Krampus Traditions
A notable tradition surrounding the Krampus appears most often in Austria and Germany on the night of December 5th. Actors or family members dressed as Krampus and his more jolly companion, St. Nicholas, visit children’s houses. St. Nicholas will ask the children if they have been good, or to recite a poem or song, while Krampus stands menacingly behind him. If the children are good, they receive gifts, while naughty children may receive a few light swats from Krampus. While the Krampus is a dark figure, threatening beating and dragging children to hell, parents downplay these aspects in order to have fun with their children but also display the importance of discipline. Through traditions like these, members of the community are able to stress important values. Even through rituals filled with whimsical monsters, children begin to learn cultural values and norms.
A wider known tradition is the Krampuslauf or Krampus run. During this event, hundreds of people create and wear their own Krampus suits made of fur, a frightening mask, and the classic bells and switches. They then run through the wintery streets, sometimes harassing onlookers and beating them with sticks. The wild spirit of the Krampus is embraced and people almost expect to be attacked by the rowdy runners. These events are largest in cities across Europe, but have also spread to the US. One of the largest happens as close as Portland, Oregon and there is also a Krampus themed pub-crawl in Eugene, Oregon. Through these events in the US, participants can spend time educating themselves about the European tradition even though it takes on a different, often more commercialized, form in the states.