SAN ANTONIO – In recent years, Krampuslauf (Krampus Run) and Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) celebrations have seen a resurgence across Europe and the UK, gaining significant popularity in North America. Krampusnacht takes place on the evening of December 5, serving as a prelude to the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6. The most recognizable depiction of Krampus is that of a fearsome, anthropomorphic goat—a dark, satyr-like figure.
In both myth and folklore, St. Nicholas rewards those who have been good with gifts, while the naughty dread a visit from Krampus. Folktales describe Krampus wielding a bundle of switches, a large stick, or even a bag of ashes to chastise the misbehaved. More terrifyingly, Krampus may smear soot on their faces or drag them off to some shadowy place for a year—or forever. In every account, Krampus emerges as a strikingly fearsome presence.
The precise origins of Krampus remain unclear. Some accounts suggest that Krampus predates Christianity and is rooted in pre-Germanic Paganism, with claims linking him to Norse mythology as the son of the goddess Hel. However, no historical evidence supports a direct connection to Norse myth. The lore surrounding Krampus varies widely by region, country, era, and author, with many traditions pairing St. Nicholas and Krampus as a team.
[source: Wiki Commons, public domain
Folklorist Al Ridenour, in his 2016 book The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil, identifies Austria and Bavaria—especially western Austria—as the heartland of Krampus traditions. Ridenour suggests Krampus may not represent a singular entity but rather a type of folkloric figure. Similar characters from neighboring cultures include Knecht Ruprecht in Germany, Père Fouettard in the Alsace region of France, Schmutzli in Switzerland, and Zwarte Piet in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These figures share functional similarities to Krampus, even if their appearances differ.
The Krampus tradition has historically been popular enough to inspire visual art. Austria, which began delivering postcards in 1869, saw the emergence of Krampuskarten (Krampus cards) by the late 1880s. These often featured Krampus in striking, sometimes unsettling imagery. Artists creating these cards drew inspiration from both Pagan motifs and Catholic iconography—using the image of Pan.
Unconfirmed accounts suggest that the Catholic Church attempted to suppress the Krampus tradition as early as the 12th century—assuming it even existed in a recognizable form then. If such efforts were made, they were evidently unsuccessful, as the Krampus tradition persists to this day.
The only documented attempts to ban Krampus occurred in the early 20th Century. In the mid-1930s, Austria under the Nazi regime officially prohibited the tradition. Later, in the 1950s, the Austrian government—likely influenced by religious factions—distributed pamphlets declaring, “Krampus Is an Evil Man,” in an effort to discourage its celebration.
And that brings us to today’s story.
Pastor Mark Lugo of SA Impact Ministries and San Antonio Director of At His Feet Ministries organized an effort to stop the city’s Krampus run. Lugo stated that the event “glorifies a folkloric figure, Krampus, known as a demon who punishes children for misbehavior. The imagery and messaging associated with this figure—depicting a horned creature that whips children or drags them to Hell—are deeply troubling.”
He added, “We cannot allow our children and community to be subjected to such fear-mongering. Fear is the root cause of anxiety, emotional distress, and mental health struggles—issues that our community is already battling on a large scale. As parents, pastors, and community members, we must ensure our children are nurtured in an environment of hope, safety, and encouragement, not one that embraces dark, fear-based folklore.”
Lugo concluded by stating, “Our children deserve better. They deserve joy, light, and love, especially during the Christmas season—a time meant to inspire hope, faith, and kindness.”
Similarly, the city of Pikeville, Kentucky, faced backlash over its planned Krampus Night, with critics accusing the event of fostering “satanic” activity. The event featured “Lady Krampus,” presumably Frau Perchta, another Alpine figure. Like St. Nicholas, Frau Perchta rewards well-behaved children with silver coins but punishes idle and deceitful ones—by slitting their bellies and stuffing them with straw.
Ultimately, Pikeville canceled the event. “After careful consideration, we have decided not to move forward with the planned Krampus event,” the city stated in a release published by Mountain Top News. “While we recognize that the origins and history of this mythical character vary across cultures and traditions, we believe it is in the best interest of our community to forego the event at this time. The City of Pikeville is committed to offering a diverse and engaging array of events throughout the year, celebrating different traditions, cultures, and perspectives. We will continue to explore opportunities to provide enriching and inclusive experiences for everyone.”
We certainly wouldn’t want to scare children, especially with mentions of a lake of fire, eternal damnation, or something like Deuteronomy 32:42, “I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh.”
For those who can bear it, the Associated Press released a video of Krampuslaufen in Austria this past weekend.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.