But while Belsnickel, with his odd garb and anti-Claus vendetta, might initially seem not to fit into The Christmas Chronicles 2, the character is actually rooted in Yuletide tradition. @nataliezutter, Natalie Zutter is a playwright, audio dramatist, and pop culture writer living in Brooklyn. But just who and what is Belsnickel and why might fans of The Office US recognise the character’s name? But Santa and Mrs. Claus (Goldie Hawn) took him under their wing more so than the other elves, treating him almost as a surrogate child. With Jack hitching along for the ride (he’s the son of Kate’s mum’s new boyfriend) Belsnickel sends them from their Christmas holiday in Cancun, Mexico, through a wormhole that deposits them at the North Pole. Santa himself picks the two children up, without realising Belsnickel is hiding on the back of the sleigh. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Usually in these sorts of adventures, it’s the Claus family … Though a family-friendly holiday flick, “Christmas Chronicles 2” is also a coming-of-age story for Kate, complete with tender moments that pull at the heartstrings. Natalie Zutter | While the majority of this festive movie was filmed in the studios near Vancouver, at one point the story brings us to the … ... Julian Dennison plays Belsnickel. The Christmas Chronicles 2 is available to stream now on Netflix after releasing on November 25th, 2020. However, Belsnickel is actually part a fixture of German folklore, kept alive by the Pennsylvania Dutch.. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, Kate Pierce reunites with Santa and Mrs. Claus in what may be the most festive village ever, full of elves and Christmas cheer. Krampus goes back to sometime between the 4th and 9th centuries, though Saint Nicholas became popular in Germany around the 11th century, and Krampus seems to have taken until the 17th century to be fully integrated into the Saint Nicholas legend. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains, Belsnickel (or a variety of other spelling including Belznickel and Pelznickel) is an alternate figure to Santa Claus. The Christmas Chronicles 2: Who or What is the Belsnickel? For fans of The Office, the name might still ring a silver bell: In the season 9 episode “Dwight Christmas,” Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) brings the holiday spirit to Dunder Mifflin by dressing up as Belsnickel. Belsnickel's complicated arc is another major element of The Christmas Chronicles 2. In his battles with Santa, he demonstrates his knack for invention, with one scene involving a race through the skies pitting Santa’s sleigh and reindeer against Belsnickel’s souped-up engine guided by jackalotes, or jackal/coyote hybrids. But as Belsnickel hit his teenage years, he grew jealous of the Clauses’ care for the world’s human children, and began acting out in ways that Saint Nick would definitely call naughty. Meet the cast of The Christmas Chronicles 2. The Christmas Chronicles 2 starring Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn | Official Trailer | Netflix, /static/uploads/2020/11/682881_t_1606229447.jpg. We delve into the folklore behind the villainous Belsnickel in Kurt Russell and Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles 2. ... Of course Julian Dennison’s Belsnickel is an … She writes what she loves reading/seeing: space opera, feminist epic fantasy, time…, How Darlene Love Brings the Holiday Spirit and Soul to The Christmas Chronicles 2, New Netflix Christmas Movies in 2020 Ranked from Best to Worst, New Christmas Movies to Stream: A Holiday 2020 Streaming Guide, Charlie Brown Christmas Special: Where and How to Watch, 15 Best Nintendo Multiplayer Games of All-Time, The Expanse Season 5 Episode 10 Review: Nemesis Games. The Christmas Chronicles 2 lands on Netflix on November 25th, 2020, one month before Christmas Day. We delve into the folklore behind the villainous Belsnickel in … While Netflix ’s 2018 holiday film, The Christmas Chronicles, didn’t have a clear antagonist—it was more about saving Christmas—the 2020 sequel pits Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) against an elfin protégé-turned-human-rival, Belsnickel (Julian Dennison). In The Christmas Chronicles 2, the elf played by Julian Dennison, named Belsnickel, used to be one of Santa's favorites. Like most Christmas movies, The Christmas Chronicles 2 is family-friendly and has a happy ending. Star Trek: Bryan Fuller on the Snobbery Behind the Scenes. Granted, he's portrayed as the film's main antagonist, but the elf's motivations are never rooted in evil. At first, Belsnickel was one of those elves (imagine Dennison, in