Krampus: Saint Nick's Dark Companion

Alan Taylor
December 20, 2016
21 Photos
In Focus

While Saint Nicholas may bring gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe's Alpine region also tells of Krampus, a frightening beast-like creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to punish in horrible ways—or possibly to drag back to his lair in a sack. In the last few decades, parts of Austria have seen the founding of numerous village Krampus associations that parade without St. Nick, frightening children on Krampusnacht, chasing them and hitting them with sticks, during an (often alcohol-fueled) run through the dark streets.

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Revelers dressed as Krampus parade through the village center during an annual 'Krampus run' on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. Krampus, in Tyrol also called Tuifl, is a demon-like creature represented by a fearsome, hand-carved wooden mask with animal horns, a suit made from sheep or goat skin and large cow bells attached to the waist that the wearer rings by running or shaking his hips up and down. #

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Elaine Mitchell from Whitby dresses as the folklore figure, Krampus, ahead of a charity event on December 3, 2016 in Whitby, United Kingdom. #

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Men dressed as devils perform during a Krampus show, an old ritual to disperse the ghosts of winter, in the southern Bohemian town of Kaplice, Czech Republic. on December 10, 2016. #

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A man dressed as a devil performs during a Krampus show, in Kaplice, Czech Republic, on December 10, 2016. #

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Revelers dressed as Krampus parade through the village center during an annual 'Krampus run' on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. #

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Revelers dressed as the Krampus creature during an annual 'Krampus run' on December 2, 2016 in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. #

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Krampus parades through the center Fieberbrunn, Austria, on December 3, 2016. #

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Krampus creatures run through the center Fieberbrunn, Austria, on December 3, 2016. #

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Revelers dressed as Krampus on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. #

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Revelers dressed as Krampus in Fieberbrunn, Austria, on December 3, 2016. #

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Krampus makes an appearance on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. #

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Revelers dressed as the Krampus on December 2, 2016, in Neustift im Stubaital, Austria. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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Revelers dressed as the Krampus creature run through the village center in Fieberbrunn on December 3, 2016. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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A man dressed as a devil performs during a Krampus show in the southern Bohemian town of Kaplice, Czech Republic, on December 10, 2016. #

David W Cerny / Reuters

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Krampus, during an annual Krampus run on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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Revelers dressed as the Krampus creature parade through the village center on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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Krampus creatures attack barriers during an annual Krampus run on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn. #

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Revelers dressed as the Krampus creature parade through the village center on December 3, 2016, in Fieberbrunn. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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A Krampus creature runs through Neustift im Stubaital, Austria, on December 2, 2016. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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Revelers dressed as Krampus parade through the village of Fieberbrunn on December 3, 2016. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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Krampus creatures run through the village center during an annual 'Krampus run' on December 3, 2016 in Fieberbrunn, Austria. #

Johannes Simon / Getty

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