They look friendly, but they aren’t. If you hang these little creatures in a child’s room, the child will have a bad night. That instantly tells us what they are: Boemannetjes—creatures that make sure children stop misbehaving or prevent them from going to certain places. Essentially, a tough form of discipline.
Boemannetjes are also known as “Kinderschrik,” which translates to “children’s fright,” a fitting name. In Iceland, it was actually made illegal in 1746 to scare children with a Kinderschrik. So the fear was real. In Austria, there’s still the Krampus, a devilish figure that accompanies Saint Nicholas. Very frightening, but the masks they make for it are spectacularly beautiful. And so are these Boemannetjes. Plus, they smile kindly. They know they are nothing more than folklore.