[Folklore] Happy Krampus Day!

What? You think I could let this one slip by without saying at least a little something, you don't know me very well then. Shame on you...

Anyway, for those who don't know what the Krampus is, it's a most delightful of holidays. You see, Christmas isn't just gifts and the almighty consumer driven shopping insanity. Oh no...there's a whole other side to the holiday, a much darker and in my opinion...far more fun.

I've always loved other countries take on the Christmas season and being a follower, practitioner and lover of all things in the historic folklore category, Krampus Day fits into things extremely well. The fact that he's a freaky little bastard only helps the cause even more...

So, what's it all about?

In parts of Europe the Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated on 6 December. In Alpine countries, Saint Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus. On the preceding night, Krampus Night or Krampusnacht, the hairy devil appears on the streets. Sometimes he is accompanying St. Nicholas and sometimes all on his own, the Krampus then visits homes and businesses.

In these celebrations Saint Nicholas concerns himself only with the good children, while Krampus is responsible for the bad. Nicholas dispenses gifts, while Krampus supplies coal and the ruten, bundles of birch branches that are used to whip the bad children.

And you thought getting grounded was bad...

Another really fun Krampus tradition is the Krampuslauf, a run of celebrants dressed as the beast, often fueled by alcohol (the best kind, right?). During this, it is customary to offer a Krampus schnapps or other favored spirits, but schnapps is more common traditionally. However, these runs aren't just limited to Krampus as a whole, they may also include perchten, similarly wild pagan spirits of Germanic folklore, and sometimes female in representation.



If you're curious, here's a little look one of the parades...fun, eh?


And there ya have it, a wondrous mix of the terrifying, alcohol and even a little whipping fun...man, do the Europeans know how to throw a good party or what?!