Krampus
Isla Wilson
Isla Wilson
How would you feel if, instead of receiving a stocking full of gifts, you were kidnapped and eaten on Christmas for being naughty?
A traditional representation of Krampus.
Krampusnacht, better known as the Night of the Krampus, is a tradition originating from ancient Alpine folklore. On December fifth, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, the demonic creature Krampus will appear to punish the naughty children while St. Nicholas comes to reward the good. Krampus himself is an entity with cloven hooves, fangs, fur, the horns of a goat and sometimes an excessively long tongue. The "celebration" of Krampus comes from pagan traditions surrounding the winter solstice — these customs would blend elements from Saturnalia and eventually Christmas.
As for Krampusnacht, however, it's said that he comes into homes carrying birch switches to scare and hit the naughty children, and sometimes he'll even take them away in a sack to eat them. In a sense, he's Saint Nick's alter ego — Krampus represents the dark while St. Nicholas represents the light.
Although the idea of Krampusnacht is nearly two thousand years old, it's still celebrated in many of the Alpine regions of Eastern Europe. The day is accompanied by huge parades and Krampuslaufs — in these "Krampus Runs", hundreds of people run through the streets dressed as terrifying Krampuses. The costumes are elaborate with detailed masks, bells, chains and fur, and the whole goal of these runs is to scare children into being good while still upholding an ancient tradition.
Krampus Runs in Slovakia.
Several depictions of Krampus acting as Santa's alter ego and kidnapping naughty children.
It's very interesting to see what traditions and customs have stayed around for so long and how similar many of them are. It seems that misbehaving children is a universal problem that spans back millennia — as scary as Krampus may be, he sure does make a parent's job a whole lot easier.