Hans Trapp: The Cannibal Christmas Scarecrow

Welcome To The Oddity Shop, Where The Bizarre is Always on Sale.  This week, your Curator Zach has a Dark Christmas Cannibal Legend.

Somewhere in the borderlands between France and Germany a scarecrow waits by the road. We follow the threads of Hans Trapp, the “Christmas cannibal,” from his roots in the very real Hans von Trotha. A petty, powerful baron who feuded with an abbey and defied the Pope, to the folklore figure who haunts December nights with straw-stuffed sleeves and a sharpened stick. 

We unpack how a historical grudge spiraled into legend: dams built and shattered, towns flooded, papal letters ignored, and excommunication that turned authority into theater. Then we trace the folklore’s second life, as Hans Trapp becomes Saint Nick’s dark companion across Alsace. Santa offers sweets while the scarecrow tallies sins with sticks and chains. Along the way, we talk about why December carries so many shadow-creatures, how negative reinforcement outmuscles kind intentions.

If you love haunted history, European folklore, and the strange places where church politics meet campfire stories, this one’s for you. 

Check out Our Website for all references used in this episode!

Reference Shout Outs: 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Trotha

• https://medium.com/@gothicauntie/hans-trapp-christmas-cannibal-scarecrow-18058c2ee7c0

• https://frenchmoments.eu/hans-trapp/

• https://www.ripleys.com/stories/hans-trapp

• https://www.patheos.com/blogs/matauryn/2018/12/11/hans-trapp/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwartstein_Castle

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafendahn_Castle

• https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/25-days-of-christmas/hans-trapp-the-christmas-cannibal-scarecrow/

Each Week at the Oddity Shop, Your Curators Kara and Zach will bring you stories from Cryptids to Conspiracies, Cults to Curiosities, Myths to Mysteries, and so much more!

JOIN US ON PATREON: Click Here!
Join the Oddity Shop on Patreon for Day Early Access to Episodes and tons of bonus content!!!

Email Us at: OddityShopPodcast@gmail.com
www.OddityShopPodcast.com
https://linktr.ee/oddityshoppodcast

The Shop's phone lines are open! Give us a call and leave a voicemail (Or two!) with your creepy personal tale/oddity, and it could be featured on a future episode!
616.320.4935

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate programs are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the partner site.