Santa Claus is a well-known and loved holiday tradition. Also known as Kris Kringle and Old Saint Nick, Santa Claus is a jolly old fellow who lives at the North Pole with a team of reindeer and elves, who spend the year making toys for all the world’s children, then delivering them through chimneys on Christmas Eve. Everyone knows that Santa is especially famous for making his list and checking it twice, to determine which children have been naughty and which have been nice, and distributing presents accordingly. Everyone knows that the naughty children receive lumps of coal in their stockings, rather than candy and toys. But what you may not know is that this has not always been the case. A lump of coal would be a welcome gift compared to what a bad child would have received back in the day. If you were a misbehaving child living in Germany and the surrounding areas up until the early 20th Century, you could expect a visit from the Krampus.
The Krampus, a name that you may recognize from the recently released comedic horror film of the same name, is a long-standing figure in Alpine folklore. Though it is unclear where exactly the creature got its origins, he seems to be a mix of Greek, Germanic and Norse mythological creatures, and was later incorporated into the Christian tradition of Saint Nicholas. Legend has it that the Krampus is a large, furry creature with goat-like horns, one human foot and one hoof. He has been compared to other creatures of lore, such as satyrs, fauns and chimera.While Saint Nicholas would reward good children with candy and treats, the Krampus would swat bad children with a switch or a rod, or snatch them up to take back to his lair. Some versions of the legend are much darker than others, but the common theme is that the Krampus served as the counterpart to good Saint Nick, and a cautionary tale to would-be misbehaving children everywhere.
Although the Krampus has been largely eliminated from modern day Christmas celebrations in American, one tradition which many Americans do celebrate has its origins in Krampus-lore, though they may not know it. On Dec. 6, often known as “Saint Nicholas Day,” children leave out a shoe for Saint Nicholas and generally awake to find a little gift or treat from the jolly old elf. However, the night before Saint Nicholas Day is known as “Krampusnacht,” or Krampus Night. On that night, the Krampus would seek out the bad children, leaving only the good ones to receive their gifts from Saint Nicholas. Krampusnacht is still celebrated in many parts of Europe, particularly Austria and Germany, generally by a raucous nighttime parade where men will dress up as the Krampus and cavort through the town.
Just when you think you know everything there is to know about Christmas, the Krampus shows that there is always something more to learn. So, be good on Krampusnacht, and if you get a lump of coal on Christmas Day, just be thankful that it wasn’t a visit from the Krampus.
