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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Krampusnacht--Krampus Night and the Krampus Run/parade
People have been dressing up like Krampus for
centuries. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, devil masks were used at winter church plays.
Old wooden Krampus masks...
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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St. Nickolas vs Krampus
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! :)
