These characters include: Krampus, Saint Nikolaus, the woodsman, angels, and the old woman. In traditional parades and in such events as the Krampuslauf (English: Krampus run), young men dressed as Krampus participate such events occur annually in most Alpine towns. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called ' Krampuskarten'.Ĭostumed characters are a central part of all Krampus celebrations. It is customary to offer a Krampus schnapps, a strong distilled fruit brandy. These runs may include Perchten, similarly wild pagan spirits of Germanic folklore and sometimes female in representation, although the ' Perchten' are properly associated with the period between winter solstice and 6 January. Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ' Ruten' bundles. Unlike North American versions of Santa Claus, in these celebrations Saint Nicholas concerns himself only with the good children, while Krampus is responsible for the bad. Nicholas and sometimes on his own, Krampus visits homes and businesses. The Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite vestments of a bishop, and he carries a golden ceremonial staff.
Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. On the preceding evening of 5 December, Krampus Night or ' Krampusnacht', the wicked hairy devil appears on the streets. Some of the older versions make mention of naughty children being put in the bag and taken away.This quality can be found in other Companions of Saint Nicholas such as Zwarte Piet. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a basket strapped to his back this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell. The chains are sometimes accompanied with bells of various sizes. Of more pagan origins are the ' Ruten', bundles of birch branches that Krampus carries and with which he occasionally swats children. The Ruten may have had significance in pre-Christian pagan initiation rites. The birch branches are replaced with a whip in some representations. He thrashes the chains for dramatic effect. Krampus carries chains, thought to symbolize the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church.
His hair is usually brown or black, his hooves are cloven, and a long, pointed tongue lolls out of his fanged mouth. Krampus is described as a hairy "half-goat, half-demon", who has one hoof and one foot. During the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved, in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.Ī 1900s greeting card reading 'Greetings from Krampus!'
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