Krampusnacht to Christmas
Where's Krampus?
Every year on Krampusnacht, the night of December 5th, Krampus wakes in his Alpine cave and sets out to see who has been good and who has been horrible. Follow his trail all the way to Floyd, and be a good hooman until Christmas.
Still sleeping
He wakes on Krampusnacht, Saturday, December 5
Until then, the bells are quiet. Mostly.
Who is Krampus?
Krampus comes from the folklore of the Alps, especially Austria, Bavaria and the mountain villages around them. Shaggy and horned, part goat and part demon, with a long red tongue, he travels as the dark companion of St. Nicholas. Saint Nick rewards the good children. Krampus deals with the rest. His name is often traced to the old German word Krampen, meaning claw.
Krampusnacht
December 5th, the eve of St. Nicholas Day, is Krampusnacht: Krampus Night. In the old tales he arrives rattling chains and ringing bells, carrying a bundle of birch switches for swatting naughty children and a basket on his back for hauling the truly horrible ones away to his lair. The next morning, good children find their shoes and boots filled with sweets, nuts and oranges from St. Nicholas.
The Krampuslauf
In Alpine towns the tradition is still very much alive. Each December crowds gather for the Krampuslauf, the Krampus Run, a parade of Krampuses in hand-carved wooden masks, sheepskins and huge clanging cowbells, chasing onlookers through the snowy streets.
Greetings from Krampus
In the 1800s Europeans began mailing each other holiday cards showing Krampus up to mischief, often with the words Gruß vom Krampus: Greetings from Krampus. They are treasured by collectors today.
Why we celebrate him
Krampus and Saint Nicholas have always traveled together, and that is the balance: one keeps watch over mischief, the other rewards goodness. And in the old tales, nobody is ever beyond redemption. A naughty child can always turn things around through service and kindness. So help a neighbor, share what you have and be a good hooman. He's watching, and so is the Dragon Queen.
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