Krampus (2003 Perchtenlauf in Woelfnitz, Austria)

The Companions of Saint Nicholas (or Father Christmas) are a group of closely related figures who accompany St. Nicholas in many European traditions. The tradition is particularly strong amongst the Germanic peoples, with some regional expression in the U.S. (largely from European ethnic groups). Download high resolution version (974x1194, 219 KB)Perchtenlauf Pagan tradition in Austria Photographed by Klafubra on the 19. ... Download high resolution version (974x1194, 219 KB)Perchtenlauf Pagan tradition in Austria Photographed by Klafubra on the 19. ... Excerpt from Josiah Kings The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England Father Christmas is the name used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other Commonwealth countries, for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas... Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Thor/Donar, Germanic thunder god. ...

The most recognized companion, especially outside of Europe, is Knecht Ruprecht, which translates as Farmhand Ruprecht or Servant Ruprecht. Other companions include Krampus (Austria, Bavaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary [spelled Krampusz]), Klaubauf (Bavaria), Bartel (Styria), Pelzebock, Pelznickel, Belzeniggl, Belsnickel (Pennsylvania), Schmutzli (Switzerland), Rumpelklas, Bellzebub, Hans Muff, Drapp or Buzebergt (Augsburg), Hanstrapp (Alsace, East of France) and Le Père Fouettard (Northern France). In the Czech Republic, St. Nicholas or Svatý Mikuláš is accompanied by the Čert and Anděl (Angel). These servants are often associated with, but are distinct from Saint Nicholas' helpers in the Netherlands and Flanders (called Zwarte Piet, meaning Black Pete(r) in English). For other uses, see Bavaria (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Bavaria (disambiguation). ... Styria redirects here. ... Belsnickel (or Belschnickel) is a Pennsylvania Dutch mythical being who visits children at Christmas time. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other meanings for Augsburg: See Augsburg (disambiguation) , Augsburg is a city in south-central Germany. ... (New region flag) (Region logo) Location Administration Capital Regional President Departments Bas-Rhin Haut-Rhin Arrondissements 13 Cantons 75 Communes 903 Statistics Land area1 8,280 km² (??? mi) km² Population (Ranked 14th)  - January 1, 2006 est. ... Le Pere Fouettard Le Père Fouettard (French for The whipping Father) is a character who accompanies St. ... Zwarte Piet, together with Sinterklaas In the folklore and legends of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet ( (help· info)) (meaning Black Pete) is a companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch Sinterklaas) whose yearly feast in the Netherlands is 5 December and 6 December in Flanders, when they distribute presents to all...

Appearance

Often the subject of winter poems and tales, the Companions travel with St. Nicholas or his various equivalents (Father Christmas, Santa Claus), carrying with them a rod (sometimes a stick, a mace, switchblade, sythe, revolver, a magic top hat, bundle of switches or a whip, and in modern times often a broom) and a sack. They are sometimes dressed in black rags, bearing a black face and unruly black hair. In many contemporary portrayals the companions look like dark, sinister, or rustic versions of Nicholas himself, with a similar costume but with a darker color scheme. Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift... Excerpt from Josiah Kings The Examination and Tryal of Father Christmas (1686), published shortly after Christmas was reinstated as a holy day in England Father Christmas is the name used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other Commonwealth countries, for the gift-bringing figure of Christmas... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ...

Some of the companions take on more monstrous forms, namely in Austria, Bavaria, or Hungary. Krampus and Klaubauf are variously depicted as horned, shaggy, bestial, or demonic. In many depictions the Krampus looks like popular images of the Devil, complete with red skin, cloven hooves, and short horns. They whip everyone that comes on their path. For other uses, see Bavaria (disambiguation). ... This is an overview of the Devil. ... A cloven hoof is a type of hoof split into two toes, each encased by a layer of horn. ...

In Hungary, the Krampusz is often portrayed as mischevious rather than evil, wearing a black suit, with a tail and little red horns that are rather funny than frightening. The Krampusz wields a Virgács, which is a bunch of twigs bound together. Parents often frighten children with getting a Virgács instead of presents, because if the do not behave, the Mikulás lets the Krampusz give them his present. By the end of November, you can buy all kinds of Virgács on the streets, usually painted gold, bound by a red ribbon. Getting a Virgács is rather fun than frightening, and is usially given along with presents to make kids behave.

It is unclear whether the various companions of St. Nicholas are all expressions of a single tradition (likely Knecht Ruprecht), or a conflation of multiple traditions. Various texts, especially those outside the tradition, often treat the companions as variations on a single Knecht Ruprecht tradition.

Traditionally, Knecht Ruprecht would sometimes be portrayed as being Black African, like Zwarte Piet in the Benelux. However, over recent decades this became regarded as offensive by some as Zwarte Piet as the silly helper of Sinterklaas. So, the black on his face is sometimes explained as soot collected as he descends into chimneys. This article is about the color black; for other uses, see Black (disambiguation). ... Zwarte Piet, together with Sinterklaas In the folklore and legends of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet ( (help· info)) (meaning Black Pete) is a companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch Sinterklaas) whose yearly feast in the Netherlands is 5 December and 6 December in Flanders, when they distribute presents to all... Location of Benelux in Europe Official languages Dutch and French Membership  Belgium  Netherlands  Luxembourg Website http://www. ... Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Pieten helpers arrive in the town of Sneek on November 12th 2005 Sinterklaas (also called Sint Nikolaas in Dutch ( ) and Saint Nicolas in French) is a holiday tradition in the Netherlands and Belgium, celebrated every year on Saint Nicholas eve (December 5) or, in Belgium, on...

