Talk about a dark side to a jolly story -- I, for one, am glad Santa replaced Krampus with Rudolph!!!
Two figures, shrouded in a snowstorm, make their way toward a brightly lit cottage. A sharp rap on the windowpane announces their arrival and a gust of wind flings the door open. A stately bishop steps in, crosier in one hand and a bag stuffed with toys slung over his shoulder. Behind him lurches a creature rattling an iron chain. Horns sprout from his head, his tongue lolls like an eel and he leers at the three children being ushered before him.
The children know what's to come. They're to perform a dance for St. Nicholas and his demon helper, the Krampus. If they've been dutiful and perform the dance well, Nicholas will reward them with toys and sweets. One misstep and the Krampus will whip them or, worse, toss them in his basket and carry them off to Hell.
As unfamiliar as it is, this nightmarish scene was the typical image of the holiday season for generations of German and Austrian children up until a century ago. The benign portrait of a jolly, fat Santa Claus indulging eager children at Christmastime is the accepted one today but, before Santa took centre stage, the gift giver was a dark, equivocal character, emerging out of the primeval forest to mete out punishment and reward in equal measure.
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