Holiday traditions, like all folklore, have a marvelous tendency to change and adapt to varied cultural expectations and behaviors.
Everyone knows the jolly fat elf, Santa Claus. Legend says he was adapted from the early Christian tale of the good bishop. Yet, legends were widely adapted and re-clothed into Christian motifs at one time. In some Germanic and Alpine countries - Herr Santa Claus was accompanied by the Krampus, (also known as Knecht Ruprecht, Certa, Perchten, Black Peter, Schmutzli, Pelznickel, Klaubauf) often depicted as a horned and demonic entity who punished bad children. Talk about being scared straight! This 'Anti-Claus' was even outlawed in 1934 Austria but now has his own web-page.
Although often depicted as the traditional Satanic looking demon with horns, tail and pitchfork, he can be disguised as a spooky looking man in black or a hairy-man beast. Other images show a faint resemblance to the depictions of the 'Mothman' and 'Spring heeled jack' of American folklore. Most definitely a non PC character most children and parents were happy to see fade into the woodwork. But watch.....coming to a SyFy channel near you sometime soon is sure to be " Krampus: He's Coming to Get the Naughty and Nice!" Be warned and be very afraid.....(Get the book of postcards, The Devil in Design)
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