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.
Have you been good this year,
or have you been bad?
Because if you haven't been good this year
don't expect a visit from Santa Claus.
Krampus is coming to get you.
in folklore Krampus is a horned creature
described as half goat, half demon,
who during the Christmas season,
punishes children who have misbehaved.
In contrast with Saint Nicholas,
who rewards the well-behaved with gifts.
Krampus is one of the companions of Saint Nicholas in
several countries including Austria, Bavaria, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, South Tyrol
and parts of northern Italy.
Although Krampus appears in many variations,
most share some common physical characteristics.
He is hairy, usually brown or black, and has the
cloven hooves and horns of a goat.
His long pointy tongue lolls out and he has fangs.
Krampus carries chains thought to symbolize the
binding of the devil by the Christian Church.
He thrashes the chains for dramatic effect.
The chains are sometimes accompanied
with bells of various sizes.
Of more Pagan origins are the 'Ruten' - bundles of birch
branches, or sometimes a whip that Krampus carries,
and with which he uses in torment.
Sometimes Krampus appears with a sack or a
basket strapped to his back to transport to hell,
or a bag for naughty children to be taken away.
Its origin is unclear, but may originate back in
pre-Christian Alpine traditions.
Krampus may have a connection with the
initiation rites of a witch coven.
The chains could also be a remnant of pagan
initiation rites or a Christian attempt to bind the devil.
Saint Nicholas became popular in Germany
around the eleventh century.
The feast dedicated to this patron of children is one in
which children are the objects of special attention.
Masked devils was acting boisterously and making
nuisances of themselves are known in Germany
since at least the sixteenth century.
While animal mask devils combining dreadful comic
antics appeared in medieval church plays.
Pagan elements blended with Christian elements
in the Saint Nicholas customs and
in other traditional winter ceremonies.
Krampus may derive from a pagan supernatural
who was assimilated to the Christian devil.
Krampus continued in popular culture and,
by the seventeenth century,
Krampus had been incorporated into Christian winter
celebrations with Saint Nicholas.
Countries of the former Habsburg Empire have
largely borrowed the tradition of Krampus
accompanying Saint Nicholas
on the 5th of December from Austria.
In the early 20th century Krampus was viewed
negatively in both politics and culture.
But towards the end of the century,
a popular resurgence of Krampus celebrations
occurred and continues today.
The Krampus tradition is being revived
in Bavaria as well, along with a local artistic
tradition of hand-carving wooden masks.
The feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated
in parts of Europe on the 6 of December.
On the preceding evening of the 5th of December
Krampus night or krampusnacht, the wicked hairy devil
appears on the streets, sometimes accompanying
Saint Nicholas and sometimes
on his own visiting homes.
In traditional parades known as Krampuslauf
or Krampus run, young men
dressed as Krampus participate.
Such events occur annually in most Alpine towns.
The Saint usually appears in the Eastern Rite
vestments of a bishop and he carries
a golden ceremonial staff.
Unlike North American versions of Santa Claus,
in these celebrations Saint Nicholas concerns
himself only with good children.
While Krampus is responsible for the bad.
Nicholas dispenses gifts,
while Krampus supplies coal and branches.
Nowadays, if we want to send a Christmas card
we probably think about something traditional like this.
With a Christmas tree or an angel.
However, Europeans have been exchanging
greeting cards featuring Krampus
since the 1800s, called Krampuskarten.
Sometimes introduced with Gruß vom Krampus
(greetings from Krampus), the cards usually have
humorous rhymes and poems.
Krampus is often featured looming
menacingly over children.
Over time the representation of Krampus
in the cards has changed.
Older versions have a more frightening Krampus,
while modern versions have a cuter creature.
North American Krampus celebrations are
also growing in popularity.
The character of Krampus has been used in
various media, including print, television,
animation, movies and confectionery.
So if you see a hairy man with horns this winter
you had either better hope it's a costumed character
or make sure that you've been good this year.
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