Are you overdosing a bit on Christmas cheer? Is everything a bit too "good will and mistletoe" for you? Well, you're in luck.
Well, that might depend on whether or not you've been good this year… Because if you haven't, there's someone you might want to look out for, and his name is KRAMPUS.
While Christmas is most commonly associated with gifts, kindness, good cheer, and cherished memories, there's also a darker side of Christmas that you might not have known about — just like the shocking history of Christmas in America.
In German-speaking Alpine folklore, the figure of Krampus is also associated with the holidays. However, this is no jolly Saint Nick…
Krampus is a frightening, devilish figure who looks like a huge goat that walks upright, with cloven hooves, massive horns, and a long, lolling tongue.
The legend of Krampus has been around for thousands of years, originating in pagan Germanic traditions. Over time, he became attached to Christmas as the contrast of the benevolent St. Nicholas.
Have you ever heard of this scary little Christmas creature? Let us know in the comments below!
Krampus is considered the "dark side" of St. Nicholas.
While St. Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, Krampus brings punishment to the naughty ones.
Today, the threat of punishment isn't considered child-friendly, but Krampus' role as the Christmas disciplinarian remains.
Sometimes, he travels alone, and other times, he and St. Nicholas travel together.
We imagine their conversations are pretty interesting.
While St. Nicholas has his bag of treats, Krampus is usually seen carrying chains and birch switches, both of which he uses to punish children.
If that sounds brutal, it is. These trappings, specifically the birch branches, are thought to have pre-Christian origins.
Sometimes the birch branches are replaced by a broom or a whip, and sometimes he even carries a devil-style trident.
Because of his devilish appearance, some people feel that this figure isn't appropriate for younger children, and as such, he's sometimes depicted in a cuter, more friendly way.
The horns, hooves, and tail remain, though, as does his signature long tongue.
Sometimes, Krampus can be seen with a sack. But instead of dispensing gifts from it, he's known to stuff bad children into it.
Where he takes them is up for debate — but legends include drowning them, eating them, or dropping them off in hell…
Occasionally, he seems to borrow St. Nicholas's sled, too.
After all, it must get heavy carrying off all those children.
Naturally, some people were a bit put off by Krampus' behaviors.
In the 1950s, several organizations in Austria sought to ban him. They even passed out fliers reading "Krampus is an Evil Man" to the public.
But even with such a smear campaign, Krampus remained beloved — and a revival of sorts, mainly in German-speaking communities, has taken place in recent decades.
In fact, people like him so much that the tradition of "Krampus cards" started, and there are tons of Krampus-themed cards dating back to the early 1900s.
They usually depict Krampus joyously menacing terrified children, and feature funny rhymes and greetings.
And of course, no holiday celebration is complete without a party!
Krampusnacht is celebrated on December 5, the night before the feast of St. Nicholas, when Krampus is said to appear to dole out his punishments.
To celebrate, young men dress up like Krampus — horns, tail, and all — and run through the streets of their towns while the rest of the residents offer them Krampus' customary drink of schnapps.
So if you like your holidays with a little spookiness, or if you'd just like a break from the season's sugar-rush of sweetness, remember Krampus.
And SHARE him with your friends who need a break from the Christmas carols, too!
