December 6th, was Krampusnacht, a holiday celebrated in Alpine regions of Germany and Austria. The festival’s roots stretch back into pre-Christian times when Germanic mountain folk paid homage to Krampus the child-stealing demon of winter darkness. Krampus was a hell-sent god with goat’s horns, coarse black fur, and a fanged maw. He would visit disobedient or inattentive children and beat them with a cruel flail before tearing them to bits with his claws (in fact “Krampus” means “claw” in old high German). The demon would then carry the dismembered bodies back to the underworld and devour the human flesh at his leisure.
This harsh myth imparted crucial lessons about the cruel Alpine environment—which would literally reward inattention and carelessness with a terrible death and a vanished corpse. However there were also merry elements of year-end saturnalia to the celebration: young men dressed up as Krampus and drank and played pranks while unmarried women would dress as Frau Perchta—a nature spirit and fertility goddess who could appear as a hirsute old beast-woman or as a gorgeous scantily clad maiden. Amidst the mummery, feasts were held and presents were given. Unsurprisingly, when Christianity came to Northern Europe, these pagan celebrations were incorporated into Christmastime festivities. Thus Saint Nicholas–originally a conservative Syrian bishop (who became a protector of unfortunate children after his death) obtained a devil-like alter-ego. This wasn’t even the end of the pagan metamorphosis of Santa. The orthodox churchman also acquired a team of flying reindeer, a tribe of subservient elves, and a magical wife as Christmas traditions moved northwards into Scandinavia and combined with the universe of Norse myth!
For a time the Krampus story traveled with Santa and became part of the Christmastime traditions of German immigrants to America. Christmas cards and holiday stories often featured Krampus and his evil pagan god features were even incorporated into the popular conception of Satan. However, as Christmas became more important to merchants and tradesmen, the darker aspects of the story were toned down. Additionally fascist regimes in Germany and Austria were hostile to Krampus traditions during the thirties (and the grim imagery was not wanted after the horrors of World War II when those regimes were gone). Lately though the figure has been making a comeback in Austria and Germany and even America seems to be experiencing a renewed interest in the fiend
I am writing about this because Krampus, the clawed god of winter death, is a perfect addition to this blog’s deities of the underworld category. However, I have a more personal (and twisted) Krampus tale to tell as well. As you may know I am a toymaker who crafts chimerical animal toys and writes how-to books on toy-making. Recently a friend of mine who is an art director asked if I could build some puppets for stop-motion animation. He asked for a traditional (not-entirely jolly) Santa and for two children with no facial features–the expressions would be digitally added later.
Imagine my surprise when it turned out that the puppets were for a dark Krampus segment on a celebrity chef’s Christmas special. Anthony Bourdain, celebrity personality, adventurer, and bon vivant wanted to do an animated segment about this murderous gothic god who is still a vestigial part of the holiday. The segment was supposed to go into the nationally broadcast “No Reservations” Christmas special alongside Christopher Walken and Norah Jones, but when network executives took a closer look at Krampus, child-dismembering Alpine demon, it was decided that he should remain a vestige. So much for my showbiz career (of creating an evil Santa puppet and two faceless victims)…. The stand-alone segment can still be seen by itself on Youtube (or below). Don’t worry though, this dark holiday fable has a happy ending—I still got paid!
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December 8, 2011 at 1:32 PM
twixraider
Haha, my real first name is “Santa” and “Krampus” is a popular malapropism of my real last name. I simply love this wicked little movie, thank’s for the gift! I have something for you, too, a story about the Christkind (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christkind) gone bad. My most catholic grandmother told my mother following when she was a child: “If you peek through the keyhole in the living room where the presents are before the bell rings, the Christkind will blow from the other side through the keyhole and you will get blind on the eye!”. The same Granny told me as a child frequently that I’ll go to hell because I wasn’t baptized (before the age of 10). These crazy Catholics really make horror from everything…
December 8, 2011 at 6:36 PM
Hieronymo
Eek! I hope you didn’t believe everything that Grandma told you. I remember being terribly afraid of hell when I was little and it made getting to sleep a real ordeal.
December 9, 2011 at 3:49 AM
twixraider
I lost my faith shortly after baptism because Catholizism still felt the same, a religion that rules by fear. My thought: If there’s a god, he’s not responsible for every shit that happens, but for the one that happens in his name at least. Did he stop our Reverend to scare us for no reason in religion class? No. Conclusion: God doesn’t exist or he’s an complete asshole. Just look how Catholizism abuses mythical creatures: http://namazueshirt.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/namazu-bavarie/
December 9, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Hieronymo
Santa and Krampus are perhaps training templates for more prominent opposing deities (one with a beard and one with horns) who promise rewards or punishments depending on the extent to which rules are followed.
Hey! I love earthquake catfishes!
December 9, 2011 at 8:49 PM
twixraider
Catholizism is a dangerous mix of the old and new testament plus local pagan elements, more a multi purpose superstition than the straight religion that it claims to be… I love the easter egg with Granddragon Benedetto at the wall, that’s 1000 times scarier than 1000 Krampi!
December 9, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Nick
Wayne, this is great.
December 9, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Hieronymo
Thanks Nick. I was a little shocked at how violent the animation ended up being (the producer contacted me midway through to request extra arms) but the gore seems suitable when one looks into Krampus’ roots.
December 12, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Nick
Leave it the Germans to come up with something that crazy. I made a comment on your FB page about this tradition that some parents do with their kids. Not sure if you heard of it. An elf doll is positioned around the house to watch the kids in the hopes of incentivizing good behavior in December. That is fine. The reduction of threats of disembowment makes me think parents have become too soft. That seems like the way to go.
I am excited about your book. Please let me know when it is coming out.
December 13, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Hieronymo
I was wondering what you meant about the magic elf you mentioned on facebook–I thought maybe it was some special friend of yours! Krampus might be a little too German for my sensibilities (I was kind of high-strung when I was younger), but what do I know about child-raising?
I believe my book is due out in February but I will certainly put up an announcement. Thanks for being excited!
December 5, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Sarah
Great video!
December 5, 2012 at 8:10 PM
Wayne
Thanks Sarah!
December 24, 2012 at 9:20 PM
Isabella
Whoever made this must be a sick asshole. Seriously.
December 25, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Wayne
I guess it was a collaboration between my friend Adam & Anthony Bourdain (with some inspiration from ancient Germans and puppets from me).