Krampusnacht

Krampusnacht is celebrated on December 5th and is dedicated to the Christmas Demon! Unlike Santa Claus, who rewards good girls and boys, this spirit visits those who have been naughty during the year and don’t deserve gifts! We hope you’ve been well behaved and won’t get visited by him as the night grows still.

History

The holiday began to emerge at the end of the 19th century. It was then that printing houses had enough freedom to print almost anything they wanted. In Germany, stamps and postcards with the monster started to appear and were sold like hot cakes! As time went on, the image of the winter spirit changed: it now has a more intimidating and terrifying appearance, with a dreadful face, whips, and chains. This doesn’t stop people in the USA, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Croatia from creating unique costumes and parading them through the streets. It’s no wonder children squeal when they see these monsters, and some girls don’t even leave the house in the evening! But it’s important to remember that this is just a holiday where people show off their creative costumes. It is unknown who invented the character and when, but it is likely related to the traditions of a certain region.

Interesting facts

• Krampus carries a bag on his back, in which he places naughty children and takes them to his lair.
• The name of the spirit comes from the German word for “claw”.
• In some areas, adults offer him vodka.
• Krampus is described in the book Teutonic Mythology, published in 1835.
• In Scandinavian mythology, the creature is the son of the goddess Heli, the mistress of the underworld.

How to take part

If you want to take part in the celebration, start planning your costume and make-up. Gather a group of friends to go “hunting”. Watch other people’s costumes – the range of creativity is amazing. Watch a movie about the character and have your own horror night.

When is Krampusnacht celebrated in 2023?

Krampusnacht is observed on December 5 each year.

Observations