You know how they say you can switch just a few letters around in the name “Santa” to get “Satan”? Well, Christmas already has it’s very own resident evil goat-devil bastard in Krampus. Who is he, you may ask? Well, he’s basically who you scare your brats with if threatening them with no Christmas presents doesn’t work.
The story of Krampus is pretty simple. Basically, he punishes kids who have been bad once a year, December 5th, a night called Krampusnacht. Kramusnacht falls on the night before Nikolaustag, which is the day kids look in their boots to see if they received presents from Saint Nick for being good, or a rod from Krampus for being a little shit. Tommy, the school bully, beating you up on the play ground, and stealing your lunch money? Don’t worry, Krampus has your back. He’ll show up right at his door to beat him with birch sticks! Neighbor kid make fun of you? Down the river in a basket he goes! Little sister scribble all over the wall with markers and blame it on you? Relax, Krampus is sending her straight to Hell in a sack!
The exact origin of his story is unknown, but it is believed he stems from Norse and Alpine traditions, and also Paganism. His legend is part of a centuries-old tradition in Germany, where people start celebrating Christmas in early December. His name comes from the German word krampen, which means “claw”. He is also said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. Christianity has also had it’s hand in influencing his legend. Christians added chains to him that people believe is supposed to evoke the binding of the devil. They also added the basket he takes kids to Hell in.
In more recent times, a take on the tradition, Krampuslauf, in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic has drunk dudes dressing up as devils, chasing people in the streets.
