Who is 'Belsnickel,' the Pennsylvania Christmas figure who punished misbehaving children?

(WHTM) — Everybody knows Santa Claus is the most popular Christmas figure, but there is another, more intimidating gift-giver embedded in Pennsylvania Christmas lore who threatened to beat misbehaving children. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Belsnickel is a mythical figure originating from the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany who also brings gifts to children. However, [...]