All of the kids around the world adore him and he owns our favorite reindeer while having a workshop of elves that help to deliver presents. Each year, families wait anxiously for Santa Clause who’ll come down the chimney and reward them for their good deeds with presents and treats in exchange for cookies and good behavior year round to make the world a better place.However, what happens to the bad kids who don’t behave?
People always hear the rumor that bad kids will receive coal, but have you ever heard of Krampus?
Krampus contains roots back to pagan beliefs deriving from central European folklore tracing back to pre-christian alpine regions, but with the description of a horned, hairy, half-manned, half-goat figure who comes around every year alongside Saint Nick, Krampus has been frightening children and amusing adults for years by punishing bad kids. Krampus punishes the misbehaving kids by simply beating them with birch branches or he’ll take a harder approach by dragging them back down to hell with him to be tortured forever.
However, with all this being said about the scary figure, there is a celebration held for it named, “Krampusnacht” or “Krampus Night,” held on December 5th. People dress as Krampus, parading through towns and scaring children into good behavior. Though Krampus was once mainly known in Central Europe, his popularity has surged worldwide, appearing in movies, parades, and social media events.
To simply describe this mythical creature, watch out because it might just be him who’ll be coming down your chimney this Christmas.
