The night before St Nicholas Day
Krampusnacht, Krampus Night, falls on the evening of 5 December, the eve of St Nicholas Day. It is kept in Austria, Bavaria, South Tyrol and other parts of the Alpine region. According to custom, St Nicholas rewards well-behaved children, while his companion Krampus, a horned, shaggy creature with a long tongue, rattling chains and a bundle of birch switches, deals with those who have misbehaved. This countdown runs to sunset on 5 December where you are.
Krampus runs
The best-known way to meet Krampus is a Krampuslauf, a Krampus run. Groups in carved wooden masks, sheepskin or goat-fur costumes and heavy cowbells parade through town centres in late November and early December, often alongside a figure of St Nicholas, to the delight (and occasional terror) of the crowds. Masks are frequently carved by hand, and some groups keep their costumes for years.
Where Krampus comes from
Krampus is often described as a survival of pre-Christian winter customs, but his origins are uncertain and that claim is hard to document. What is clearer is his history in recent centuries: the figure became firmly attached to St Nicholas traditions in the Alps, Krampus postcards were exchanged from the nineteenth century, and the custom declined in some places before enjoying a strong revival. Today Krampus runs are held well beyond the Alps.
If you go to a Krampus run
Runs are lively and can be rough: performers may swat spectators with switches. Follow the organisers’ instructions, keep small children back from the route and do not grab at masks or costumes.