This artikel ist mixing two different tradition,
1) Krampus, who is coming with St. Nikolas an the 5th December
2) Perchten, they looking like Krampus, but they are not Krampus
check this webside http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchten
Children dressed as Krampus wait to parade on Krampusnacht last year in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria.
Photograph by Sean Gallup, Getty
Published December 22, 2014
Krampus, a half-goat, half-demon of centuries-old Austrian lore who's known for beating naughty people around Christmastime, is having a moment.
Krampus parties and parades are happening across the United States, and the figure has his own American comic book series. Last week, Austrian-German actor Christoph Waltz told Jimmy Fallon about Krampus on the Tonight Show, with help from a Krampus doll.
"St. Nicholas comes with praise and presents and wisdom," Waltz said. "Krampus [comes] with a stick, a bag ... If you weren't good, you get stuck in the bag and hit and shipped off.
"You have to remember Sigmund Freud was Austrian," Waltz deadpanned.
Some Krampus fans say it's the commercialization of Christmas and the lure of a less cheery holiday character—Krampus has horns, dark hair, and fangs—that drove them to celebrate the beast.
"It's a way to celebrate the more unexplored side of the holidays," said Erica Saunders, managing director and collections manager of the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn, New York. The museum has thrown an annual Krampus costume party for the past few years.
Last year's second annual DC Krampusnacht brought out the demons in Washington, D.C.
"We're not devil worshipers," said Mark Maynard, who has helped organize an annual Krampus ball in Ypsilanti, Michigan, since 2011. "We're just having a party."
Origins of Krampus
Krampus, whose name is derived from the German word krampen, which means claw, is said to be the son of Hel, who rules the realm of the dead in Norse mythology. Krampus also shares characteristics with demonic creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns.
The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Austria and southern Germany, where Christmas celebrations begin in early December.
"It's really a pagan character which gets added onto Christmas, and stays in the Catholic countries," said Peter Jelavich, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore.
Krampus is a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas, who rewards children with sweets. Krampus, in contrast, swats "wicked" children with birch sticks and takes them to his lair.
According to folklore, Krampus shows up the night before December 6, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. December 6 is Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas Day, when German children look outside their door to see if the shoe or boot they'd left out the night before contains presents (a reward for good behavior) or a rod or twigs (for bad behavior).
Participants gather before dressing as Krampus in Neustift im Stubaital. More than 200 Krampuses participated in the first annual event last year.
Photograph by Sean Gallup, Getty
European Comeback
For years, Krampus was suppressed by the Catholic Church, which forbade raucous celebrations in the demon's name. During World War II, Europe's fascists deplored Krampus as a creation of the Social Democrats.
But the demon is making a comeback in his homeland. Austrian retailers are attempting to soften Krampus's persona by selling chocolates, figurines, and collectible horns. National Geographic has published a book in German about the Christmas beast.
In Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, many men celebrate Krampusnacht by getting drunk, dressing as devils, and taking over the streets in a kind of Krampus run, chasing pedestrians through the streets.
Krampus figures parade through Schladming, Austria, in November.
Mythology experts say that such antics present a way for humans to get in touch with their animalistic sides. (Read about European men reviving pagan traditions in National Geographic magazine.)
Jelavich theorizes that modern Krampus celebrations represent "Halloween for adults," as Krampus celebrations get tongue-in-cheek: "These days, Krampus is the fun character."
22 comments
It is the message bad little children need to hear in modern times. We can not spank you or beat you when you misbehave , but wait till Krampus gets a hold of you!
Krampus tradition is diffused in some parts of northern Italy too. South Tyrol and Valcanale (Pontebba, Malborghetto, Tarvisio, Fusine) for example.
This is also the origin of 'Black Pete' (zwarte piet) in the Netherlands. We celebrate the 5th of december. St Nicolas has helpers, like the elfs, only they are people dressed as child slaves from our 'golden age' (17th century). Black Pete is the one with the rod and sack. If you have been a bad child he hits you and you go in the sack. Nowadays he is more a happy character which, so is said, has turned black from climbing down the chimney. Either way the last couple of years there has been a lot of discussion about the reverences to slavery and the use of blackface.
Yeah, I agree with that. I am just a normal guy from southern Austria, Klagenfurt. We celebrate every year this hellish holiday with the biggest Krampusumzug, Krampus parade, of Austria. Over 50.000 visitors came to see the over 1000 Krampusse spreading fear on their 1 mile journey to the city central this year.
Just another thing that will end up being commercialized for profit. But watch out, someone will end up doing something very bad and then blame it on this!
I think it's awesome that other countries celebrate in their old traditions and for those of you easily offended by this you should continue to hide in the cave you have chosen to live in. You should embrace what others find value as you expect others to see in you. Why does is bother you so much when what they do in their lives most likely does not directly effect you? Stop labeling people and starting getting to know thy neighbor right? It starts with you....peace on Earth.
Doesn't ANYone recognize "K" !? This is NOT just an amusement. Remember he's a trickster and a liar and uses many methods to take over, using our weaknesses against us, and THEN he "lowers-the-boom"! Beware Christians! The devil is alive and well on planet Earth.
@Simon Drent this is true. My parents are dutch but I was born and raised in Austria. I always wondered if the zwarte piet and the krampus have some sort of connection
@Philipp Wernig I'm from Klagenfurt too. Don't forget our lovely Perchten, they are even more specific than Krampus
@J M I have many times. And I can tell you it's full of too many contradictions to not be annoying and frankly it's rather boring.
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