SonOfTheGods

Krampus: Saint Nicholas' Dark Companion

Recommended Posts

more photos at link~

 

While Saint Nicholas may bring gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe's Alpine region also tells of Krampus, a frightening beast-like creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to punish in horrible ways -- or possibly to drag back to his lair in a sack. In keeping with pre-Germanic Pagan traditions, men dressed as these demons have been frightening children on Krampusnacht for centuries, chasing them and hitting them with sticks, on an (often alcohol-fueled) run through the dark streets. [20 photos]

 

s_k01_52987839.jpg
A participant dressed as Krampus walks the streets in search of delinquent children during Krampusnacht on November 30, 2013 in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. Sixteen Krampus groups including over 200 Krampuses participated in the first annual Neustift event. Krampus, in Tyrol also called Tuifl, is a demon-like creature represented by a fearsome, hand-carved wooden mask with animal horns, a suit made from sheep or goat skin and large cow bells attached to the waist that the wearer rings by running or shaking his hips up and down. Krampus has been a part of Central European, alpine folklore going back at least a millennium, and since the 17th-century Krampus traditionally accompanies St. Nicholas and angels on the evening of December 5 to visit households to reward children that have been good while reprimanding those who have not. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) lnk.jpg
s_k02_52987755.jpg
A member of the Haiminger Krampusgruppe dressed as the Krampus creature carries a delinquent little boy whom the Krampus will now take to Hell to transform him into the demon-like Krampus on the town square during their annual Krampusnacht in Tyrol, on December 1, 2013 in Haiming, Austria. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) # lnk.jpg
s_k03_RTR3AXL7.jpg
Woodcarver Markus Spiegel carves a traditional Perchten mask out of stone pine wood in Pfaffenhofen, some 35 km (22 miles) west of Innsbruck, November 20, 2012. Each year in November and January people in the western Austria regions dress-up in Perchten (also known in some regions as Krampus or Tuifl) costumes and parade through the streets to perform a 1,500 year-old pagan ritual to disperse the ghosts of winter. Each handmade traditional costume, consisting of up to 14 separate sheep or goat skins, takes three dress makers one day to produce, and costs between 500 - 600 euros. Some 15 hours are needed for a woodcarver to sculpt each demon mask which is made from stone pine wood with goat horns attached. The mask costs an additional 600 euros. (Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler) # lnk.jpg
s_k04_52988439.jpg
Participants who arrived by bus gather before dressing as Krampus, prior to Krampusnacht on November 30, 2013 in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) # lnk.jpg

 

Edited by SonOfTheGods
  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

s_k05_52987511.jpg



Members of the Haiminger Krampusgruppe parade on the town square during their annual Krampusnacht in Tyrol, on December 1, 2013. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) # lnk.jpg




s_k06_05032739.jpg



A man dressed as Krampus, the companion of St. Nicholas and one of Austria's unique Advent traditions, makes his way during a traditional Krampus procession in Unken, Austrian province of Salzburg, on December 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) # lnk.jpg


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

s_k09_52987561.jpg
A member of the Haiminger Krampusgruppe dressed as Krampus hits a fire to release sparks on the town square during their annual Krampusnacht in Tyrol, on December 1, 2013. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) # lnk.jpg

s_k14_20709538.jpg
Men dressed as Krampus, during a traditional Krampus procession in the city of Munich, Germany, on December 7, 2008. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) # lnk.jpg
s_k16_RTR3AXL3.jpg
A man dressed in traditional Perchten (also known in some regions as Krampus or Tuifl) costume and mask performs during a Perchten festival in the western Austrian village of Heitwerwang, some 90 km (56 miles) west of Innsbruck, on November 23, 2012. (Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler) # lnk.jpg
s_k17_05015695.jpg
A man dressed as Krampus, during a traditional Krampus procession in St. Martin near Lofer in Salzburg province, Austria, on December 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson) # lnk.jpg

 

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

And all I got threatened with was 'if you're bad santa will leave a sack of potatoes instead of presents' :blink:

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Have you ever thought of the words of this popular Christmas song separately from its deceptively cheerful tune? It sounds like an intimidating threat of totalitarian surveillance, of the kind that might originate with the DHS (Department of Human Sacrifice?..) -- menacing and scary, not cheerful at all:

 

 

You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake! O! You better watch out!..  etc.
:(

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Optional lyric added. See bottom :)

 

You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good, So he's been hired by the NSA.  O! You better watch out!..  etc.


Edited by thelerner
  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Santa is the last vestige of a forgotten folk memory of Wotan, who was said to visit Middle Earth in disguise during the season of Yule.

 

Midwinter solstice - a vital time to the pagan North European tribes, got whitewashed by Christmas.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

 

Have you ever thought of the words of this popular Christmas song separately from its deceptively cheerful tune? It sounds like an intimidating threat of totalitarian surveillance, of the kind that might originate with the DHS (Department of Human Sacrifice?..) -- menacing and scary, not cheerful at all:

 

 

You better watch out, You better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake! O! You better watch out!..  etc.
:(

 

sounds like hellfire and damnation from church service :ph34r:

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Krampusnacht would probably be my favorite holiday if celebrated here.

Each year for the past few years I've watched, "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale". It'll be a family tradition.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites