Historians remain unsure as to the exact origins of the Krampus figure in folklore, but it is believed that like Santa, Krampus predates Christianity, stemming from Norse and Alpine traditions and Germanic paganism. As such, it was a useful tale told to children to scare them into goodness. If being good for Santa wasn’t enough for a delinquent, Krampus’ reputation and fearsome appearance terrified children into behaving. Saint Nicholas and Krampus visit a Viennese home (1896 illustration).

It was said this dark partner with a serpentine tail would turn up to the house during the Christmas season to punish the wicked child He would beat him with a bundle of birch sticks, whip them with horsehair, and throw him into a sack or wicker basket to take him down to Hell for a year.

It was believed he would give beatings, and kidnap the kids, bringing them down to his underworld lair to live for a year.Īccording to the centuries-old legends, if a child misbehaved, Saint Nicholas, in his omniscience, would know and send his associate, Krampus. It is believed that the long-horned, shaggy, goat-like monster with a long, angry face and lolling, forked tongue would visit the home of misbehaving children to punish them. He was the mythical Krampus, companion to Saint Nicholas (known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, etc.) While Saint Nicholas now has the reputation of loving all children and visiting them at Christmastime, judging their character and giving gifts to the ‘nice’ ones and lumps of coal to the ‘naughty’ ones, Krampus plays the dangerous sidekick.Ī 1900s greeting card reading 'Greetings from the Krampus!' ( Public Domain ) The unnerving beast was no demon, however. The strangest part was that he was in league with Santa Claus. The Krampus could be heard in the night by the sound of his echoing cloven hooves and his rattling iron chains. In ancient times, a dark, hairy, horned beast was said to show up at the door to beat children, and carry them off in his sharp claws.

Pictures with krampus near me