Who/what is Krampus and what does it have to do with Christmas?

Answer  
  

Krampus is a nightmarish, demonic goat\-monster that is used in some cultures to scare children into good behavior in the days leading up to Christmas. Krampus is like an anti\-Santa Claus. The Bible says nothing about Krampus. The legend comes from pagan mythology and European folklore.  
  

Krampus is depicted as having long, curved horns, fangs, a long tongue, and dark hair all over, making it look devilish. (The German word *krampen* means “claw.”) The legend of Krampus may have ties to Nordic [paganism](pagan-paganism.html), but the common story originated in Austrian folklore, probably as a way for parents to try to make their children mind—misbehaving children are threatened with a visit from Krampus, who will scare them, beat them with a bundle of birch switches, and possibly even take them away to his lair. Krampus, then, is rather like Santa’s evil counterpart. Santa’s main threat is to put mischief\-makers on his “naughty list” or leave them a lump of coal, but Krampus will terrorize them.  
  

In Austria and regions of Germany, residents look for Krampus on *Krampusnacht* (Krampus Night) on the night of December 5—which happens to be the eve of St. Nicolas Day. In Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, adults get involved in a chaotic Krampus tribute involving public drunkenness and men running through the streets dressed as devils. In recent years, some people in the U.S. have begun throwing Krampus parties as a sort of twisted, anti\-Christmas celebration.  
  

Many cultures have legends about a monster or boogeyman of some sort that will snatch up children if they don’t obey: the Namahage in Japan, Cuco in Latin America, and Baba Yaga in Russia, for example. James Whitcomb Riley’s famous poem “Little Orphant Annie” is a cautionary tale to encourage good behavior; each stanza ends with the warning “the Gobble\-uns ʼll git you / Ef you / Don’t / Watch / Out!”  
  

Obedience is a good thing. However, scaring children into obeying does not change the heart. And using a child\-stealing, whip\-tongued goat\-devil to frighten young ones cannot be good. How much better to teach them the truth about God’s love and His wrath, along with the true [Christmas story](Christmas.html) and the good news that Jesus can save them from their sins (Matthew 1:21\).  
  

