Spirit of the Day #9 Perchten Perchten are nature spirits who participate in the Perchtenlauf on January 6th. Many of them were once the Heimchen, Ghost Children whose souls were in the care of Perchta. They chose to become Perchten to remain with Perchta and aid her. The kinds of Perchten are myriad including Shaggy Ugly Perchten reminiscent of Krampus, or Duck/Raven Billed Perchten dressed like old women and carrying large wooden scissors. Others such as the pretty Perchten wear over 6 feet tall Headdresses elaborately decorated with flowers, skulls, taxidermy and intricate patterns. These various Perchten wander around in processions and go door to door receiving alcoholic spirits and scaring the local children, all in the spirit of fun. Occasionally it is said the Schonpertchen (Pretty Perchten) and the more Monstrous Schiachperchten (Ugly Perchten) will fight, in a common Yuletide trope of the night battles for fertility.