BrainStuff Classics: Who Is Krampus?

that Santa Claus is watching them. But there's another lurker out there in the long dark night, and he's watching too, a thing of fur and horns and cloven hoof. Yes, Virginia, there is a Crampus, And for naughty kids, this demonic beast man brings chains and switches instead of toys. Every December fifth, the Crumpus Knocked eve of the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Legend has it that he descends from the mountain wilds to terrorize children and drag the worst of

their lot away in a foul wicker basket. While he's not the only Yule Tide boogeyman in Western tradition, Crampis has clawed his way to the front of that frightening pack, not only surviving within his native Germanic alpine traditions, but also managing to achieve international notoriety. Before we explore the history and psychology of Crampis, you're probably wondering why Yule Tide boogeymen even exist. Surely holidays are a time of

light and childlike wonder, not monstrous kidnappers. Ah, But the holidays, at least in northern latitudes, have always been a time of darkness. Sure we like trees, sing carols, and feast upon the spoils of hunt and harvest, but the wintertime future is uncertain. Will spring thaw our frozen world while our crops grow again? Will our larder be enough to make it through the winter. That's one reason why if you venture through world mythology, you'll pass countless devils, satyrs,

and horned spirits who all resemble good old Crampus. In Greek mythology, for instance, you'll find Hades's abduction of Persephone, the daughter of the harvest goddess Demeter. It's a tense piece of drama that explains the earth's seasons. Winter arrives when Persephone must enter captivity in Hades, and spring returns

when she emerges again. Each year, the tale serves as an iconic reminder that winter is an inherently apocalyptic time, pitting the forces of light in life against darkness and death. These motifs permeate many early religions, and when Christianity spread throughout Europe, these old gods and spirits never quite died out. Rather,

people wove them into the new religious tapestry. Early Christians transplanted the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ to December twenty fifth, as this was a date associated with older celebrations of the new Sun, that resurgent celestial force destined to defeat the long winter, and so Crampis ties into a rich legacy of winter darkness, seasonal fear, and pre

Christian traditions involving harvest, spirits and wild men. But Crampis's exact origins are just as uncharted as the uncivilized wilds

from which he emerges every December fifth. Saint Nicholas, that solemn Catholic precursor to Jolly Santa Claus, first gained popularity among German speaking people during the eleventh century Crampis became part of the festivities over the centuries to follow, but he undoubtedly dated back to pre Christian customs surrounding the pagan goddess Perchta and her consort of frightening and unruly

chech Perchtin. These customs never vanished and eventually rebounded By the sixteenth century, Pagan schach Perchten processions became a frequent part of winter festivities in Salzburg, Austria, despite centuries of Christian traditions. Catholic attempts to ban these festivals in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries proved feudals, so a demonic key

goat earned his tenure in Alpine holiday traditions. In Alpine celebrations, Crampis and Saint Nick come to life through the use of costumes and wooden masks, but maybe you can guess which role is more popular. Fur clad goat men tend to parade through the street's unmass every crempis ncht Yes to this day. They rattle their chains, brandish torches and leap about with wild and indiscriminated energy. As with many mask rituals and celebrations around the world, the rights of

trampus knocked are transformative. They allow participants to abandon the conventions of daily life and indulge in a wilder and perhaps darker aspect of their personality. As such, it's easy for things to get a little out of hand. Many processions limit the costume participants to keep everyone from crossing that thin line between good natured holiday horror and emotional abuse.

Back in two thousand and six, concerned parents, along with Austrian child psychologist Max Friedrich, spoke out against the demon's violent influence as well as what Friedrich called childhood Crampis trauma. Somewhere along the line, Santa had been banned from visiting

kindergartens in Vienna, but Crampis apparently still had access. In twenty fifteen, amid the massive influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into rural Austria, community representatives made special efforts to prepare newcomers, especially children, for their frighteningly fun holiday festivities. In the past, Crampis detractors have even outlawed the demon outright.

Before Nazi Germany's nineteen thirty eight invasion of Austria, Catholic Austrofascists briefly held power, and, as reported in a nineteen forty five New York Times article, they saw Crampus as a demonic, unruly and potentially communist usurper of Christian tradition. The Crampis postcards and candies have always been popular, but around that time Crampis had virtually usurped the role of prime gift giver. It was this demon, not Saint Nick,

who made rounds with sweets and gifts. The Austrofascists ordered anyone in a Crampus costume arrested on site. They also required that all Saint Nicks be licensed by the state and monitored. Despite the continuing war on Crampus and any misgivings we might have about scaring good behavior into children with the threat of inhuman kidnapping, the tradition not only

endoors but flourishes. Internet culture and the rejection of homogenized holiday traditions have led to a full blown international Crampis revolution. Today's episode is based on the article where did Crampis Come From? On HowStuffWorks dot com, written by Robert Lamb. To hear more from Robert, check out his podcast Stuff to Blow your Mind. Brain Stuff is production of my heart Radio in partnership with how stuffworks dot Com and

is produced by Tyler Klang. Four more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.