Have you been good boys and girls?
On Krampusnacht, December 5th, men dressed as Krampus - usually wearing a hideous wooden mask and a costume made of goat skin - drink a bunch of alcohol, run through the streets, and frighten children. Often, they chase delinquent children around and hit them with sticks.
Happy Holidays!
The origin of Krampus is mostly unknown, but most anthropologists agree that the tradition is pre-Christian, going back to pagan mythology. One authority on the subject believes that Krampus goes as far back as the Wiccan deity of the Horned God of the Witches. Another anthropologist, John J Honigmann says that , 'Krampus derives from a pagan supernatural who was assimilated to the Christian devil.'
Our knowledge of the pre-Christian pagan pantheon of Europe is pretty fuzzy, considering the druids of Europe didn’t write anything down, and their places of worship and symbols and rites were often taken over and assimilated into Christian traditions. Krampus, and the 'Horned God' in general, is a good example of this phenomenon.
According to historians, horned devils first began to appear in mediaeval plays around the 11th century. These would have been adopted into the narrative of Christianity in an attempt to use symbols that the native people were familiar with. Over time, the deity that Krampus originated from was corrupted into the mischievous, child-terrorising monster we see today.
Traditionally, St Nicholas and Krampus appear together, working as a team. St Nick rewards the good children, while Krampus punishes the naughty ones.
Today, Krampusnacht is celebrated in many places across Europe, and has even become popular in the United States. Krampus parades are held to signify the beginning of the Christmas season. And some of the costumes are amazing.
Sleep well!
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