JOHN KENN MORTENSEN BENNI BØDKER
DECEMBER 5
Krampus
Also known as KRAMPERL , SPITZBARTL , PARKELJ
RANGE
Austria and Germany
CHARACTERISTICS
Horns, fangs, goat’s hooves, black or brown fur, pointed tongue. Armed with a whip, chains, and birch twig
LEVEL
DANGER
Frightened children who hide in their rooms all through December and don’t dare come out for fear of being eaten are not an unusual sight in the small towns in the Alps. There is particularly good reason to hide on Krampus Night (December 5th). Since ancient times, Krampus have rampaged on this night, truly one of the most dreaded yuletide horrors.
On Krampus Night, hairy and horned monsters roam in large flocks. They tear through towns and try to break in everywhere they can, while they roar and make a frightful clatter with iron chains, and hit and whip anyone they catch. The rest of the year they keep to their lairs in the most inaccessible parts of the Alps, where they imprison all the badly behaved children.
In the Middle Ages, Krampus were persecuted by the ecclesiastical Inquisition, and the authorities have also for centuries tried to prevent their Christmastime rampages. But you can’t do much about demons, and currently Krampus are more common than ever before.
SURVIVAL TIP
No skiing trips in the Alps in December.
25
DECEMBER 5
