We are off to our local Christkindlmarkt on Saturday, and have never seen those offered. Is this a north German tradition? Does Krampus come along tonight as well or is that only in Austria?
I'm still learning my wife's German culture (I'm an American with most recent European ancestry from Ireland but my surname comes from Dutch ancestors who came to North America in the 1630s, long way of saying I don't know too much about German culture yet).
I believe the Stutenkerl are found elsewhere but sometimes with different names. It may be a more western and northern than eastern German phenomenon but variants occur south into Switzerland. Pretty specific to December 6th which is Saint Nicholas day although I understand that in some regions it is associated with Saint Martins Day which has already come and gone.
Here it isn't Krampus (a southern Bavaria/Austria/Tirol thing) that strikes fear into the heart of children but the Knecht Ruprecht which is similar but different than Krampus. Apparently Knecht Ruprecht has fallen out of use because, you know, he is a scary incarnation of the devil and it might frighten children too much.
Yum! Cool! Are they cake or more cookie like?
They are more a sweet pastry bread than cookie.