Krampus and Santa

As a kid, I would be much happier with a stocking full of coal than a visit from Krampus. According to German folklore, the holly jolly Santa figure we know today used to have a dark creature named Krampus following him on his route.

Last year’s Krampus movie brought this German folklore to the United States. It received a 65 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and brought heightened popularity to Krampus parades and festivals in the United States and abroad. The good children would be given a treat, often an orange. There are several Krampus festivals all over the world to remember this terrifying holiday figure. The most notable Krampus-themed event in the world is the Krampusnacht festival in Klagenfurt, Austria. This festival features a Krampus pub crawl, Christmas Market and the Feast of St. Nicholas’ parade which allows guests to appreciate both sides of the tale.

In the German tradition, Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) was Dec. 6, when children would leave their polish shoes outside their door to wake up the next morning and see whether Saint Nicholas left them treats like oranges and small toys. However, if the children were bad, they would receive a switch or rod from a birch tree due to bad behavior. The consequences regarding Krampus vary between stories. Some claim the creature would kidnap children that night; others state he beat them with the switch for their bad behavior. I think I’d much prefer a lump of coal.