Krampus the Christmas Demon.
Krampus can be found in the folklore of many different European country's ... Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, North Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
His exact origin is unclear; some folklorists believe it to have pre-Christian roots.
There are various traditional parades and events, a well known one is the Krampuslauf (English: Krampus run), mostly young men dressed as Krampus to participate this is an annually event in most Alpine towns.
Krampus is also featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten.
By the 17th century Krampus had been incorporated into Christian winter celebrations by pairing Krampus with St. Nicholas.
Countries of the former Habsburg Empire have largely borrowed the tradition of Krampus accompanying St. Nicholas on December 5th from Austria.
A more recent myth is that Krampus was the son of Hel the Norse goddess of the underworld, this myth has been popularized on the internet, even appearing in an articles in National Geographic and Smithsonian Magazine.
However, this connection is likely the invention of the American fantasy artist and author Gerald Brom whose 2012 novel Krampus the Yule Lord features Krampus as the main protagonist.
The same idea also appeared shortly afterwards in two online games by the Norwegian games producer Funcom.
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Krampus, seems to the most popular holiday monster or at least one of the most well known he si described as a half-goat, half-demon, said to be hairy, usually brown or black, and has the cloven hooves and the horns of a goat. His long, pointed tongue hangs out, and he has fangs.
Krampus literally beats people into being nice.
He arrives with a chain that he swings around, along with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat ill behaved children. He carry's the bad kids down to the underworld
Well Santa or St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. ..Krampus is more of an anti Santa..
This yuletide demon was often seen accompanying St. Nicholas on his Christmas journey from house to house.
However well St Nick rewarded well behaved children with sweets and toys Krampus. would beat the bad kid's, stuff them in a sack, and take them away to his lair.
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Celebrations...
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People have been dressing up like Krampus for centuries. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, devil masks were used at winter church plays.
On Krampusnacht in modern times, men dress up in Krampus costumes made of sheepskin. Women sometimes dress up as a Nordic figure named Frau Perchta.
This time of the year there are parades and parties and a lot of them often have a Krampuslauf—or Krampus Run—where people run through the streets dressed as Krampus.
The day has increasingly become commercialized. Krampus has appeared on cards and ornaments over the years. He has also been graphic novels, television shows, video games, and movies.
Krampus night is held annually on December 5th.
The next Krampusnacht, --- Krampus Night, will be on Saturday, December 5th, 2020.
The next day December 6th is The Feast of St Nickolas ...
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There is also a seasonal play that spread throughout the Alpine regions it was known as the Nikolausspiel ("Nicholas play").
Inspired by Paradise plays, which focused on Adam and Eve's encounter with a tempter, the Nicholas plays featured competition for the human souls and played on the question of morality.
In these Nicholas plays, Saint Nicholas would reward children for scholarly efforts rather than for good behavior.
This is a theme that grew in Alpine regions where the Roman Catholic Church had significant influence.
There were already established pagan traditions in the Alpine regions that became intertwined with Catholicism. People would masquerade as a devilish figure known as Percht, a two-legged humanoid goat with a giraffe-like neck, wearing animal furs.
People wore costumes and marched in processions known as Perchtenlaufs, which are regarded as any earlier form of the Krampus runs. Perchtenlaufs were looked at with suspicion by the Catholic Church and banned by some civil authorities. Due to sparse population and rugged environments within the Alpine region, the ban was not effective or easily enforced, rendering the ban useless. Eventually the Perchtenlauf, inspired by the Nicholas plays, introduced Saint Nicholas and his set of good morals. The Percht transformed into what is now known as the Krampus and was made to be subjected to Saint Nicholas' will
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Krampus has appeared in several tv shows and movies even a Christmas ep of The Venture Bothers..
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=========== VINTAGE Krampus Christmas Cards====
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This is my last post before Christmas, hope you all have a great holiday and a Happy New Year Merry Christmas!! and thank you for an awesome 2019! :)
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