Tales

Knecht Ruprecht is commonly cited as a servant and helper, and is sometimes associated with Saint Rupert. According to some stories, Ruprecht began as a farmhand; in others, he is a wild foundling whom St. Nicholas raises from childhood. Ruprecht sometimes walks with a limp, because of a childhood injury. Often, his black clothes and dirty face are attributed to the soot he collects as he goes down chimneys. Rupert of Salzburg (? - 710) is a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and a founder of the Austrian city of Salzburg. ...

The companion of the French St. Nicholas, Père Fouettard, is said to be the butcher of three children. St. Nicholas discovered the murder and resurrected the three children. He also shamed Père Fouettard, who, in repentance, became a servant of St. Nicholas. Fouettard travels with the saint and punishes naughty children by whipping them. In modern times he distributes small whips, instead of thrashings, or gifts. Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ...

Traditions

In some of the Ruprecht traditions the children would be summoned to the door to perform tricks, such as a dance or singing a song to impress upon Santa and Ruprecht that they were indeed good children. Those who performed badly would be beaten soundly by Servant Ruprecht, and those who performed well were given a gift or some treats. Those who performed badly enough or had committed other misdeeds throughout the year were put into Ruprecht's sack and taken away, variously to Ruprecht’s home in the Black Forest, or to be tossed into a river. In other versions the children must be asleep, and would either awake to find their shoes filled with sweets, coal, or in some cases a stick. Over time, other customs developed: parents giving kids who misbehaved a stick instead of treats and saying that it was a warning from Nikolaus that "unless you improve by Christmas day^{[citation needed]}, Nikolaus' black servant Ruprecht will come and beat you with the stick and you won't get any Christmas gifts." Often there would be variations idiosyncratic to individual families.^{[citation needed]} A map of Germany, showing the Black Forest in red. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ...

In parts of Austria, Krampusse, who by local tradition were typically children of poor families, roamed the streets and sledding hills during the festival. They wore black rags and masks, dragging chains behind them, and occasionally hurling them towards children in their way. These Krampusumzüge (Krampus runs) still exist, although perhaps less violent than in the past. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Festival (disambiguation). ...

Today, Schladming, a town in Styria, over 1200 "Krampus" gather from all over Austria wearing goat-hair costumes and carved masks, carrying bundles of sticks used as switches, and swinging cowbells to warn of their approach. They are typically young men in their teens and early twenties and are generally intoxicated. They roam the streets of this typically quiet town and hit people with their switches. It is not considered wise for young women to go out on this night, as they are popular targets.

In parts of the United States in the 19th century, "Pelznickel" traditions were maintained for a time among immigrants at least as far west as the US state of Indiana. In this branch of the tradition, the father or other older male relative was often "busy working outside" or had to see to some matter elsewhere in the house when Pelznickel arrived. Today, remnants of this tradition remain, known as the Belsnickel, especially in Pennsylvania. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Indiana (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

A first-hand 19th Century account of the "Beltznickle" tradition in Allegany County, Maryland, can be found in Brown's Miscellaneous Writings, a collection of essays by Jacob Brown (born 1824). Apparently writing of the 1820s/1830s period, Brown says, "we did not hear of" Santa Claus. Instead, the tradition called for an actual visit by a different character altogether. According to Brown, "[h]e was known as Kriskinkle, Beltznickle and sometimes as the Xmas woman. Children then not only saw the mysterious person, but felt him or rather his stripes upon their backs with his switch. The annual visitor would make his appearance some hours after dark, thoroughly disguised, especially the face, which would sometimes be covered with a hideously ugly phiz - generally wore a female garb - hence the name Christmas woman - sometimes it would be a veritable woman but with masculine force and action. He or she would be equipped with an ample sack about the shoulders filled with cakes, nuts, and fruits, and a long hazel switch which was supposed to have some kind of a charm in it as well as a sting. One would scatter the goodies upon the floor, and then the scramble would begin by the delighted children, and the other hand would ply the switch upon the backs of the excited youngsters - who would not show a wince, but had it been parental discipline there would have been screams to reach a long distance."^[1] Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Allegany County is a county in the western portion of the U.S. state of Maryland. ...

In many parts of Croatia, Krampus is described as a devil, wearing chains around his neck, ankles and wrists, and wearing a cloth sack around his waist. As a part of a tradition, when a child receives a gift from St. Nicolas he is given a golden branch to represent his/hers good deeds throughout the year; however, if the child has misbehaved, Krampus will take the gifts for himself and leave only a silver branch to represent the child's bad acts. Children are commonly scared into sleeping during the time St. Nicolas brings gifts by being told that if they are awake, Krampus will think they have been bad, and will take them away in his sack.

