Christmas

  • Austria,  Bavaria,  Christmas,  Hairy Hominids,  Hungary,  K,  Switzerland

    Krampus

    Krampus is a monster and folklore figure from countries such as Austria, Bavaria, Hungary, and Switzerland. His name means “claw” and he is thought to accompany Santa Claus. In Austria he is seen as Santa’s evil twin and appears on December 5. He is often depicted as a seven-foot-tall hairy humanoid with dark skin, a goat-like head, a long tail, curling horns, and a long hanging tongue. He carries a birch switch and threatens to beat bad children with it. He is thought to attack and give nightmares to naughty children on the orders of Santa Claus. In Austria, he leaves birch brooms in the houses of naughty children, and…

  • Bogeyman Figures,  Christmas,  Germany,  K

    Knecht Ruprecht

    Knecht Ruprecht is a figure from German mythology whose name means “servant Ruprecht.” He wears a dark hooded robe accented with fur, has a dark bushy beard, and carries switches and a large sack. This sack may be used for carrying off bad children or bringing presents to the good ones. Other times he gives the switches to bad children or their parents rather than using them himself. He may have ashes on his face and may rub ashes in the faces of bad children to mark them. This visual may have been meant to bring to mind blacksmiths, whose image sometimes brought to mind the devil with darkness and…