The Nikolaus Boot And Knecht Ruprecht from Most Surprising Christmas Traditions And Tales

There is a tradition on the eve of Saint Nikolaus Day children put their boots outside the house and leave them there for a night. St. Nikolaus put presents into boots to good children, and for bad he put a bunch of twigs. And Knecht Ruprecht (or Krampus) takes children out of their homes and eats them.