Popular culture

The Krampus was also featured on the television cartoon series The Venture Bros. In a short Christmas episode, the Krampus is accidentally released from a book of ancient occult magic and wreaks havoc on Dr. Venture's Christmas party, attempting to sodomize the Doctor before getting into a rather violent brawl with Brock Samson. The demon is soothed by the coming of Christmas at the stroke of midnight, but unwittingly detonates a bomb hidden under a small nativity scene set while exiting. At the end of the episode this is all revealed to have been an hallucination by Dr. Venture, brought on by a head injury incurred when the Venture jet crashed - in Bethlehem. The Venture Bros. ... A Very Venture Christmas is a Christmas special in the first season of The Venture Bros. ... Dr. Thaddeus S. Rusty Venture is one of the main characters on the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros. ... Brock Samson is one of the main characters on the Adult Swim show The Venture Bros. ...

In the arcade game CarnEvil, the boss for the "Rickety Town" level is named Krampus. He resembles a large, horned, clawed, demonic Santa Claus clad in green, and attacks by hurling flaming coals and swinging his bag at the player. The CarnEvil logo. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ...

The Krampus is mentioned in the webcomic Something Positive by Randy Milholland

A Character named Banjo in the graphic novel Chickenhare is a Krampus. Chickenhare is a graphic novel written by the American author Chris Grine. ...

The Christmas episode of the scifi series, Supernatural, upcoming third season will feature the Krampus as a demonic 'anti-Santa', who comes at night to punish children who have been naughty. This article is about the US TV series. ...

On the 2007 album by indie band Sunset Rubdown titled Random Spirit Lover, a picture of the Krampus is featured on the back of the cover. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Sunset Rubdown is an indie rock band based in Montreal, Canada. ... Ever becoming its own entity and less of a Wolf Parade side-project, Sunset Rubdown will release its third full-length album, Random Spirit Lover, on October 9, 2007. ...

References

"Do you have the Sack with you?"

I spoke: "the Sack, that is here;

because apples, nut and almond core

eat pious children gladly."

"Do you have the rod also with you?"

I spoke: "the rod, it is here;

but for the children, only the bad,

those it meets them right, upon their part."

(Translated excerpt of 'Farmhand Ruprecht' by Theodor Storm. Theodor Storm (1886) Theodor Woldsen Storm (September 14, 1817 in Husum, Germany - July 4, 1888 in Hademarschen, Germany) studied and practiced law in northern Germany. ...

Literature

• Müller, Felix / Müller, Ulrich: Percht und Krampus, Kramperl und Schiach-Perchten. In: Müller, Ulrich / Wunderlich, Werner (Hrsg.): Mittelalter-Mythen 2. Dämonen-Monster-Fabelwesen. St. Gallen 1999, S. 449 - 460.
• Laity, K. A.: When Little Joe the Krampus Met. Wombat's World Publishing, 2003.

See also

• Santa Claus
• Belsnickel
• Paganism in the Eastern Alps
• Sinterklaas
• Zwarte Piet
• Hardrock, Coco and Joe
• Mr. Bingle
• Santa Claus' reindeer

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Krampus

A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... Belsnickel (or Belschnickel) is a Pennsylvania Dutch mythical being who visits children at Christmas time. ... Procession in Klagenfurt The eastern and central Alpine region is rich in traditions dating back to pagan times, the pre-Christian Germanic (1st millennium), or even the Celtic (1st millennium BC) period. ... Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Pieten helpers arrive in the town of Sneek on November 12th 2005 Sinterklaas (also called Sint Nikolaas in Dutch ( ) and Saint Nicolas in French) is a holiday tradition in the Netherlands and Belgium, celebrated every year on Saint Nicholas eve (December 5) or, in Belgium, on... Zwarte Piet, together with Sinterklaas In the folklore and legends of the Netherlands and Flanders, Zwarte Piet ( (help· info)) (meaning Black Pete) is a companion of Saint Nicholas (Dutch Sinterklaas) whose yearly feast in the Netherlands is 5 December and 6 December in Flanders, when they distribute presents to all... Hardrock, Coco and Joe is a short stop-motion animated cartoon about Santa Claus three helpers, which has become an annual Christmas Classic on WGN-TV since its introduction in the early 1950s. ... Mr. ... Santa Claus reindeer are a team of reindeer which pull his sleigh and help him deliver Christmas gifts. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

Notes

External links

• Felix und Ulrich Müller - Percht und Krampus, Kramperl und Schiach-Perchten: Scientific text on the tradition of Krampus in the region of Salzburg - includes a lively description of the fascination of being a Krampus - text written in 1997 and published in 1999
• http://www.luckymojo.com/esoteric/religion/satanism/teuffel.txt
• http://www.kienitz.de/html/body_ged-01.htm.htm
• http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/nikohelp.htm
• http://www.rotten.com/library/occult/deviltry/krampus/
• Dutch-language web site devoted to all things Zwarte Piet. Even for the non Dutch speaker, the photos may be of interest.
• http://www.allaboutkrampus.com