Krampus is an Austrian tradition, hence the writing “Gruß vom Krampus” which is German and translates to “Greetings from Krampus”.
The legend of Krampus, which predates Christianity, started in the Alpine region of Europe, specifically, the Austrian Alps. The Krampus tale gradually spread throughout Austria and into neighboring countries including Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, northern Italy and Croatia.
It is an old tradition to send above card or similar ones anonymously to a friend pranking him/her or telling him something you wouldn’t want to tell in person. He is the companion of St. Nicholas and usually many guys dress up as Krampus and some older guys dress up as St. Nicholas’ and roam the streets on the evening of Dec 5th in almost every town in Austria.
Krampus usually frighten kids by looking scary (and let me tell you, they for sure do *brrr*) and hitting some of them with a wicker. Kids are being asked by St. Nicholas whether they did behave well in the past year and then receive small gift’s in red bags that they can open next day in the morning.
Living in America for the past 8 years I realized the fact that American kids never really seem to have to ‘earn‘ a Christmas gift. And this concept might be totally weird to you if you are coming from another country, but in Austria we kids have to literally earn our Christmas gifts and let me tell you, it is not an easy task to accomplish. Why? Because of the evil Krampus, the Demon of Christmas. Read on ;).
As a kid growing up in Austria you better make sure to not have been naughty over the course of the past year. Why? Because naughty Austrian children are annually threatened with a Pagan Fertility Demon from deepest, darkest hell — a goat-legged, horned satyr who won’t leave coal as much as he will beat them savagely for their misdeeds and then drag them to hell (it’s somewhat more effective). I get goosebumps just thinking about him even now, as an adult.
So, let’s get to know Mr. Krampus, the Child-Eating Holiday Hell-beast, shall we? Here are 7 things you want to know about this crazy Austrian tradition ;).
1) Krampus Is Older Than Jesus
Krampus (from the German “Krampen,” or “Claw,” or “Giddy Child Murderer”) was born of a pre-Christian, Alpine Pagan tradition, and has been described as a “boozy goat-horned menace that whips children around Europe.” Krampus can also be identified by his matted-black hair, Gene Simmons-like tongue, and cloven hooves. He also sports a large wicker basket on his back, filled to the brim with thorny, unbreakable birch sticks. What are the sticks used for? Oh, we’re getting to that! WE’RE GETTING TO THAT!
2) Austrian Krampus Tradition Explained
As a young Austrian child you may reach an age where you don’t believe this Krampus shit anymore. Oh, who am I kidding? You don’t. You will always feel the fear on December the 5th, even if you live abroad. On December 5th, a herd of Austrian men dress up as Krampus, show up in front of your bedroom window, in full-Satan regalia, rattling rusty chains and large bells and screaming at you…every (!) December 5th. And while you’re pissing down your lederhosen, your parents then let them in the house, asking if you have been a naughty child or not, if you have, you get spanked; and afterwards your parents sit down with the Krampus and Nikolo to have a few drinks (ok. not always).
Known as “Krampusnacht: Night of the Krampus”, the Christmas Demons invade also almost every single Austrian town and parade through the streets, displaying their horrifying masks and torture instruments.
3) Krampus Has Mastered Many Forms of Punishment
When it comes to punishment, Krampus doesn’t stop at mere birch rods. That would be too kind. Under the careful tutelage of Pinhead and various Cenobites, Krampus’ retribution repertoire grew ten-fold over the centuries. According to a series of very popular 1800s postcards, Krampus enjoyed: ripping pigtails out, leading children off a cliff, sadistic ear-pulling, putting pre-teens in shackles, forcing children to beg for mercy, and throwing youngsters on an Express Train to The Lake of Fire (making no local stops). And then there’s my favorite: drowning children to death in ink and fishing out the corpse with a pitchfork. It’s like The Grinch meets Hostel. So be aware if you find yourself in Austria on December, the 5th :).
4) Krampus Makes a Terrible Video Game Boss
Krampus’ made a brief cameo in the arcade game CarnEvil — better known as that shitty first-person shooter with the broken trigger collecting dust at your local Multiplex game lobby. While he looks more like a Santa/Krampus/Rudolph hybrid, and spouts off terrifying bon mots such as “I’ll stuff YOUR stocking!”, the pixilated poser can’t hold a candle to the real, eye-gouging legend of old. But it’s another pretty good example of America taking something foreign, and making it less fun or interesting.
5) Krampus Brought Nazis and Christians Together For a Common Purpose
It’s true! If it’s one thing both Hitler and Christian fundamentalists can agree on, it’s hating Krampus. Not since Mel Gibson has there been such a confluence of anti-Semitism and religious fervor. A 1934 New York Times article headlined “Krampus Disliked in Facist Austria” declared Krampus “Strictly Verboten”: police were ordered to “arrest the devil on sight.” He was even labeled – and I am not kidding you – “the work of wicked Social Democrats.”
But the Krampus tradition survived, as it did during the Inquisition when you’d be put to death by the Catholic Church for impersonating the devil. The New York Times goes on to call Krampus “harmless,” tell of his bringing “candies and delights” to children and remarks that “Krampus balls are the first sign of Christmas jollification.” Even in 1934, The New York Times did not actually check its sources.
6) Krampus Has More Terrible, Evil Brothers
In case you might wonder, Krampus is not the only Holiday Demon in Europe. Iceland folklore cites “13 Santa figures, known as the Jolasveinar,” each more terrible than the next. Like, there’s Hurdaskellir, or “The Door Slammer.” Then there are vicious elves named “The Window Peeper,” “The Sausage Snatcher,” and “The Doorway Sniffer.” Not in my most scary nightmares can I imagine what any of these entail. There is also Pelzebock or Pelznickel in southern Germany, and Gumphinckel in Silesia. In Hungary, there is Krampusz, and in Switzerland, Schmutzli.
7) In case you still want to know more about Krampus, check out the following links:
http://www.kctv5.com/story/24246425/forget-santa-you-better-watch-out-for-krampus http://krampus.com/ http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=krampus&search_type=handmade http://www.amazon.com/Krampus-Devil-Christmas-Monte-Beauchamp/dp/0867197471/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292543449&sr=1-1Gruss vom Krampus & Merry Christmas – & remember, only if you have been a good child this year ;)!
Talk to me about Austria 