his outfit, but shrunk down and computer-generated) who nursed a healthy mistrust of humans. Belsnickel is played by Julian Dennison in The Christmas Chronicles 2 and his appearance differs from his real-life counterpart in several respects, as well as changing the lore behind him. While Saint Nicholas is known for rewarding good children, the little ones feared Knecht Ruprecht and Belsnickel, because both knew exactly how to root out the naughty children. Belsnickel is the main antagonist of The Christmas Chronicles 2. The Christmas Chronicles saga returns for the holiday season with a new installment featuring Kurt Russell as Santa Claus and Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus. Instead of a man, he's a former elf, cursed to be a human teenager after he broke the Elves' Code of conduct. Neither of these figures should be confused with the demonic Krampus, a much older Austrian companion of Saint Nicholas from a pre-Christian Alpine tradition. Recommended: THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES: true believers save Christmas magic (Netflix 2018) The Christmas Chronicles 2 STORY PLOT: (Spoilers) Belsnickel who was formerly an elf, sets up a plan to take revenge from Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Santa in particular taught Belsnickel how to go beyond making toys by inventing new treasures. Belsnickel’s name is a combination of belzen (German for “pelt,” which could describe furs and/or walloping) and Nickel, a nickname for the German Nikolaus. He expressed concern over Dasher, after he unleashed Jola the Yule Cat and she nearly killed the reindeer. When Christmas gets in danger after Belsnickel steals the Christmas Star, Kate and Jack help save the occassion. According to German folklore that dates back to at least the 18th century, Belsnickel is a foil of sorts to Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus: a disheveled man dressed in tattered furs and dirty clothes, often wearing a mask with a long tongue and carrying a switch, he visits homes a few weeks before Christmas to check up on children’s behavior. Jacob Grimm compared him to a kobold or house-elf, yet the stories describe him as a human. The first trailer for The Christmas Chronicles 2 has now been unveiled — promising more snow, more Christmas, and, most importantly, more Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus. Of Māori descent, Dennison is an increasingly familiar face, after a breakout role in Taika Waititi’s 2016 adventure-comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople and playing Firefist in Deadpool 2 in 2018. She’s unexpectedly reunited with Kurt Russell’s Santa Claus as a new mysterious troublemaker threatens the fate of Christmas forever. You might also recognize the New Zealand actor behind Belsnickel himself. Recommended to you based on your activity and what's popular • Feedback He is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of Baden-Württemberg. The Christmas Chronicles 2 used a good portion of magic, both digital and practical, to make some memorable moments. I did warn you! But while Belsnickel caused chaos in Santa’s Village and endangered Christmas itself for all the world’s children, he clearly was acting out of pain and resentment, and wasn’t entirely evil. The Christmas Chronicles 2 cast brings back Darby Camp as Kate, plus Kurt Russell as Santa Claus, Goldie Hawn as Mrs. Claus, and Judah Lewis as Teddy. The Next Three Days ending explained: Does John break Lara out of jail? Belsnickel is the key villain of The Christmas Chronicles 2, and as such he has put together a nefarious plan to stymy Santa Claus and ruin Christmas for everyone. How The Christmas Chronicles 2 Reunites Belsnickel With The Claus Family. Who plays Belsnickel in The Christmas Chronicles 2? However, Belsnickel is actually a character in German Christmas folklore who was not an elf at all. Like many a teenager acting out, all Belsnickel really wanted was enough attention to be understood. Decked out in pelts and woodland accessories, he dances around the office declaring his coworkers either “impish or admirable” (for “naughty and nice”). Before he transforms into a human due to his sins, Belsnickel serves as Santa's protege. The post-Civil War popularization of Santa Claus through newspaper editorials and Macy’s appearances ultimately caused the family-centric Santa way of celebrating Christmas to win out over Belsnickel’s mischievous revelry. Instead of furs, this Belsnickel wears a lot of leather: a studded vest over a sweatshirt, and even fingerless gloves, along with a backwards baseball cap. The Christmas Chronicles 2: Who or What is the