Gruβ vom Krampus! Hope You've Been Good.

Krampus is an ancient tradition in rural Bavaria, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Northern Italy. It's been described by some as the evil alter-ego of Santa and by others as one in the same tradition of Christmas, in it's earliest forms. The version that I heard, while writing an article about Krampus in 2002, was that the tradition's origins were purely Pagan and there were no Santa figures in the parade (Sankt Nikolaus) until the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries.

In the coldest, darkest days of winter, young men would don furs and sprigs of wheat, 50-60 pounds of cow bells on their back and would smear themselves with charcoal. The most flamboyant part of the costume involves large wooden masks, handed down in families for hundreds of years. The masks depicted demonic spirits who would chase down young maidens and give them good lashings with switches (to ensure fertility in the spring of course!) The legend also goes that demons would devour badly behaved children. 

When the Romans brought Christianity to the regions, they thought it would be wise to have a delegate of the church round up the savages. These celebrations were, and still are, accompanied by hedonistic behavior and heavy drinking. In the video, above, you'll see a Catholic-like Santa. I have heard that the lesser populated valleys have kept their Krampus a little more traditional. Berchtesgaden and Salzberg are said to have some of the best celebrations.

There seem to be many variations on Krampus throughout Europe: there's Krampuslauf (the Krampus Run parade on December 5th - primary function being to scare children into being good) and the Perchtenlauf (Demon's Run, sometime in early January - for driving out the evil spirits of winter). I'm not sure how Jesus entered the picture. He was born in the spring. Nativity scenes on the lawn should include daffodils. I was surprised to learn that St. Nikolaus, patron saint of children, was a Bishop in Asia Minor at about 300 A.D.

I'd recommend Krampus for the toughened traveler.  I read on a blog that a woman consulted her attorney after being chased and whipped by one of the demons. I wonder if she'd considered retaining an attorney prior to joining the Run of the Bulls, too. If you can sue a Krampus, why not a bull?

More on this little known tradition:

The Many Faces of Krampus

Companions of Saint Nicholas

Xmas With Krampus

Vintage Krampus Postcards

December 5th, St. Nicolas and his Krampus'

However you celebrate, have a beautiful Holiday. Don't forget to flog the one you love.