Krampus
Several depictions of Krampus alongside the Nikolaus | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Krampusz, Kramper, Bartl |
| Similar entities | Knecht Ruprecht, Zwarte Piet, Snegurochka |
| Folklore | German and Czech |
| Origin | |
| Country | Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy |
| Region | Southern Germany, Central Europe |
| Habitat | Alps |
| Details | Known for being the companion of the Nikolaus |
The Krampus (German: [ˈkʁampʊs]) is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; "Krampus Night"), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In this tradition, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.
The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have postulated that it may have pre-Christian origins. In certain traditional parades and in such events as the Krampuslauf ("Krampus run"), some young men dressed as Krampus attempt to scare the audience with their antics. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten.
The figure has been imported into popular culture around the world, and has appeared in movies, TV shows and games.