Krampus

In German-speaking Alpine folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure.
According to
traditional narratives around the figure, Krampus punishes children during the Christmas season
who had misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved ones with gifts.
Regions in the Austrian diaspora feature similar figures and, more widely, Krampus is one of a
number of Companions of Saint Nicholas in regions of Europe. The origin of the figure is unclear;
some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated a pre-Christian origin for the figure
(see Germanic paganism).
Traditional parades in which young men dress as Krampus, such as
the Krampuslauf (German 'Krampus run'), occur annually in some Alpine towns. Krampus is featured
on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten.
The history of the Krampus figure has been theorized as stretching back to pre-Christian traditions.
In a brief article discussing the figure, published in 1958, Maurice Bruce wrote:
There seems to be little doubt as to his true identity for, in no other form is the full regalia of the
Horned God of theWitches so well preserved. The birchapart from its phallic significancemay
have a connection with the initiation rites of certain witch-covens; rites which entailed binding and
scourging as a form of mock-death. The chains could have been introduced in a Christian attempt to
'bind the Devil' but again they could be a remnant of pagan initiation rites.
Discussing his observations while in Irdning, a small town in Styria in 1975, anthropologist John J.
Honigmann wrote that:
The Saint Nicholas festival we are describing incorporates cultural elements widely distributed in
Europe, in some cases going back to pre-Christian times. Nicholas himself became popular in
Germany around the eleventh century. The feast dedicated to this patron of children is only one
winter occasion in which children are the objects of special attention, others being Martinmas, the
feast of the Holy Innocents, and New Year's Day. Masked devils acting boisterously and making
nuisances of themselves are known in Germany since at least the sixteenth century while animal
masked devils combining dreadful-comic (schauriglustig) antics appeared in Medieval church plays.
A large literature, much of it by European folklorists, bears on these subjects. ... Austrians in the
community we studied are quite aware of "heathen" elements being blended with Christian elements
in the Saint Nicholas customs and in other traditional winter ceremonies. They believe Krampus
derives from a pagan supernatural who was assimilated to the Christian devil.
The Krampus figures persisted, and 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 5 December from Austria.
Although Krampus appears in many variations, most share some common physical characteristics.
He is hairy, usually brown or black, and has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat. His long-pointed
tongue lolls out.
Krampus carries chains, thought to symbolize the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church. He
thrashes the chains for dramatic effect. The chains are sometimes accompanied with bells of various
sizes.[11] Of more pagan origins are the ruten, bundles ofbirch branches that Krampus carries and
occasionally swats children with. The ruten have significance in pre-Christian pagan initiation rites.
The birch branches are replaced with a whip in some representations. Sometimes Krampus
appears with a sack or a washtub strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning,
eating, or transport to Hell. Some of the older versions make mention of naughty children being put
in the bag and being taken.[1] This part of the legend refers to the times that the Moors raided the
European coasts, and as far as Iceland, to abduct the local people into slavery. This quality can be
found in other Companions of Saint Nicholas such as Zwarte Piet.[12]
[1]
Krampusnacht
A modern Krampus at the Perchtenlauf in Klagenfurt (2006)
The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. In Alpine countries, Saint
Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus [13] On the preceding evening of 5 December,
Krampus Night or Krampusnacht, the wicked hairy devil appears on the streets. Sometimes
accompanying St Nicholas and sometimes on his own, Krampus visits homes and businesses. [1] The
Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite vestments of a bishop, and he carries a ceremonial staff.
Unlike North American versions of Santa Claus, in these celebrations Saint Nicholas concerns
himself only with the good children, while Krampus is responsible for the bad. Nicholas dispenses
gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ruten bundles.
Krampuslauf
A Krampuslauf is a run of celebrants dressed as the beast, often fueled by alcohol. It is customary to
offer a Krampus schnapps, a strong distilled fruit brandy. These runs may include perchten, similarly
wild pagan spirits of Germanic folklore and sometimes female in representation, although
the perchten are properly associated with the period between winter solstice and 6 January.
Krampuskarten
Europeans have been exchanging greeting cards featuring Krampus since the 1800s. Sometimes
introduced with Gru vom Krampus (Greetings from the Krampus), the cards usually have humorous
rhymes and poems. Krampus is often featured looming menacingly over children. He is also shown
as having one human foot and one cloven hoof. In some, Krampus has sexual overtones; he is
pictured pursuing buxom women.[15] Over time, the representation of Krampus in the cards has
changed; older versions have a more frightening Krampus, while modern versions have a cuter,
more Cupid-like creature. Krampus has also adorned postcards and candy containers.
Regional variations
Krampus appears in various forms, and as part of differing celebrations, throughout central Europe.
In Styria, the Ruten bundles are presented by Krampus to families. The twigs are painted gold and
displayed year-round in the housea reminder to any child who has temporarily forgotten Krampus.
In smaller, more isolated villages, the character has other beastly companions, such as the antlered
"wild man" figures, and St Nicholas is nowhere to be seen. These Styrian companions of Krampus
are calledSchabmnner or Rauhen.
A toned-down version is part of the popular Christmas markets in Austrian urban centres
like Salzburg. In these, more tourist-friendly interpretations, Krampus is more humorous than
fearsome.
North American Krampus celebrations, though rare, are a growing phenomenon.
Other names[
Outside of Krampus, which comes from the German word krampen, the being has many other
names. Klaubauf is used throughout Austria, while Bartl or Bartel, Niglobartl, and Wubartl are used in
the southern part of the country. In most parts of Slovenia, whose culture was greatly affected by
Austrian culture, Krampus is called parkelj and is one of the companions of Miklav, the Slovenian
form of St. Nicholas.

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In German-speaking Alpine folklore, Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure.

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