Belsnickel?. Like his namesake, The Christmas Chronicles 2’s Belsnickel represents a pre-Christmas warning to change one’s behavior before it’s too late. As Belsnickel’s nefarious plan to destroy Christmas becomes evident, the crew embarks on a journey to save the holiday from certain doom. The film sees a now teenage Kate Pierce is unhappy with her mother’s new relationship and runs away from home. The Christmas Chronicles 2 is now streaming on Netflix. By contrast, both Knecht Ruprecht (from northern Germany) and Belsnickel (hailing from the Palatine region of southwestern Germany) are human men dressed in coats or rags. "Christmas Chronicles 2" stars Kurt Russell as a slick and more physically fit Santa Claus in a crackpot sequel. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette goes on to explain that in the early 1800s Belsnickel was a regional favorite of Philadelphia, with Santa being the popular one inNew York City; at this time, both cities were much closer in population size. Fans of The Office US will know the name Belsnickel courtesy of the character Dwight Schrute who appears as a more faithful version of Belsnickel in one of the show’s Christmas episodes. The Christmas Chronicles 2 seems to have taken inspiration from this folklore while fitting their version of Belsnickel, an elf-turned-human, into the series’ own mythology. Belsnickel explains how hurt he was, and Santa presents him with the first invention they made together: a mechanical flower that opens up to reveal a clockwork butterfly. After wowing audiences in 2018, The Christmas Chronicles is back on Netflix for a second outing to bring some much-needed festive cheer to our screens. As established in the first movie, Santa’s Village in the North Pole is populated by chattery (CGI) elves who make billions of presents and otherwise keep things running. The Christmas Chronicles 2 Netflix 112 minutes Director: Chris Columbus Writer: Chris Columbus, Matt Lieberman, and Axel Gugenreedburg Cast: Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Julian Dennison, and Tyrese Gibson. While Netflix’s 2018 holiday film, The Christmas Chronicles, didn’t have a clear antagonist—it was more about saving Christmas—the 2020 sequel pits Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) against an elfin protégé-turned-human-rival, Belsnickel (Julian Dennison). According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, some historians maintain that they are the same person; even so, the character seems to have clearly split around the time that the Pennsylvania Dutch communities were being established in North America in the 1700s. While Netflix’s 2018 holiday film, The Christmas Chronicles, didn’t have a clear antagonist—it was more about saving Christmas—the 2020 sequel pits Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) against an elfin protégé-turned-human-rival, Belsnickel (Julian Dennison). The second part of TCC was released on November 18. He will next appear in Godzilla vs. Kong, expected in 2021. Just as human children would get a week or two to shift from impish to admirable before Santa’s visit, so does Belsnickel get the opportunity to redeem himself before Christmas morning. This time around, Santa and the fate of Christmas are threatened when a mysterious new troublemaker emerges, Belsnickel. Fans will recognise Julian best from his roles in Deadpool 2, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and he is also set to appear in the upcoming Godzilla vs Kong. While the Belsnickel character has his origins in southwestern Germany, he lives on today thanks to Pennsylvanian Dutch and Brazilian-German communities who kept their traditions alive when they moved to the United States several hundred years ago. The Christmas Chronicles 2 is streaming now on Netflix. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, Belsnickel is a trouble-making elf who was transformed into a human as a punishment for misbehaving. Traditionally, Belsnickel is described as a man dressed in dark furs who carries a switch (a stick used as a weapon) and would either brings gifts to children who had been good or give them a switch-thrashing if they had misbehaved. This time they will have to face troublemaker elf Belsnickel, who threatens to cancel Christmas forever. The Christmas … But when a mysterious, magical troublemaker named Belsnickel threatens to destroy the North Pole and end Christmas for good, Kate and Jack are unexpectedly pulled into a new adventure with Santa Claus (Kurt Russell). Have something to tell us about this article? Is It Better to Reinvent Fantasy Tropes or Pay Homage to Them? Belsnickel (also