KRAMPUS, THE CHRISTMAS
DEMON
Santa
Claus has long been the symbol of Christmas, bringing joy and presents to all
the good girls and boys.
But
if you are child in Germany, Austria, and other parts of the Alps region, there
may be something much more dark, mischievous, and grumpy hidden in the shadows
next to dear old St. Nick. That something is Krampus, the Christmas demon.
A
beast-like creature with fangs, fur, and horns, Krampus announces his presence
with loud bells and terrorizes the kids who have been naughty during the year.
While
Santa gives the good ones gifts and joy, Krampus gives the bad ones beatings
with a whip (made from birch sticks and horsehair) and nightmares.
As
for the really, really naughty kids, Krampus drops them in a sack (or a wicker
basket on his back) and whisks them away to his lair – which is of course the
underworld – never to be seen again.
So
how did this mythological beast come to be a part of this region’s Christmas
tradition?
High
up in the Alp countries of Europe is where Krampus was born, or, more accurately,
where the legend was created.
The
word “Krampus” is derived from the Old High German word krampen, meaning
“claw.” According to Norse mythology, Krampus is the son of Hel, the goddess
ruler of the underworld.
There
are also a few physical similarities between Krampus and Greek mythical
creatures – like the horns and hoofs of satyrs and fauns.
Scholars
estimate that Krampus started appearing around the 13th century, if not earlier
– perhaps in the 11th century.
Originating
in Southern Germany and Austria (the area known as Bavaria), the creature moved
to other European countries such as Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and
even the Alp villages of Italy, sometimes with variations on the name and
practiced customs.
For
example, in Tyrol (a state in western Austria), Krampus tends to look like a
giant, sadistic, teddy bear. In western Germany, he actually arrives with
Santa, sitting shotgun in his sleigh. In Styria (southeast Austria), the birch
sticks used for his whip are painted gold and displayed year around, to remind
kids of Krampus’s impending arrival.
According
to Al Ridenour, director of Krampusfest LA and in an article he wrote for Atlas
Obscura, this is due to the regions’ isolation and each
communities’ interpretation of Krampis. Said Ridenour,
“Long
before the circulation of any (art) standardizing the image, the isolating
Alpine terrain of Krampus’ native habitat encouraged strong regional
variations. And without any grounding source text to nail down his appearance,
the original Krampus would have been a shapeless bogeyman defined only by oral
tradition, a freeform figure variously described by parents and other
storytellers.”
As
Christianity took over the region, Krampus wasn’t forgotten, but rather altered
to match changing customs. No longer thought of as a pagan tradition, he was
given chains, to show the “devil” being binded by the Church.
Soon,
Krampus was attached to St. Nick, a Christian saint and the owner of his very
own feast day (or celebration) on December 6th. St. Nick, himself, wouldn’t be
closely associated with Christmas until early 19th century with the name Santa
Claus coming from the Dutch of the protracted words for St. Nicholas.
In
many parts of Germany and Austria, St. Nick is still separate from Christmas
and celebrated on December 6th.
To
further the connection between the two, Krampus was awarded his own night on
December 5th, the day before St. Nick’s feast (the same evening when kids would
put a boot outside, hoping St. Nick drops fruit and nuts into it).
Called
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night), Krampus bounds around making loud noises and
scaring kids. This night is still celebrated in the Alps region with it being
customary to offer Krampus a drink of warm schnapps.
Despite
these attachments to Christianity, some pagan traditions have survived and are
still part of today’s Krampus. To wit, he continues to carry bells, which were
customarily used to ward off spirits. As mentioned, the animal-like appearance
of most Krampus’ also date to pagan times.
Krampus,
along with other German pagan legends, started to regain acceptance and a
following in the 19th century. This was partially due to the ancient German
folk tales that the Brothers Grimm popularized in the early 1800s.
In
fact, Krampus gets a quick reference in Jacob Grimm’s 1835 book Deutsche Mythologie (translated
to “Teutonic Mythology”).
Art
and postcards were also created that showed off Krampus and people began to
exchange Krampus cards (with some saying “Greetings from the Krampus”) in
Europe during the late 19th century as a rather peculiar way of saying “happy
holidays.”
They
tended to be kitschy in nature, even with somewhat sexual overtones such as a
Krampus scaring a good-looking, half-dressed woman.
Krampus
hasn’t always been an accepted European tradition. In 1934, four years before
the Third Reich overran Germany and Austria, The New York Times ran an article with the
headline, “Krampus Disliked in Fascist Austria; Gienel Black and Red Devil,
Symbol of Christmas Fun, Is Frowned Upon.”
The
article goes on to say how the Austrian Fascist government outlawed Krampus,
even going so far as claiming he was socialist. When the fascist government
fell after World War II, Krampus was allowed to walk the streets once again.
More
recently, Krampus has started his rise in popularity in America, with Krampus
festivals across the country, including ones in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and
New York City.
So,
next time someone says “happy holidays” to you, feel free to greet them back
with “May Krampus not take your child away in a basket.”
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http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/12/krampus-christmas-demon/
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