Santa is familiar to all of us. He's that jolly, ruddy-cheeked, bearded gentleman that delivers presents to all the children in the world on Christmas Eve. His origins as a Turkish saint may be less familiar to some and his evil counterpart, Krampus, probably even less so.
While Santa Claus is all things comfy and nice, Krampus is a literal demon. He is pictured with big curling horns, dark hair and fangs and comes equipped with a chain and bells that he lashes about, along with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat naughty children. His aim? Well, it sure isn't to deliver lovely gifts or, even, lumps of coal. No, Krampus has little sympathy for the bad kids. He doesn't try and teach them a lesson or the error of their ways, he merely hauls them down to the underworld.
The name Krampus is derived from the German word “krampen”, which means claw. Said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology, he was created as a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas and is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany. According to folklore, Krampus purportedly shows up in towns the night before December 6, at night known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. December 6, meanwhile, happens to be Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas Day, when German children look outside their door to see if the shoe or boot they'd left out the night before contains either presents (a reward for good behavior) or a rod (bad behavior).
Krampus, as a legend, and the celebrations surrounding his existence, were long suppressed by the Catholic church as pagan traditions. However, in recent years, Krampus has reared his horned head once more and is becoming increasingly popular. He has been featuring in popular culture more and more, being referenced in television shows, videos and movies. In fact, a whole movie was made based on the legend and released last Christmas.
If you are curious about Krampus, there are even towns in Italy, such as Pontebba, that have celebrations dedicated to the beast. Just find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and indulge a creepier festive tradition this Christmas. If you are curious about the celebrations themselves, be sure to read on to our next article to learn more!
While Santa Claus is all things comfy and nice, Krampus is a literal demon. He is pictured with big curling horns, dark hair and fangs and comes equipped with a chain and bells that he lashes about, along with a bundle of birch sticks meant to swat naughty children. His aim? Well, it sure isn't to deliver lovely gifts or, even, lumps of coal. No, Krampus has little sympathy for the bad kids. He doesn't try and teach them a lesson or the error of their ways, he merely hauls them down to the underworld.
The name Krampus is derived from the German word “krampen”, which means claw. Said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology, he was created as a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas and is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany. According to folklore, Krampus purportedly shows up in towns the night before December 6, at night known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. December 6, meanwhile, happens to be Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas Day, when German children look outside their door to see if the shoe or boot they'd left out the night before contains either presents (a reward for good behavior) or a rod (bad behavior).
Krampus, as a legend, and the celebrations surrounding his existence, were long suppressed by the Catholic church as pagan traditions. However, in recent years, Krampus has reared his horned head once more and is becoming increasingly popular. He has been featuring in popular culture more and more, being referenced in television shows, videos and movies. In fact, a whole movie was made based on the legend and released last Christmas.
If you are curious about Krampus, there are even towns in Italy, such as Pontebba, that have celebrations dedicated to the beast. Just find a vacation rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and indulge a creepier festive tradition this Christmas. If you are curious about the celebrations themselves, be sure to read on to our next article to learn more!
