The Krampus is a beast like goat creature in the Alpine regions that accamponies St. Nick and scares all the bad little boys and girls with whips and bells. Krampus is said to capture particularly naughty children in his sack and carry them away to his lair. 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.
Video below of the March of the Krampus in Graz, Austia so you all back home can get an idea of what one of these festivals look like! :)
Krampus attack South Tryol!
Last winter while we were living in Italy I learned about this Christmas tradition! I was unable to blog about this, last year because we didn't have a computer all December :( So all of these pictures are from last year while in Italy. The night of December 5th Kevin's teams had a game in Pontebba and that is the night they celebrate the Krampus! So the Krampus was at the rink ringing there bells and on the ice while the boys skated out!
They are so scary I was terrified of them when I walked to the rink from our apartment all by myself before the game while they were all over the streets!
Waiting to go on the ice!
We went to a Krampus festival in Tolmezzo, Italy last winter! They did their whole scary thing with fire!
The history of the Krampus figure stretches back to pre-Christian Germanic traditions. He also shares characteristics with the satyrs of Greek mythology. The early Catholic Church discouraged celebrations based around the wild goat-like creatures, and during the Inquisition efforts were made to stamp them out.
In the 20th century, Austrian governments discouraged the practice. In the aftermath of the 1934 Austrian Civil War, the Krampus tradition was prohibited by the Dollfuss regime under the Fatherland Front (Vaterländische Front) and the Christian Social Party.
In the 1950s, the government distributed pamphlets titled "Krampus is an Evil Man".
Towards the end of the century, a popular resurgence of Krampus celebrations occurred and continues today. There has been public debate in Austria in modern times about whether Krampus is appropriate for children.
Krampus physical characteristics. He is hairy, usually brown or black, and has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat. His long pointed tongue lolls out.
Krampus carries chains, thought to symbolize the binding of the Devil by the Christian Church. He thrashes the chains for dramatic effect. They are often accompanied with bells.
Of more pagan origins are the ruten, bundles of birch branches or sometimes whips that Krampus carries and occasionally swats children with. Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a washtub strapped to his back; this is to cart off evil children for drowning, eating, or transport to Hell.
The word Krampus is a derivation of the old German word for claw.
They ended the show with fireworks!
Italian Word of the Day:
Scintillare meaning Sparkle
Fuoco meaning Fire
PEACE & LOVE,
Kevin & Amanda
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