A Proposed Origin for Krampus

Krampus is going mainstream. He’s got books, movies, ornaments, cards, holiday specials—he’s even an adorable plush toy.

For those who remain uninitiated, Krampus is the Austrian/German version of the “Bad Santa” legend, which pairs up St. Nicholas, who rewards well behaved children, with a wicked partner who punishes the naughty. In parts of Germany he’s known as Knecht Ruprecht; in Holland he’s Zwarte Piet; and amongst the Pennsylvania Deutsch, whence I hail, he’s Der Belsnickel, “The Nicholas who beats you.” Yet these remain toned-down iterations compared to Krampus, whose coming on Krampusnacht (December 5th) is celebrated in Europe with elaborate and horrifying costumes.

Der Belsnickel

No one seems quite sure about Krampus’ origins, though one may piece together a likely story. While little can be said with any certainty about pre-Christian religion in Europe (the pagan legends having been written down by monks and converts) it is generally held that Teutonic tribes recognized Yule as a three-day winter solstice festival, though this was hardly a time for cheer. On Yule, Odin would lead the Wild Hunt through the skies, snatching up hapless souls caught unawares at night. Common folk would sacrifice a goat to Thor for protection in this darkest time of the year.

The Julebukk, or straw goat, remains a beloved Scandinavian Christmas tradition today. One can assume with relative safety that the goat sacrifice became a symbolic effigy, then a protective symbol, and finally a traditional decoration. Check out the sundry fates of the Gavle Goat for some light entertainment. In Finland people would dress up as Joulupukki, the Yule Goat, who at some point became associated with giving gifts to the good and punishments to the bad. It seems self-evident to me that this Nordic yuletide goat-man must have some connection to Krampus, who beats naughty tykes with birch switches and drags particularly troublesome children off to the mountains (or to hell).

So there you have it. From goat to straw to satyr to St. Nicholas’ slave, Krampus has persisted for quite some time now. And when Krampusnacht draws near and the cards have been sent, my son asks me, with just the right amount of hesitation, “Krampus isn’t real, is he?”

And as always, I reply, “You’d better hope not.”