Krampus and St. Nick

Tomorrow is December 5th. Many people in the Northern Cambria, Ebensburg, and surrounding areas know that on December 5th all the children put out their shoes in anticipation of the arrival of St. Nicholas. For those unaware of this tradition, the kindly saint visits all the houses and leaves candy, change, and perhaps a small toy for the good children and birch branches for the naughty children. But who or what is Krampus?

In old European tradition, St. Nicholas made his way around with his counterpart Krampus. While St. Nick would leave birch twigs, Krampus would whip, beat and even kidnap the very naughty children. What he would do with the kidnapped children varies depending on the part of Europe the story is derived from. Sometimes he would torture them other times he would devour them. Krampus dates back to pre-Germanic paganism. The name is derived from the German krampen, which translates to “claw”. While St. Nick is a kindly figure, Krampus is fur covered with nasty claws, horns, fangs and a long tongue. He is usually seen wearing bells and chains. The name of this companion figure changes depending on the region in Europe. Germany and Austria usually use Krampus, while other Germanic regions use Belsnickle, and Knecht Ruprecht among other names.

Old traditions are starting to make a come back in Europe and America. December 5th is being referred to more often as Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) and many cities are starting to host Krampuslauf (Krampus Run). At these large gatherings attendees will witness many Krampus and Krampus like figures parade through the streets and scare the attendees. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh both host such gatherings.

So if you and your family are looking to add a new tradition to your December holiday schedule, you might want to add Krampusnacht. Perhaps host a Krampus party, or go to one of the gatherings with hundreds of other people. If your are curious about Krampus, there are many good resources out there.

Article Info sourced from:

• The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas by Al Ridenour.
• The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa by Jennifer Billock. : https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/krampus-could-come-you-holiday-season-180957438/
• Who is Krampus? Explaining the Horrific Christmas Beast by Tanya Basu : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/12/131217-krampus-christmas-santa-devil/