Gruss vom Krampus
Yule is upon us! It’s the season of joy, celebration and winter festivities. There are gifts under the tree and carols drifting from the radio, as we settle in for the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Will you be paid a visit from St. Nicholas or the Krampus? “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good... So be good or an ancient pagan demon monster will beat you with birch switches, toss you into a scratchy satchel bag and drag you into the depths of hell, where you will meet a fiery and untimely demise.”
The Krampus, a Yuletide demon, is here to terrorize and deliver some holiday style vigilante justice to wicked children (looking at you, Trump). The Krampus has Germanic roots and was born through pagan rituals celebrating Yule. His name derives from the German word Krampen, which translates to “claw.” The Krampus is an ancient Norse deity, the son of the goddess Hel, who rules the underworld. Unlike St. Nicholas, with his jubilant suit, rosy cheeks, broad smile and plump belly, the Krampus is a menacing hoofed creature with gnarled horns, beastly wild hair, sharp teeth, a long spindly tongue and crimson skin. The anti-St. Nicholas also dons heavy black chains, dark bells and a satchel full of birch switches to wallop children who have misbehaved over the year.
Sound familiar? It is believed that the concept of Krampus was assimilated into Christianity as the wrathful Devil (the Krampus also looks very similar to how the Devil is depicted in tarot cards). Christianity appropriated many pagan customs and traditions, as a marketing ploy to assimilate pagan heathens into their religion. The church attempted to ban Krampus, but the spirit of this festive demon persisted for centuries. Grudgingly, the Krampus was incorporated into Christian winter celebrations by pairing him with St. Nicholas.
According to legend, Krampus and St. Nicholas are said to arrive on the evening of December 5th- Krampusnacht, “Krampus Night”. On this night, Jolly old St. Nicholas rewards benevolent, behaved children by leaving presents, whereas the Krampus beats those who are naughty with scary branches and pointy sticks. If you have been EXTRA naughty, he will stuff you into a bag and haul you off to hell. On the next morning, December 6th, the good children awaken to unwrap their gifts. The bad children receive the gift that keeps on giving- trauma! They are left to nurse their Krampus-inflicted injuries, reckoning with their new demonic childhood trauma and pondering all the poor life choices that led them to this dismal moment in time. This old, terrifying tale is woven into Yuletide culture that still prevails today.
The iconic Krampus has experienced a resurgance over the past few years, thanks to a rise in paganism, the pop culture “bah, humbug” can’t do attitude and depictions in artwork and movies (one of which is my favorite holiday/horror movie of all time- Krampus, which came out in 2015). Modern celebrations in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, keep the spirit of the Krampus alive through raucous adult festivities, including the Krampuslauf, or “Krampus Run.” Krampuslauf is a drunken party where people dress as the Krampus and chase one another through the streets, as a ridiculous, yet awesome, nod to ancient pagan rituals meant to dispel winter ghosts. You can also find Krampus holiday cards, decor and pagan spiritual tools- I myself have a Krampus themed altar!
Assuming you survive the winter solstice and are not overtaken by the Krampus, remember to wear your mask and don’t be a dick in 2021, and you just might survive another year (literally survive- wear your masks). Happy Holidays and Gruss vom Krampus, “Greetings from the Krampus!”
My 2020 Yule Altar, complete with Krampus imagery, skulls and my plague doctor.
