Happy Krampusnacht!!
I have, of course, featured our favourite "horny beast" - the "anti-Santa", scourge of wicked children everywhere - here many times before [check the label at the foot of this blog post for more]. He is rather a hero, after all!
From All That's Interesting blog:
Krampus comes to town the night before the Feast of Saint Nicholas and visits all the houses to dish out his punishments.If you’re lucky, you might just get swatted with a birch branch. If you’re not, you’ll wind up in the sack. After that, your fate is anyone’s guess. The legends suggest you might be eaten as a snack, drowned in a river, or even dropped off in Hell.
Sometimes Krampus is accompanied by Saint Nicholas, who isn’t known to bother himself with naughty children in Central Europe. Instead, he focuses on handing out presents to well-behaved kids and then leaves the rest up to his sinister counterpart.
How did Krampus become a regular part of holiday fun in places like Austria, Bavaria, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia? Nobody is entirely certain.
But most people believe that Krampus originally hails from the Alpine region’s pagan past. His name comes from the German word krampen, which means “claw,” and he bears a striking resemblance to the old Norse legends about the son of Hel, the god of the underworld.
It’s a compelling theory, especially since Krampus’ appearance coincides with a number of pagan winter rites [including the ancient Perchten rite of driving out evil spirits].
Enduring into the modern age, there are Krampus-related events across the world [not least last weekend's in the UK's "Goth Capital" Whitby] - and, of course, tribute songs...
Oooooo Is that a Krampus?
He will hit you with his sticks
and lick you with his tongue...
13 inches long.
Do you hear what I hear?
Sleigh Bells in Hell.
We are not alone here.
Chains on the tree.
Do you hear what I hear?
Unwrap your fears.
Krampus...
Jesus isn't here!
Who's been bad and
who's been naughty?
You'll get more than coal.
Santa has a friend...
A black and hairy man.
Little goat feet in the parlor;
he's pulling on your hair.
Chains you up, inside a sack
and throws you in the air.
Do you hear what I hear?
Sleigh Bells in Hell.
We are not alone here.
Chains on the tree.
Do you hear what I hear?
Unwrap your fears.
Krampus...
Jesus isn't here!
Sleigh bells in Hell
Chains on the Tree
Surf's up Krampus
Krampus time is Christmas time,
Christmas time is Krampus time of year!
Bye Bye!
I never tire of it.
