many cultures have specific folk tales about Christmas most of which whimsical and jolly
but in central Europe certain traditions are rooted in ancient pagan origins
giving rise to dark legends of strange creatures such creatures tend to emerge only in mid-winter
and for a brief period terrorize their chosen victims disappearing with the holiday season
today we look at perhaps the scariest of them all this is the story of Krampus
it is a terrible sight a half-goat humanoid demonic figure
many of its physical features are disturbing its sharp claws tall horns and freakishly long tongue
Krampus has one cloven hoof and one human foot a chain tied around his waist and glowing red eyes
in many ways he is the inverse of Santa Claus awakening at Christmas to punish poorly behaved
children that is his sole purpose for most of the year he lies in hibernation awaiting his chance
to cause pain wandering the countryside of central Europe he carries a large tree branch in one hand
with which he beats children the measure of bad behavior dictates the punishment given by Krampus
some will escape with only a few lashes but others are beaten almost to death or
even abducted often he is seen carrying a sack or basket to stuff children into and carry them off
waking up to find their children missing the only sign of Krampus will be the strange prince
he leaves in the snow but the trail soon dies out and no one is ever able to find the monster
once abducted the fate of a child will be decided by Krampus perhaps he will throw them into a
nearby lake or eat them alive or drag them to hell the only sign Krampus is approaching is the sound
of rattling chains in the distance slowly drawing nearer few realize its cause until the beast has
arrived but even if you did it would be too late any adults to get between him and his victim will
swiftly be killed torn apart by its large claws but still many trial kinds of methods to protect
their children from Krampus some hang small twigs above their doorway believing that would ward
him off it is unclear if this has any effect nor is it clear what the origin of Krampus is
it's been said he is the child of Satan and spends most of a year in hell
most however say he is an ancient pagan relic the last survivor of a race of evil creatures
according to folklore others of that race may also have survived materializing as other Christmas
monsters like Belsnickel or Turon Krampus today is seen as a purely mythical figure people in
Austria even dress up as him in December but in times gone by he was believed to be all too real
they believed his teeth were strong enough to bite through steel his tongue could elongate to
ten feet and his bright red eyes could be seen for miles away it was in the 19th century that
the fear associated with Krampus began to fade over time he was increasingly commercialized and
depicted more as a comical figure people even exchanged Christmas cards bearing his image
every year millions of people are horrified to learn about Krampus the pure disturbing nature
of it contrasts with most other Christmas legends and for that reason he will never be forgotten