Krampusnacht - Night of Krampus

Yesterday I came across an interesting gallery of photos on the Calgary Herald iPhone app that immediately caught my attention.  It seemed like Halloween all over again, but something even more sinister seemed to be happening in Austria.  Krampus is the evil partner of St. Nicholas, the European Santa Claus who brings gifts on December 5th.  Krampus has been around for centuries, since 2000 BCE, to punish naughty children with whips and chains.  

The Night of Krampus occurs traditionally on the eve of St. Nicholas but often the celebrations occur earlier.  Donned in outright sinister, disturbing renditions of this classic beast, men, women and children traipse through city streets terrifying those around them.  One look a the pictures in the gallery, and you will see why!  

This tradition is becoming more popular in other European countries as well as in North American cities.  People are dressing up and partying the weekend before December 5th.  Leave it to the North Americans to find another excuse to get out in elaborate costumes, as if Halloween and Mardi Gras weren't enough!  However, to attend Krampusnacht in Austria or Northern Italy has landed on my European bucket list, that's for sure.  What could be more magnificently terrifying that wandering around in the dark while beasts with torches chase you?  

Source: http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/greal/NewAYA/salzburg_info/subpages/images/krampus.jpg
Closer to home, Los Angeles is hosting a month-long Krampus event called Krampusfest.  They have a Krampus Ball to open the event and festivities taking place all month long.  People are drawn to monsters, vampires and the sinister, so it's not surprising that is historical figure has gained such popularity across the globe. 

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