The Krampus (German: [ˈkʁampʊs]) is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December.
Krampus original purpose was to hunt evil spirits which appear when the days get shorter in autumn. Farmers also believed that he protects their cattle in winter since people thought it was evil spirits who made their animals sick.
Nicholas rewards nice children by leaving presents, Krampus beats those who are naughty with branches and sticks. In some cases, he is said to eat them or take them to hell. On December 6, St. Nicholas Day, children awaken to find their gifts or nurse their injuries.
Krampus is described as being an anthropomorphic figure, half-goat, half-demon, sharing many of the characteristics of fiendish creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns. He has long horns, claws, and a goat-like beard.
Krampus revelers will hit, push, and whip spectators at their parades. The Krampus of legend whips people with his birch bundle, but he's a literal demon.
Krampus: The Demon Of Christmas (Folklore Explained)
What does Krampus do to babies?
Krampus will carry a bundle of birch branches with which he occasionally swats children. The birch branches are replaced with a whip in some representations. On Christmas Eve, Krampus travels with a sack or a basket strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell.
In countries like Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Slovenia, December 5th became known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. On this night, men would dress as Krampus and roam the streets, terrifying children with chains and bells. The following day, December 6th, is celebrated as St.
This tradition is now linked to Christian mythology, more precisely to Bishop St. Nicholas and his servant Krampus (sometimes also known as David the Count or in central German areas such as Knecht Ruprecht or “Ruprecht the Servant”). The origins are however linked to pre-Christian pagan cults.
Today, Krampus often appears by himself, but he originally served as the “bad cop” counterpart to St. Nicholas, the gift-giver who inspired Santa Claus and became popular in the European Middle Ages. People exchanged gifts on the Feast of St. Nicholas (Dec.
Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in several regions including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Italy including South Tyrol and the Trentino, and Slovenia. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated it as having pre-Christian origins.
Krampus does have a weakness. If given a piece of fruit, typically an apple or an orange, by a child, he will sit down to eat the gift, sharing it with whomever is there and engage is polite conversation. Krampus will then leave the area, harming no one.
Krampus laughs and tosses Max him into the pit. Max awakens in his bed on Christmas morning and discovers his family alive and well, concluding what happened was just a nightmare.
Knecht Ruprecht. The story of Knecht Ruprecht is more common across Germany than Krampus. While written stories linking him to St Nicholas first appeared in the 17th century, tales of Knecht Ruprecht go back to the Middle Ages. (Oddly, Ruprecht is another word for Devil.)
The annual Krampus run through the Christmas market in Munich is one of the most famous in the region. Young and old dress up as Krampus, donning carved masks, big goat horns, furs and long hair, before taking over the streets on the Sunday after St. Nicholas' Day.
The legend of the Krampus dates back centuries, originating as a German Christmas tradition during the 12th century. Beginning in early December, the children of Germany would begin to hear whispers of a dark haired creature bearing horns and fangs, carrying a bundle of birch sticks used to swat naughty children.
With the spread of Christianity, Krampus became associated with Saint Nicholas, adopting a role as his companion. Santa would give gifts to the good children and Krampus would punish the bad ones.
Lugo stated that the event “glorifies a folkloric figure, Krampus, known as a demon who punishes children for misbehavior. The imagery and messaging associated with this figure—depicting a horned creature that whips children or drags them to Hell—are deeply troubling.”
Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with the English figure of Father Christmas, and they are both now popularly regarded as the same person.
According to the Smithsonian, the Catholic Church "attempted to banish Krampus celebrations" in the 12th Century "because of his resemblance to the devil." The half-goat, half-demon does who is often shown as the "anti-St.
The legend of Krampus is celebrated across much of Europe, but the Whitby Krampus run was the first of its kind in the UK. Festival organisers have tailored the event to include local history and the wider Whitby community is heavily involved across the fun-filled festive weekend.
In the 21st century, many Alpine countries continue to celebrate the Krampusnacht with parades, where the townsmen dress like devils and run through the streets chasing after children and naughty parents alike.
One of the most famous Krampus events takes place in Whitby, England. Every December, people dress up as the creature and parade through the streets, stopping at local pubs along the way. The event culminates in a big gathering on the West Cliff, where participants set fire to effigies of Krampus.
