think pine boughs, evergreens, fruits, nuts, and berries. Germans were pioneers in bringing live Christmas trees indoors, a tradition that evolved from pagan evergreens symbolizing eternal life into the festive icons we know today.
• Living History Vignettes: Staff and volunteers shared stories of family gatherings, year-end reflections, and hopes for the new year, highlighting the Palatines’ influence on American holiday culture.
• German Foodways Program: In the museum’s hearth, visitors savored (and smelled!) traditional treats like spiced cookies, nuts, fruits, and mulled drinks, warming up by the fire amid holiday aromas.
• Children’s Crafts: Hands-on sessions let kids make 18th-century ornaments, fostering that timeless holiday spirit through simple, meaningful creations.
• Entertainment: The Little Falls MS/HS Band delivered a festive concert in the Visitor Center, paired with warm refreshments and seasonal tunes.

Spotlight on the Pelznickel (or Belsnickel)

A standout figure was the Pelznickel—the fur-clad companion of St. Nicholas, as portrayed by Edward Heinrichs himself. Dressed in a patchwork fur cloak, jingle bells, and rustic attire, Heinrichs embodied this judge-like holiday visitor who roamed homes in the weeks before Christmas. As he explained in a post-event interview:

“I myself am dressed as the Bellsnickle, or as the Germans would have said, the pelsnickel, which is Nicholas and furs. This was a holiday figure that would come in the weeks before Christmas to pass judgment on children. See, if they had been good? Have they been bad? … If you were not good, you had time to improve before the start of the new year. So the pelsnickel carried two things with him. He carried a bag full of treats for those kids who had been good for the year. These were not necessarily the candy as we know it today. These were probably sweets, cookies, nuts, fruits, and, of course, a switch for those children who have not been good, and they would be given a switch and told to improve as they get towards the holiday season. He was normally dressed in furs, in the German tradition, and a patchwork cloak…”

The Pelznickel’s dual role—rewards for the virtuous (rustic sweets and goodies) and gentle warnings for the naughty (a symbolic switch)—underscored themes of redemption and growth, giving “naughty” kids a chance to turn things around by New Year’s.

This character, often misheard by English speakers as “Belsnickle,” added a playful yet poignant layer to the event, reminding us that holidays were as much about character-building as cheer.

Events like this not only preserve Palatine heritage—honoring the German settlers who shaped the Mohawk Valley—but also invite modern families to reconnect with the season’s deeper roots.

If you missed it, mark your calendar for next year; it’s a heartwarming blend of history, hearth, and harmony.

For more on the General Herkimer Home’s programming, check out their website.

Are you inspired to have a Pelznickel visit at home?