Krampus
Alpine punishment spirit
Krampus is a horned, demonic figure from Central European folklore who accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season.
While Saint Nicholas rewards good children, Krampus punishes the naughty—traditionally by beating them with birch branches or carrying them away in a basket.
Krampus night celebrations on December 5th feature costumed participants roaming the streets.
The figure has gained popularity in American pop culture through films and greeting cards.
Pale deciduous hardwood
- switchesCircuit opening devices
- chainsLinked metal restraints
- bellsStruck metal sound-makers
- sackRough fabric bag
basket · whipping · coal · abduction · chastisement · bundle · swatting · dragging
Before the faith began
- paganNon-mainstream religion follower
- AlpineOf high European peaks
- GermanicOf Teutonic language stock
- winter spiritCold season supernatural entity
Saint Nicholas · solstice · ritual · ancient · European · Catholic Church · suppression · revival
Ceremonial public procession
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- masksFace-covering disguises
- processionFormal moving line
- revelryNoisy, lively celebration
performers · runners · festival · tradition · spectacle · torches · alcohol · chase
Having bony projections
- hoovesUngulate foot coverings
- clovenDivided into two parts
- furAnimal body hair
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
tongue · demonic · monstrous · shaggy · claws · red eyes · beast · anthropomorphic
Dutch winter gift-giver
- folktalesTraditional oral narratives
- legendsTraditional stories or icons
- companionOne who keeps company
- counterpartCorresponding person or thing
birch
Pale deciduous hardwood
sack · basket · whipping · coal · abduction · chastisement · bundle · swatting · dragging · warnings
pre-Christian
Before the faith began
winter spirit · Saint Nicholas · solstice · ritual · ancient · European · Catholic Church · suppression · revival · duality
parade
Ceremonial public procession
- costumesClothes for assuming roles
- masksFace-covering disguises
- processionFormal moving line
revelry · performers · runners · festival · tradition · spectacle · torches · alcohol · chase · scare
horned
Having bony projections
fangs · tongue · demonic · monstrous · shaggy · claws · red eyes · beast · anthropomorphic · grotesque
Sinterklaas
Dutch winter gift-giver
- German traditionsOktoberfest, lederhosen, dirndl, dirndls, beer gardens
- Christmas NamesSanta, Rudolph, Frosty, Scrooge, Blitzen
- Austrian culturefolk costume, folk dancing, dirndl, lederhosen, yodeling
- Alpine CultureAlps, alpine meadows, alpine huts, alpine villages, alphorn
- Bavarian Folklorekobold, nixie, mountain spirits, forest spirits, water spirits
- German ChristianityMartin Luther, Luther, Lutheran, Lutherans, Lutheran Church
KrampusSaint Nicholas
Legendary Christmas gift-giver
Santa Claus · Father Christmas · Sinterklaas · Saint Nick · Kris Kringle