Lyla Lindsey
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure who is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; Krampus Night). While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus is his evil twin, capturing badly behaved children in his sack and either beating them or taking them to hell. Krampus is part of pre-Christmas folklore in Austria, with men in costumes roaming the streets to scare children and adults. The biggest Krampus parades in the world are in Toblach in South Tyrol, Italy, and Bad Goisern, outside Salzburg, with 600 and 800 participants, respectively. Krampus events are centred in the state of Tyrol in the western Austrian Alps, with parades taking place in towns such as Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Ischgl.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), 6 December (Feast of St. Nicholas), or the night before St. Nicholas Day |
| Location | Throughout Austria, especially in the state of Tyrol in the western Austrian Alps |
| Participants | Young men dressed as Krampus, St. Nicholas impersonators |
| Description | A horned, anthropomorphic figure; half-man, half-goat demon; hairy, usually brown or black; has one foot that has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat; carries chains and a bundle of birch branches |
| Events | Krampuslauf ("Krampus run"), parades, festivals, acrobatic performances, pub crawls |
| Concerns | Rising violence and drunkenness, complaints about disorderly conduct |
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What You'll Learn
- Krampus is a pre-Christian, pagan figure
- Krampus is said to accompany Saint Nicholas and punish badly behaved children
- Krampus is celebrated in Krampusnacht parades across Austria
- Krampus celebrations have caused controversy due to drunken violence
- Krampus is featured on greeting cards exchanged by Europeans since the 19th century
Krampus is a pre-Christian, pagan figure
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure who appears in the folklore of Austria, Bavaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Northern Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia. He is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. While Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, Krampus is responsible for punishing the badly behaved ones, either by beating them with birch rods or by capturing them in his sack and dragging them off to hell.
The origin of Krampus is unclear, and there is debate about whether the figure has pre-Christian, pagan roots. Some folklorists and anthropologists have suggested that Krampus may have pre-Christian origins, and his resemblance to the Devil has been noted. In addition, 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. Austrians are aware of the "heathen" elements being blended with Christian elements in the Saint Nicholas customs and other traditional winter ceremonies. They believe Krampus derives from a pagan supernatural who was assimilated to the Christian devil.
However, others argue that there is no evidence to support the claim that Krampus is a pagan or pre-Christian figure. They suggest that he is more likely to be a modern folkloric creation derived from the Devil as he was portrayed during the Middle Ages, with possible indirect influence from the iconography of the Greek god Pan. Krampus's popularity in greeting cards, popular culture, and tourist-friendly interpretations has contributed to the spread of his figure worldwide.
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Krampus is said to accompany Saint Nicholas and punish badly behaved children
Krampus is a half-man, half-goat demon whose legend has been around since pagan times. In the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, Krampus is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children on Krampusnacht ("Krampus Night"), the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, while Krampus punishes the badly behaved ones.
Krampusnacht is celebrated on St. Nicholas Eve, the day before St. Nicholas Day (December 6), when children receive gifts or a lump of coal if they have been naughty. Krampus parades are held throughout many of Austria's alpine villages in the state of Tyrol, particularly in Innsbruck and Salzburg. The parades are nocturnal processions of terrifyingly clad Krampus figures and Perchten elves, the latter being an army of ill-tempered elves. The marchers are dressed in scary costumes, with furry costumes, demonic masks, spiraling horns, whips, and torches. Some of the marchers are acrobatic, doing flips and cartwheels.
In the past, Krampus was a standalone devil figure, but he later became a sidekick of Sankt Nikolaus, the Father Christmas-like character who gifts German and Austrian children with presents. In the 19th century, Krampus began to accompany Sankt Nikolaus impersonators on home visits to scare children. In the early 20th century, Krampus was considered an "evil man" by the Austrian government, which distributed pamphlets titled "Krampus Is an Evil Man" for fear that encounters with Krampus might damage children's mental health.
In modern times, Krampus celebrations have seen a resurgence, with toned-down versions of Krampus appearing in Christmas markets in Austrian urban centres like Salzburg. Krampus is now more humorous than fearsome, and Krampus parades are among Europe's most popular festivals.
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Krampus is celebrated in Krampusnacht parades across Austria
Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night, is celebrated each year on St. Nicholas Eve, the day before St. Nicholas Day (December 6). Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, while Krampus punishes the badly behaved ones with birch rods.
Krampusnacht parades are held throughout many of Austria's alpine villages, with the biggest parades in the world found in Bad Goisern, about 38 miles outside Salzburg, with an estimated 800 participants, and Toblach in South Tyrol, Italy, with 600 participants. The most popular parades happen throughout the state of Tyrol, particularly in Innsbruck and Salzburg, on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5. The Krampus parades draw in thrill-seekers, but the snow-covered Alps, lit-up wooden houses, bustling squares, and sparkling trees create holiday magic for visitors of all ages.
