Credit: © FooTToo, Shutterstock

When thinking of the Christmas holiday, many think of Saint Nicholas. Did you know he had a beastlike companion who disciplines naughty children? The Krampus is a figure in the Christmas folklore of the central European nation of Austria. Krampus didn’t dole out coal, it often threatened ‘bad’ kids with physical punishment. Krampus was modeled after the Christian Devil, also known as Satan, and northern European gods whose worship predated the introduction of Christianity in the region. The name Krampus comes from the old German word krampen, meaning claw.

Krampus originated in the Middle Ages (about the 400′s through the 1400′s), when the famous bishop St. Nicholas became a popular gift-giving figure. Traditionally, St. Nicholas brought presents to well-behaved children on December 5 or December 6, his feast day. Medieval Christians also created a companion for St. Nicholas to discipline badly behaved children, as they pictured the Devil punishing sinners. The companion served as a sort of alter ego of St. Nicholas—that is, another aspect of his nature, or a close associate. This tradition was especially popular in central and eastern Europe. The companion was known as Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert) or Belsnickel (also spelled Pelznickel or Belsnichol) in parts of Germany, Schmutzli in Switzerland, Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) in what is now the Netherlands, and Krampus in Austria.

An illustration of Krampus
Credit: © darko m, Shutterstock

Among the different versions of St. Nicholas’s companion, Krampus was especially frightening. Images of Krampus show him with large, goatlike horns; a long tongue and sharp teeth; and hooves on one or both legs. Some accounts describe Krampus with an empty basket on his back, for carrying away naughty children. In some descriptions, Krampus carries chains, and holds a whip or birch twigs for beating children.

The purpose of Krampus was to scare children into being good. Accounts about St. Nicholas describe the bishop as intervening on behalf of naughty children so that Krampus did not actually harm them. St. Nicholas would scold a naughty child, usually a boy, and tell him that he had to change his ways and obey his parents. Over time, Krampus became a less frightening figure. In the 1800′s in Austria, accounts described Krampus as accompanying St. Nicholas through village streets and to children’s homes, suggesting that he was not really all that dangerous.

In some parts of the world, St. Nicholas developed to become the jolly figure of Santa Claus. Santa’s only associates are elves who make toys and visit with children in department stores at Christmastime. However, the Krampus tradition has survived. Some communities in Europe hold Krampus events on December 5, known as Krampusnacht (Krampus night). People dress up as Krampus and celebrate in the streets. Krampus also has been the subject of novels, television programs, video games, and even a motion picture called Krampus (2015).

December 6, 2016

Last night, December 5, was Saint Nicholas Eve. On this night, the kindly patron saint of children traditionally visits homes to leave gifts for well-behaved youths. But did you know that last night was also Krampusnacht (German for Krampus night)? Krampusnacht is a celebration of the lesser-known, darker companion of St. Nicholas named Krampus, whose purpose is to scare little ones into being good.

On St. Nicholas Eve, some people dress in elaborate, frightening Krampus costumes and participate in parades celebrating Krampusnacht (Krampus night). Credit: © Sergio Delle Vedove, Shutterstock

In Austrian Christmas folklore, Krampus is a beastlike figure modeled after the Christian Devil and northern European pagan gods. Krampus disciplines naughty children, often threatening them with physical punishment. Images of Krampus show him with large, goatlike horns, a long tongue, sharp teeth, and hooves. Some accounts describe him with an empty basket on his back—used for carrying away misbehaving kids! He is sometimes pictured carrying chains, and holding birch twigs or a whip for beating unfortunate little ones.

The Krampus legend originated in the Middle Ages, when St. Nicholas, a historic bishop from modern day Turkey, became a popular gift-giving figure. Medieval Christians created a companion for the saint to discipline naughty children and to serve as a sort of alter ego (other self or close associate) of Nicholas. This tradition was especially popular in central and eastern Europe. The Krampus companion has various names, including Knecht Ruprecht or Belsnickel in parts of Germany, Schmutzli in Switzerland, and Zwarte Piet in the Netherlands.

In the legends, St. Nicholas prevents Krampus from actually harming any children. Instead, Nicholas scolds the children and tells them to change their ways. Over time, the Krampus figure became less frightening. In the 1800’s in Austria, accounts described him as accompanying St. Nicholas through village streets and to children’s homes, suggesting that he was not really so dangerous. In modern times, Krampus has been the subject of novels, comics, television programs, video games, and at least one motion picture (Krampus, 2015). Playful holiday cards called Krampuskarten feature such greetings as Grüß Vom Krampus! (Greetings from Krampus) and images of Krampus disciplining children or wooing attractive young women.

Today, communities in Austria, southeastern Germany, northern Italy, and other parts of Europe celebrate the Krampus tradition on Krampusnacht or other days with parades, Krampuslaufe (Krampus runs), and other forms of “frightening” revelry. Participants dress up in elaborate, terrifying costumes complete with glowing eyes and fiery hands, impersonating Krampus to pay tribute to this popular “anti-Santa.” Such events have even spread to communities in the United States. Spectators can expect to hear intimidating growls rather than jolly Ho-ho-ho’s, and possibly even a swipe with a birchwood switch!