Krampus part 1
Krampus, The Devil of Christmas or so they say. The companion or “shadow” of St. Nicholas. He who punishes the bad children, by rattling his chains, whipping them or spanking them with his birch branches. Or even worse drags them to Hell with him or just outright eats them. A modern icon of Yuletide traditions, Krampus has a far older and tumultuous history and similar to Holle, Perchta, Gaude, and many more he is a god who is seen as a monster in the modern day. An Alpine horned god far more important than at first glance. In his appearance he calls to mind beings such as Pan, Cernunnos, and The Eternal Hunter.
Krampus, The Devil of Christmas or so they say. The companion or “shadow” of St. Nicholas. He who punishes the bad children, by rattling his chains, whipping them or spanking them with his birch branches. Or even worse drags them to Hell with him or just outright eats them. A modern icon of Yuletide traditions, Krampus has a far older and tumultuous history and similar to Holle, Perchta, Gaude, and many more he is a god who is seen as a monster in the modern day. An Alpine horned god far more important than at first glance. In his appearance he calls to mind beings such as Pan, Cernunnos, and The Eternal Hunter.
Krampus part 2
He finds counterparts in areas across the land. Other holdovers from the Wild Hunt and Yuletide myths. Such as the Belsnickel or Zwarte Piet. Yet Krampus' home is the Alps themselves. His long Ibex horns and macabre costumed celebrations a glowing example of the culture of the region. Perhaps here we find the Alpine Horned god himself. Long horned, lustful, strong, shaggy, and wild. The alps are an odd place mythically they are more their own group than truly being part of the larger more well known groups. A blatant example of the language groups being less pertinent than at first glance. Aspects of Slavic, Roman, Celtic, Germanic, and more all combine in this mountain range and its nearby areas. Researchers into folklore have even mentioned how “Blatant” Krampus is as an example of “The Horned God of the Witches”.
He finds counterparts in areas across the land. Other holdovers from the Wild Hunt and Yuletide myths. Such as the Belsnickel or Zwarte Piet. Yet Krampus' home is the Alps themselves. His long Ibex horns and macabre costumed celebrations a glowing example of the culture of the region. Perhaps here we find the Alpine Horned god himself. Long horned, lustful, strong, shaggy, and wild. The alps are an odd place mythically they are more their own group than truly being part of the larger more well known groups. A blatant example of the language groups being less pertinent than at first glance. Aspects of Slavic, Roman, Celtic, Germanic, and more all combine in this mountain range and its nearby areas. Researchers into folklore have even mentioned how “Blatant” Krampus is as an example of “The Horned God of the Witches”.
Krampus part 3
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) is on Dec 5th and Children are especially good then as Krampus is said to come and they do not wish to draw his attention over the more benevolent St. Nicholas. The Krampuslauf (Krampus Run) are enormous processions in some way mimicking the Wild Hunt itself. They run across the town hitting children, men, and women with birch branches and more. The men inside the costumes embodying Krampus spirits and perhaps the god himself. Though these could just as easily be considered his retinue or perhaps similar to gods such as Vesna, Berginya, Nornir, or Perchta the name applies to the spirits and the god in equal measure. In many ways this could be considered a sort of shamanic or spiritual experience. Classically done with goat or Ibex Horns, furs, cow bells, and a carved wooden mask.
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) is on Dec 5th and Children are especially good then as Krampus is said to come and they do not wish to draw his attention over the more benevolent St. Nicholas. The Krampuslauf (Krampus Run) are enormous processions in some way mimicking the Wild Hunt itself. They run across the town hitting children, men, and women with birch branches and more. The men inside the costumes embodying Krampus spirits and perhaps the god himself. Though these could just as easily be considered his retinue or perhaps similar to gods such as Vesna, Berginya, Nornir, or Perchta the name applies to the spirits and the god in equal measure. In many ways this could be considered a sort of shamanic or spiritual experience. Classically done with goat or Ibex Horns, furs, cow bells, and a carved wooden mask.
Second half of Krampus will be posted tomorrow, hope you enjoy. -TLK
Yuletide & The Good Women
In German Folklore and across Europe there is tell especially at Yuletide of Female Spirits coming house to house in a procession of the dead. These spirits were often ancestors though they would appear in the form of Weisse Frauen or through Christian Eyes devils. This is especially noted in the example of the Good Women who would go door to door receiving feasts as offerings to the dead and consuming the spirit of the food before the living would eat the physical side. The Good Women were also said to weave fate for new borns and spinning tools were left out for the Good Women to spin fate for the newborn. While similar to the Norns these spirits are specifically mentioned as ancestors, though the Church via a tale of St. Germanicus is said to have "Exposed" them as demons. In a Hagiography intended to vilify this widespread pagan custom. A similar honoring of Feminine Ancestors can be seen in the Norse Disir Blot.-TLK
In German Folklore and across Europe there is tell especially at Yuletide of Female Spirits coming house to house in a procession of the dead. These spirits were often ancestors though they would appear in the form of Weisse Frauen or through Christian Eyes devils. This is especially noted in the example of the Good Women who would go door to door receiving feasts as offerings to the dead and consuming the spirit of the food before the living would eat the physical side. The Good Women were also said to weave fate for new borns and spinning tools were left out for the Good Women to spin fate for the newborn. While similar to the Norns these spirits are specifically mentioned as ancestors, though the Church via a tale of St. Germanicus is said to have "Exposed" them as demons. In a Hagiography intended to vilify this widespread pagan custom. A similar honoring of Feminine Ancestors can be seen in the Norse Disir Blot.-TLK