Considered to be the cruel alternative to old St Nick, the Krampus tale originated in Germanic/Austrian legend and is popular folklore throughout many countries in Europe. While Santa Claus rewards the good children, the Krampus punishes the bad!
The Christmas Devil?
The catholic church once attempted to ban the Krampus due to its resemblance to the devil, the half man, half goat creature, punishes bad children by swatting them with his branches and sticks and swooping them up into his basket and haul them off to his lair to be tortured. The Christmas anthropomorphic figure is often depicted with a cloven hoof for one foot and gnarly foot on the other leg, a huge tongue and claws. Infact, the name "Krampus" derives from the German word "Krampen" meaning claw.
The Krampusnacht (Krampus Night)
Krampus night occurs on the 5th December. The Krampus would join St Nicholas on the 5th of December, visiting house to house to reward the good children and punish the bad. St Nicholas would leave treats for the good children and the Krampus would leave sticks or even a piece of coal for the naughty children. The baddest children would be swooped up into the Krampus' sack and taken away for further punishment.
How is the Krampus celebrated?
Since the 1800's, Christmas cards depicting the horned creature have been sent, with sometimes quite whimsical illustrations. But possibly the most famous way of remembering the story of the Krampus is the Krampus Run. Full of schnapps, revelers dress up as the Krampus in ornate costumes and parade the streets scaring the spectators.
The Krampus has grown in popular culture in the last 20 years and its one of our favourite things to draw! Do you have any strange or unusual Christmas traditions?
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