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Krampus - the companion of Saint Nicolaus

Munich appearance at 4.30pm Sunday 9.Dec.2007

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > South Germany > Munich > Events in Munich
Owain Glyndwr
The eerie companion of St. Nicolaus, Krampus, is set to make an appearance in Munich on Friday 22nd December. He make his way from the Kinderkripperl to Rindermarkt between 6pm and 7pm.

The "Krampuslauf" is a 500 year old alpine (predominantly Austrian) tradition that developed from heathen traditions left over after the arrival of christianity. Santa Klaus himself is, in fact, an amalgamation of many heathen figures celebrated at this time of year. The most influencial is supposed to be the Norse god Thor, who had a Santa-esque long white beard and rode the skies in a flying chariot. The enemy of Thor was Loki, a god of mischief and evil, depicted with long horns. Whilst Thor himself was easily transformed into Santa by the Christians, Loki, being evil was not. But traditions die hard and predominantly in Austria the figure of Krampus emerged from Loki as a "Companion of St. Nicholaus".

There are two interpretations of Krampus, one simply being the antithesis of Santa Klaus. On the 5th of December, the eve of the feast day of St. Nick, Austrians celebrate Krampus by running across the city in grotesque masks and generally scaring children. This is an extension of when St. Nick makes his rounds on the 6th of December rewarding all the good little children, a task which is made easy since Krampus has been out the night before, punishing pretty much the same children with a good switching.

In other variations of the theme, Krampus is considered one of Santa's minions who follows him around and obediently hands out either presents or switches, depending on whether the child in question has been good or bad.

A more mystcial approach is that people dress up in Krampus costumes and masks to scare off evil spirits, pretty much along the lines of Hollowe'en.

To round off this fantastic tradition, after the kids have had their fun, the adults get blindingly drunk. This sounds like an excellent Toytown tradition!
DDBug
Oh, another child and grownup friendly evening ?
bluedave
Absolutely fabulous they are too, i go to Austria for Niklaus every year and get summarily chased about and whipped by these buggers smile.gif
cinzia
Wow! That's the scariest Krampus I've ever seen.

I was in Salzburg a couple of years ago on 6 December, and Nikolaus was walking around with a Krampus. He looked more like a Sasquatch-type character, and was ringing a string of bells (loud ones, not nice- sounding ones.)

At the Glentleiten Chrismas market a couple of weekends ago, they also had a Nikolaus and Krampus, walking around the place with a little kid dressed all in white, whom I think was supposed to represent the Christkind.
don_riina
The Germans are a fucking evil bunch man. You bad? You get whipped by a satan lookalike. Where I come from, if you are bad, santa don't bring you presents. He does not bring along a henchman to dish out corporal punishment. Reminds me of catholicism.

They've also got that story about what happens if you don't cut your fingernails haven't they. Dunno the details, but the long and short of it is, boy does not cut fingernails, so some evil bastard simply cuts his entire fingers off. Reminds me of Islam.
Showem
I remember the Krampi (plural) from last year at the Rindermarkt. They are a pretty freaky looking bunch. And there isn't just the one of them, there's a pack.
honeebeaz
QUOTE (don_riina @ Dec 13 2006, 9:15 am) *
They've also got that story about what happens if you don't cut your fingernails haven't they. Dunno the details, but the long and short of it is, boy does not cut fingernails, so some evil bastard simply cuts his entire fingers off. Reminds me of Islam.

You are thinking of "Der Struwwelpeter".

Had the book when I was a kid. wink.gif
Scary shit that was. Made me it up my soup it did.
Little Britain
I had that book when I was a kid and indeed it was very scary!

did anyone also have the story about Max & Moritz?
Owain Glyndwr
yes, i had that book but not as a kid, as an adult.
Kat
QUOTE (Owain Glyndwr @ Dec 13 2006, 8:31 am) *
He make his way from the Kinderkripperl to Rindermarkt between 6pm and 7pm.

Where is the Kinderkripperl?
Owain Glyndwr
How long have you lived here, Kat?

[img]http://www.muenchen.de/cms/prod1/mde/_de/rubriken/Rathaus/65_raw/Tourismusamt/img/img_veranstaltungen/img_veran_eigene/marktplan2006.jpg[/img]

http://www.muenchen.de/Stadtleben/Winter_W...pperlmarkt.html
Showem
As far as I can see, there's no "Kinderkripperl" marked on that map. I lived there for 13 years and couldn't tell you where the children's nativity scene is either.
kitty-kat
Maybe it's just because he's from the north of Germany, but Nikolaus always came with some other guy, similar but with a different name, and depending on if you were bad or good you got a present from St Nik, or a telling off from this other guy. Anyone else remember the name? It's something like Knubrick or something. Scary.
MichiS
Knecht Ruprecht is the name you are looking for.
kitty-kat
Yes- that's it, thank you! BTW, is his purpose, or origin, different from that of Krampus? If not, why the totally different name?
grobah
the krampus tradition really picked up about 70 years ago when groups were formed which meet all year to perfect being nasty looking. they have a heirarchy of helpers and different levels of krampus-ing. actually its bit of austrian kitsch...big groups of them run around salzburg on the 5 or 6th. they dip there whips in horse piss so its not a pleasant thing to be whipped by them.
bluedave
If you want to see and read what the Grampus/Krampus thing is all about go here.

This was given to me this Niklaus by one of the Krampus guys who attends these events.

Scary ohmy.gif

deco
The Kramperl's back again this year. According to the Munich.de website, there'll be a Krampuslauf through the Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz on:
  • Sunday, 9.12.2007, 16:30–17:30
  • Sunday, 23.12.2007, 16:30–17:30
12 members of the Munich group "Sparifankerl Pass" will run along Weinstrasse to the Crib Market at the Rindermarktbrunnen and back. Their name is slang for "Devils' Group" and according to their website (in German: www.sparifankerl-pass.de) their new wooden masks, some weighing up to 10kg, are carved to resemble human faces with a twist.

Should be interesting for anyone wanting a taste of heathen customs along with their Glühwein.

For more info on Christmas markets: Munich Christmas markets, General info, locations, opening times, etc.
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