Stutenkerl facts for kids
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| Type | Pastry |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Flour, milk, sugar |
A Stutenkerl is a special kind of sweet bread shaped like a person. It is popular in countries where German is spoken. People usually eat it around Saint Nicholas Day, which is on December 6th. Sometimes, it is also eaten around Saint Martin's Day in November.
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What is a Stutenkerl?
The word Stutenkerl comes from two German words. Stuten means a sweet, risen dough, like a brioche. Kerl means a 'lad' or 'fellow'. So, a Stutenkerl is a sweet bread shaped like a little man.
When do people eat Stutenkerl?
This special pastry is often part of the Saint Nicholas traditions. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th each year. In some parts of Germany, especially the Rhineland, people also eat Stutenkerl around Saint Martin's Day in November.
Different Names for Stutenkerl
This pastry has many different names depending on where you are! Here are some of them:
- Kiepenkerl
- Weckmann (in the southwest of Germany)
- Klaaskerl
- Stutenmann
- Hefekerl
- Mannele (in North Alsace and Moselle)
- Mannala (in South Alsace)
- Boxemännchen (in Luxembourg)
- Grittibänz and Grättimaa (in Switzerland)
Why the Pipe and Raisins?
Often, a Stutenkerl has raisins pressed into it to look like buttons or eyes. It might also have a small clay pipe. The pipe might have been added during the Reformation. This was a time when people wanted to make religious figures, like the original bishop figure of Saint Nicholas, seem more ordinary or less religious.
