When researching how to translate Wichtel I learned more about little folk in various country’s folklore than I will ever need. As all of them have different traits and backgrounds there is no way of translating the term. The best I can come up with is that a Wichtel is a kind of good-natured gnome, that might help around the house at night when it is not seen and it appears in greater numbers around Christmas time. In fact, the tradition of “secret Santa” is called “Wichteln” in Germany with the one significant difference that you just prepare a gift and it is handed out at random to the people who participate.

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