Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I Wonder If I Could Get Enough Material To Celebrate 25 Days of Krampus This Year?

 
I grew up with a healthy fear of this son-of-a-bitch so this year I will celebrate all the things that makes Brother Krampus so great. He comes from the part of Europe that Grimm's Fairy Tales do so you know something was messed up in those parts of the hills and mountains of western Europe to create such gruesome fairy tales and such a ghastly beast.
 
Krampus is a mythical creature recognized in Alpine countries. According to legend, Krampus accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children, in contrast to St. Nicholas, who gives gifts to good children. When the Krampus finds a particularly naughty child, it stuffs the child in its sack and carries the frightened child away to its lair, presumably to devour for its Christmas dinner.

In the Alpine regions, Krampus is represented as a beast-like creature, generally demonic in appearance. The creature has roots in Germanic folklore. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December, and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. There are many names for Krampus, as well as many regional variations in portrayal and celebration.

4 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Hmmm, my ancestors came from the Swiss Alps. Explains a lot, actually. A LOT OF SCARS!!!

D.I. Felipe González said...

I prefer to celebrate the "Sol Invictus", so the Krampus will be anecdotic to me.

Dr. Theda said...

I just did a post on this Holiday Tradition.... Looking forward to your upcoming posts good Sir...

Konsumterra said...

i croatian ex boss said you could poo in clogs left outside in winter of the rich then blame krampus