Belschnickel, Belznickle, Belznickel, Pelznikel, Pelznickel, Bell Sniggle,from pelzen (or belzen, German for to wallop or to drub) and Nickel being a hypocorism of the given name Nikolaus) is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany along the Rhine, the Saarland, and the Odenwald area of … Watch Video: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Say Christmas Is 'Doomed' Forever in 'The Christmas Chronicles 2' Trailer Also part of the holiday’s history is Belsnickel… Watch how Santa and his friends save the North Pole from an evil elf named Belsnickel, played by Julian Dennison, who stole something which doesn’t belong to him in The Christmas Chronicles 2, but make sure you watch the first movie before you watch this one! The 2018 Netflix original, The Christmas Chronicles, released a sequel towards the franchise. Throughout The Christmas Chronicles 2, Belsnickel goes beyond the role of Santa’s foil and is his outright enemy, waging war on Christmas by trying to steal the Christmas Star that powers the entire Village. The Christmas Chronicles 2 has arrived on Netflix but just who – or what – is the character of Belsnickel and why will fans of The Office know his name? However, by 1820 New York City had nearly double the population of Philadelphia, and its cultural influence grew proportionally. Belsnickel is far from a Christmas Chronicles creation.Most Americans first heard of Belsnickel when Dwight Schrute dressed up as the rags-wearing mischief maker in an episode of The Office. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, Belsnickel is portrayed by Julian Dennison. The first part of his plan is to use magic to send Kate (Darby Camp) and Jack (Jahzir Bruno) to the North Pole. The look says “sullen teen trying to appear tough,” but as viewers learn his backstory, they see that the supposed villain is hiding his own pain. In addition to being a holiday movie, The Christmas Chronicles 2 will also … It follows Kate Pierce and her mother’s new boyfriend’s son, Jack Booker, on their journey with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Once Belsnickel demonstrated envy, lying, selfishness, viciousness, and ego, he was transformed into that which he hated most: a human. Realizing that Santa never forgot their bond, Belsnickel is able to let go of his toxic feelings and is rewarded by being transformed back into his elfin self. Varying folktales describe how each would ask children if they were naughty or nice, with the latter getting cakes and candies, and the former getting a switch across the back for their behavior. 'The Christmas Chronicles 2' injects some pizzazz into Netflix's bleak holiday offerings. Speaking of trailers, Netflix released a peek at The Christmas Chronicles 2 on Oct. 19, showing Santa taking on the evil Belsnickel and more. While Netflix’s 2018 holiday film, The Christmas Chronicles, didn’t have a clear antagonist—it was more about saving Christmas—the 2020 sequel pits Santa Claus (Kurt Russell) against an elfin protégé-turned-human-rival, Belsnickel (Julian Dennison). The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two (2020) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, It was in the early 1800s that mentions of Belsnickel appeared in America, alongside the growing mythology of Santa Claus thanks to Clement Clarke Moore’s 1822 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Many communities, including Philadelphia, had their own local “belsnickels” who would prowl the streets to punish bad behavior. {{#media.media_details}} In other news, The Next Three Days ending explained: Does John break Lara out of jail? Unfortunately for elves, if they break the five-part elves’ code, they will be cursed. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn are returning as Santa and Mrs Claus for a sequel to the Netflix Christmas film. • Kurt Russell as Santa Claus / Saint "Nick" Nicholas, a magical figure who brings presents for people at Christmas night, when they are asleep. The final showdown is not a huge battle, but an emotional confrontation. Belsnickel may have been based on an earlier folkloric figure, Knecht Ruprecht, a servant of Saint Nicholas who first appeared in written records in the 17th century as well as in the Brothers Grimm’s works. And yes, you'll likely recognize the actor portraying the anti-Christmas troublemaker. The 18-year-old actor was born in New Zealand and has been acting since the age of 11. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, it appears that Belsnickel is trying to destroy Christmas because of a grievance he holds against the Claus family. 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