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St. Nikolaus and Krampus

Among the Society events this fall [2000] are the annual Adventnachmittag on December 3 [2000] and the Christmas Ball on December 16 [2000]. What do they have in common? The first features St. Nikolaus and Krampus, and the second is also called our "Krampus Kränzchen." We all know Saint Nick, the distant relative of the ubiquitous Santa Claus in these parts, but who is that "Krampus?" Many people asked us: Why "Krampus Kränzchen?" and why have a devilish creature with a bucket, switches and chains accompany our good old Austrian Santa-equivalent. We sort of knew, but wanted to know more. So we asked -- friends, relatives (in Austria -- you can see it on our phone bill!), A-AS society members and, of course, the web.

Below you will find a compilation of some of what we found on the web, including a couple of pictures (yes: Krampus is an integral part of an Adventnachmittag, and he does scare and punish children -- and adults -- who have not been nice; sometimes Krampuses even travel in packs of up-to-ten!) On the other side you will find a description of the Krampus Party custom in Austria sent to us by our friend Frieda Horner who enclosed it with her membership renewal from Lansing, Kansas. This will be followed by an excerpt from a brochure of the Vienna Archdiocese, sent to us by Paul Nejelski.

Enjoy! (And don't be scared if Krampus shows up on the Advent-nachmittag, or even the Krampus Kränzchen -- Saint Nikolaus has him well under control; and you have been good all year anyway, so you have nothing to worry about -- right??!!)

Herbert Traxler
President, American-Austrian Society, 2000-2002

St. Nikolaus, patron saint of children, was bishop in Myra in Asia Minor at about 300 AD. He is said to have left gold on the window sills of three poor girls for their dowery. His day is celebrated on December 6. Nikolaus has a big book in which are noted all the things the children have been up to. In Holland St. Nikolaus gives presents on the eve of the 5th, in Germany he delivers presents on the morning of the 6th, and in Austria the presents arrive on the evening of the 6th of December. Ergo it takes him a day and a night to cover the distance. If he does not call in person, he leaves presents in the shoes or boots children have put outside their bedroom doors or on the window sill.

More diverse than those of the saintly Nikolaus are the many legends and traditions surrounding his often wild companions. The pagan origin of all of these figures is evident although difficult to trace. His best known companion is Knecht Ruprecht, "Knecht" meaning servant. Historically, Ruprecht was a dark and sinister figure clad in a tattered robe with a big sack on his back in which, legend has it, he will place all naughty children. However, Knecht Ruprecht also became the servant and companion of the Christchild. In this role Ruprecht became the patron saint of Christmas and was called "Weihnachtsmann," Father Christmas or Santa Claus.

This is quite in contrast to Bavaria, where St. Nikolaus may be followed by the hideous Klaubauf, a shaggy monster with horns. In Austria the saint is followed by a similar horned creature, called Krampus, covered with bells and dragging chains. The Krampus is a sort of devil who accompanies St. Nikolaus to punish the wicked; in Styria this attendant is named Bartel. Krampus carries the presents for the good and a birch stick or lumps of coal for the naughty ones. It is rumored that naughty children might get put in the sack and taken along, or even put into an ink-well by St. Nick himself, as told in the Struwwelpeter: "Da kam der grosse Nikolas Mit seinem grossen Tintenfass.... Er tunkt sie in die Tinte tief, Wie auch der Kaspar "Feuer" rief. Bis übern Kopf ins Tintenfass Tunkt sie der grosse Nikolas."

All around Salzburg there are Krampus runs around December 5th, preceding the festival of St. Nikolaus. The tradition in the National Park region is that St. Nikolaus comes with not just a single Krampus but with a group of up to ten of these devil figures. They are frightening (especially for children) with their horns and terrible masked faces. The Krampus masks (known as Larven) show the artistic dexterity of the hand carving in the Tauern region. A proper Krampus Larve must of course have large horns. The carver usually uses the horns of a goat, Ibex or Chamois.

There are two possibilities to get a glimpse of Nikolaus and his Krampuses in the Salzburg region. The first possibility is if you have children, then you can invite Nikolaus into your home. The second possibility is to visit one of the street runs or parades. This custom has nothing to do with spirits or driving out winter; rather it deals primarily with good upbringing and conduct. Well-behaved children are rewarded and naughty ones punished.

There is also another closely related custom, the Perchten run. This custom is carried out with the same masks, but only in the wild nights around the sixth of January. This custom is concerned with driving out evil spirits, that is, winter.

The customs that have grown up around the Feast of St. Nicholas go back to a very old tradition, originally celebrated on 28th December, the feast of the Holy Innocents. It was later moved to 5/6th December and become a saint's day for St. Nicholas, who pronounced judgement on the children, tested them on their catechism and rewarded their performance either with a gift or with punishment from his lackey, Krampus. To counter superstition, Martin Luther forbade these Nicholas customs in the Lutheran area. Instead, the "Holy Christ", the "Christ Child" himself was to be the bringer of gifts.

Today it is customary that on the Eve of St. Nicholas (5th December, Krampus Eve) "Nicolo", as he is popularly known, personally gives the children little presents, or puts gifts in their own or little hand-made shoes. In contradiction to earlier days there should be no frightening or threatening, no putting of moral pressure on the children, especially when St. Nicholas is involved, who always interceded for the suffering and needy.

From "Advent & Christmas in Vienna" by the Tourist Chaplaincy, Vienna, 1999, pp. 11-12.

1999 and 2000 Krampus Kränzchen Christmas Ball

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