Krampusnacht 2019

2019-12-05

There was a late addition to my Christmas holiday observance ... Krampus. He is a figure from central European folklore who punishes children who have misbehaved while Saint Nicholas rewards those who were well behaved over the previous year.

He manifests as a horned goat looking demon and the several movies I enjoyed regarding his character were quite shocking to behold.

Krampusnacht

While the Feast of St Nicholas is celebrated on December 6 Krampus Night or Krampusnacht goes down on the previous night of December 5.

The wicked hairy devil appears on the streets — and is sometimes in the company of St Nick and often times alone. Krampus visits homes and businesses. Krampus handles all of the bad children bestowing coal and the Ruten bundles (birch branches) with which he sometimes swats the children as well.

Krampuslauf

It is customary to offer a Krampus schnapps, a strong distilled fruit brandy. I suppose a nice stiff alcoholic beverage gets him all warmed up and ready to bestow the evenings punishment.

Krampuskarten

Images of Krampus may be found on many different postcards and candy containers.

I wish you a happy Krampusnacht and I hope you are in the group of good children whom he will bypass altogether.