The modern-day version of the Krampus parade is still enthusiastically practised in several countries in Central Europe, with a toned-down version of Krampus part of the popular Christmas markets in Austrian urban centres like Salzburg and Innsbruck. In these more tourist-friendly interpretations, Krampus is more humorous than fearsome. In the past, smaller children genuinely feared Krampus, but nowadays, many of the larger cities and towns have formal processions that tend to be fairly orderly.
Krampus events are centred in the state of Tyrol in the western Austrian Alps. The Krampuslauf, or Krampus Parade, often takes place on either St. Nicholas Eve (December 5) or St. Nicholas Day (December 6). The central event is always the Krampus Parade, a spectacular nocturnal procession of terrifyingly clad Krampus figures and Perchten elves. These thrill-fests are among Europe's most spirited festivals, along the lines of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and Oktoberfest in Germany.
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Krampus celebrations have caused controversy due to drunken violence
Krampus celebrations in Austria have a long history, with the tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, parades are held throughout many of Austria's alpine villages in honour of Krampus, a demonic creature said to be the ""evil twin" of St. Nicholas. While St. Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, Krampus is responsible for punishing the badly behaved ones.
However, in recent years, Krampus celebrations have caused controversy due to drunken violence. Police have reported a number of violent incidents, with both adults and children being seriously injured. For example, a Krampus gathering in Zams, Tyrol, descended into chaos, with a brawl involving around 50 people, resulting in eight reported injuries. In another incident, a 22-year-old woman was struck so hard with a wooden rod during a Krampus parade that she required hospital treatment and was unable to move her fingers due to the swelling.
The consumption of alcohol has been cited as a contributing factor to the violence. In response, some Krampus associations have implemented rules prohibiting the consumption of alcohol until after the mask is removed. Additionally, certain locations have started numbering Krampus costumes to identify individuals in case of disputes or violent incidents.
The controversy surrounding Krampus celebrations has sparked debates about safety and the darker side of festive customs. While the tradition is meant to scare children into behaving, there are concerns about the potential impact on their mental health. The Austrian government distributed pamphlets titled "Krampus Is an Evil Man" in the 1950s, reflecting these concerns.
Despite the controversy and incidents of violence, Krampus celebrations continue to draw thrill-seekers and tourists to Austria's alpine villages and Christmas markets. The festivals are a unique part of Austria's cultural heritage, and efforts are being made by Krampus associations and local authorities to ensure the safety of participants and spectators alike.
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Krampus is featured on greeting cards exchanged by Europeans since the 19th century
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure from Central and Eastern Alpine folklore. He is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children on Krampus Night (Krampusnacht) on 5 December, before the Feast of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, while Krampus punishes the badly behaved ones with birch rods.
Krampus is featured on greeting cards called Krampuskarten, which Europeans have been exchanging since the 19th century. These cards usually feature humorous rhymes and poems, and sometimes include the phrase "Gruß vom Krampus" ("Greetings from Krampus"). Krampus is often depicted as looming menacingly over children, stuffing them into his sack, or preparing to hit them with his bundle of birch sticks. In some cards, he is shown as having one human foot and one cloven hoof.
Over time, the representation of Krampus on greeting cards has evolved. Older versions typically featured a more frightening Krampus, while modern cards tend to depict a cuter, more Cupid-like creature. Krampus has also been featured on postcards, candy containers, and in popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and games.
The tradition of Krampus celebrations was prohibited in Austria after the 1932 election by the Dollfuss regime under the clerical fascist Fatherland Front and the Christian Social Party. However, towards the end of the 20th century, a popular resurgence of Krampus celebrations occurred, and they continue to be held in many Central European countries, particularly in the Austrian state of Tyrol.
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Frequently asked questions
The Krampus is a horned figure from Central and Eastern Alpine folklore. In the past, Austrians used the figure of Krampus to scare disobedient children into better behaviour.
Krampus is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children on Krampusnacht ("Krampus Night"), the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved children with birch rods.
Krampus is typically depicted as a hairy, half-goat, half-demon figure with horns, a long pointed tongue, and fangs. He carries chains and a bundle of birch branches.
Krampus events are held throughout Austria in the weeks leading up to Christmas, particularly in the state of Tyrol in the western Austrian Alps. The biggest Krampus parades usually take place on St. Nicholas Eve (December 5) or St. Nicholas Day (December 6).
