As Christmas approaches, kids and adults alike begin thinking magical thoughts of elves, flying reindeer, and Santa Claus himself. But there is another magical creature that is known throughout the world who isn’t as celebrated as Santa, and there may be a good reason for that. While Santa rewards good behaviour, Krampus punishes bad behaviour, and no one wants to admit to that sort of thing during the holidays.
Krampus is most well known in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, but a 2015 movie titled Krampus has cast light upon his legend in North America. While I haven’t watched the movie myself, I was aware of the tales prior to its release and my kids still haven’t seen it. Nothing like a month of nightmares and sleepless nights added to an already stressful time.
Krampus is said to be the son of Hel, the Norse god of the underworld. He is half demon and half goat. His appearance varies but typically Krampus is hairy, often depicted either as brown or black, with cloven hooves, claw like human hands, horns, sometimes a tail, fangs, and a long tongue. Just a really nice chap you’d like to meet in a dark alley on a winter’s night.
Krampus and Santa work together, but on different spectrums in the European tradition. We know there is a list of Naughty and Nice children, Santa brings toys to the Nice boys and girls, which is a great incentive to be good, but Krampus gets the Naughty list, and he’s there to prod the kids for whom simple bribery doesn’t work. December 5th is Krampusnacht when Krampus makes his rounds. If you aren’t too bad, you might escape with a simple beating with birch branches, however, the extremely naughty often get thrown into Krampus’ sack and taken back to his lair to be tortured or eaten. Suddenly that lump of coal Santa leaves in your stocking isn’t really that bad. In certain households, Krampus will forgo the beatings, I suppose if the children haven’t yet started down the path to the naughty list but are showing certain tendencies towards that life. Instead, at some point during the year, he will simply leave a bundle of gold painted birch branches on doorsteps of children, like the ones he beats the bad children with, and the parents will then hang them on the wall as a year-round reminder to be good…or else.
Despite Krampus terrorizing the population, he is popular! It is said the Krampus parades are holiday events you shouldn’t miss. The annual parades, known as Krampuslauf or Perchtenlauf feature numerous young men, dressed to look like Krampus (I suppose the real one is busy painting bunches of birch branches gold as warnings and compiling his naughty lists) complete with hand carved masks, which look truly terrifying, and fur bodysuits. They stomp up and down the streets jingling cow bells, and poking and swatting children and adults alike with branches, all of whom deny ANY wrongdoing throughout the year I’m sure!
If you do plan on attending a Krampus Parade travel blog “Hello and Hallo” author “Chelsea” (http://helloandhallo.com/) suggests:
“Dress appropriately: during the parade, Krampus will typically swat at the crowd’s legs and feet with his bundle of sticks. Be sure to wear thick pants and boots if possible. I was whipped on my knees and truthfully, it hurt, but I know it would have been worst if I was not wearing heavy pants.
Bring change: Perchtengruppe will typically sell Schnapps or ask for donations to help fund the group’s preparations for the parade. Come on, who doesn’t want Schnapps from Krampus?
Want a lot of attention from Krampus?
Taunt Krampus – Krampus punishes the naughty and taunting him only provokes him. An angry Krampus is part of the fun of the parade.
Wear bright colors – it can be difficult to see through the Krampus costume and bright colors make some people easier targets.
Stand in the front – if you want the best view of the action, arrive at the parade early to secure a spot right on the barrier fence. I arrived at the parade in Villach about half an hour before it began and already most of the spots were filled.
Warning – Krampus will typically target women, children, and groups of teenagers. Krampus like to scare people and these groups tend to fulfill their wish, you have been warned.
Be safe! While Krampus Parades are a fun way to experience Austrian culture, be sure to have your wits about you during the parade. During one Krampus parade, a group was particularly out of hand and grabbed the parade barrier fence and threw it into the street while there were small children standing on it – not cool! I also had a Krampus grab me by the head and push me down onto the street which really did hurt. Part of the fun of Krampus is being scared, but that does not mean you need to get hurt too. You can always communicate your concerns to parade security or leave if it gets to be too much.”
Although it sounds like fun, I’m not sure I’m really into travelling half way around the world to be beaten by Schnapps fuelled, scary looking men in masks. I’m also not very keen on being stuffed into the real Krampus’ sack and being drug to his lair to be eaten. I think I’ll live my life like the Christmas carol suggests and “Be good, for goodness sakes!!” and simply hope for that little chunk of coal Santa leaves in my sock as a warning that I’m not perfect and I can always do a little better.
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