Folkloristic spanking traditions
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Knecht Ruprecht with his birch approaches a child (1852)
Folkloristic spanking traditions are folk-lore traditions that involve elements of corporal punishment (such as spanking or whipping), either really enacted or just in symbolic forms such as carrying decorated willow or birch rods, in a most joyful, non-punitive sense. They are typically celebrated on a special day of the year as part of the traditional celebration rituals of that day. Sometimes they have a religious background or are interpreted in a religious sense, so this topic overlaps strongly with 'religious spanking traditions.
The ritualistic spanking or whipping is usually thought to be a blessing, to bring good luck, health, or fertility.
Examples
Antiquity
Examples from Antiquity:
- Birthday spanking
- Lupercalia (Ancient Rome, no longer celebrated)
- Various examples in Spartan society (Ancient Greece, no longer celebrated)
Middle Ages and modern times
Examples from the Middle Ages and later centuries:
- Beating the Bounds (Strangebritain.co.uk/traditions/bounds.html)
- Christmas and spanking
- Carnival and spanking
- Chinese spring festival whipping in Tungkang
- Easter and spanking
- Ruethenfest (Landsberg am Lech, Germany)
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