Krampus: You better watch out

It’s that time of year again: Children cower; grown-ups revel. And as night falls, a goat demon named Krampus treads through the snow, tongue lolling, chains jangling, with a basket on his back ready to lug misbehaving kids directly to hell. At least that’s what happens on Dec. 5, or Krampusnacht, in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, where some incarnation of the winter satyr has [stalked mountain villages for more than a millennium](. The pagan figure has been assimilated into Christian tradition as an avenging foil to St. Nicholas—in holiday processions, the jolly saint passes out candy while surly Krampus doles out welts with a bundle of birch branches. The 2010s have seen a revival of interest in Krampus across Europe and [even in the United States](. So stay on your best behavior, because Krampus is coming to town. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( Sponsored by [Quartz Obsession] Krampus December 05, 2019 Gruß vom Krampus! --------------------------------------------------------------- It’s that time of year again: Children cower; grown-ups revel. And as night falls, a goat demon named Krampus treads through the snow, tongue lolling, chains jangling, with a basket on his back ready to lug misbehaving kids directly to hell. At least that’s what happens on Dec. 5, or Krampusnacht, in Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, where some incarnation of the winter satyr has [stalked mountain villages for more than a millennium](. The pagan figure has been assimilated into Christian tradition as an avenging foil to St. Nicholas—in holiday processions, the jolly saint passes out candy while surly Krampus doles out welts with a bundle of birch branches. The 2010s have seen a revival of interest in Krampus across Europe and [even in the United States](. So stay on your best behavior, because Krampus is coming to town. 🐦 [Tweet this!]( 🌐 [View this email on the web]( by the digits [$61.5 million:]( Worldwide box office earnings for the 2015 holiday horror film Krampus, which introduced many non-European audiences to the monster [35,000:]( Attendees at one Krampusnacht event in Graz, Austria in 2013 [15:]( Hours it takes a skilled woodcarver to make one Krampus mask, at a cost of about €600 ($666) [14:]( Layers of sheep or goat skin that go into one traditional Krampus costume, which costs between €500 and €600 ($555—$666) [$42.99:]( Price for a polyester Krampus mask on Amazon [11:]( Krampus-themed items available on the novelty site Archie McPhee, including a Krampus sweater, tree ornament, and “fire-and-brimstone” flavored candy canes [3:]( Dressmakers required to craft a traditional Krampus costume in a day [1:]( Hooves Krampus has, according to some legends. His other leg ends in a foot, giving his approaching step an ominous, lopsided sound. REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth Origin story You can’t keep Krampus down --------------------------------------------------------------- Krampus is an unlikely figure to draw 21st-century admirers. Although scholars disagree on the particulars, he can trace his roots back 1,500 years to pre-Germanic pagan rituals—with connections to [the initiation rites of witches]( covens, [ceremonies to expel]( the ghosts of winter and [legends about the son of Hel]( the Norse goddess of the underworld. And in all the centuries since, authorities have been trying their best to banish him. In the 12th century, the Catholic Church [tried to shut down Krampus celebrations]( because partying with the demon crept too close to worshiping the devil. But many of the men who donned furs and wooden masks to keep their kids in line lived in remote Alpine villages, where the wet blanket of the Church did not reach. Instead, by the 17th century, [Krampus became one of St. Nicholas’s companions]( strolling with the saint on the eve of his feast day. In 1934, when the fascist Christian Social Party rose to power in Austria, Krampus’s homeland, the Christmas demon [came under suspicion of being a socialist](. Krampus was promptly banned, and anyone who wanted to dress in a Christmas costume had to apply for a license. Police officers were ordered to arrest any rogue demons on sight. The effort collapsed with the regime’s fall in 1938, but [as late as 1953]( dour authorities were passing out pamphlets titled “Krampus is an Evil Man,” [warning parents]( against exposing their children to the corrupting figure. Sponsored by Goldman Sachs When Women Lead, markets grow --------------------------------------------------------------- Goldman Sachs believes gender equality is a business imperative and supporting women’s economic empowerment and leadership opportunities will drive growth for all.[Learn More]( quotable “It’s a Catholic country—it works through traumatization. We try to keep kids in order and in their place, and we have Krampus.” —[Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, explaining why his country loves Krampus]( REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth pop quiz Where does the name “Krampus” come from? “Krampen,” an Old High German word for claw “Krippe,” a German word for cradle“Kränken,” a German word meaning to insult or offend“Krâha,” an Old High German word for crow Correct. Correct… possibly. It could also come from the Bavarian German word “Krampn” which describes something lifeless, withered, or dried out. Incorrect. If your inbox doesn’t support this quiz, find the solution at bottom of email. watch this! Holiday pandemonium --------------------------------------------------------------- On Dec. 5 in Alpine towns, young men get drunk, don horrifying costumes, and [chase pedestrians through the streets]( in Krampuslaufs (“Krampus runs”). In this clip from Mayrhofen, Austria, a dozen Krampuses maraud on a snowy evening, breathing fire, dancing to cacophonous drums, and occasionally getting into physical altercations with the crowd. Have a friend who would enjoy our Obsession with Krampus? [ [Forward link to a friend](mailto:?subject=Thought you'd enjoy.&body=Read this Quartz Obsession email – to the email – The way we 👺 now Krampus sells out --------------------------------------------------------------- Krampus has enjoyed a revival in recent years, buoyed by a prevailing cynical ethos that [rejects the saccharine celebration of church and family at Christmastime]( a slew of pop culture appearances, including [2015’s horror-comedy Krampus](. (The release of that film, and the demon’s peak viral infamy, coincided with an influx of refugees to Europe—prompting some Austrian communities to [host Krampus workshops to explain the tradition to migrants]( and avoid traumatizing their children.) Nowadays, [as one traveler observed]( “Krampus has become a pop culture figure, featured on greeting cards and gift bags, and represented in chocolate, marzipan, dried fruit, and stuffed-animal form… at any supermarket checkout at this time of year.” But his newfound popularity has some traditionalists worried that [Krampus is becoming too commercialized](. The demon, meant to strike back at Hallmark’s version of the holiday, has lived to see himself become that which his fans most detest. But these fears may be nothing new. Eva Kreissl, curator for the Folk Life Museum in Austria, [told the Christian Science Monitor]( that she has found “evidence that young people in the mid-19th century used to dress as the devil and stand, along with others dressed as St. Nicholas, in the marketplace, waiting to be hired to come to homes and visit children”—which might make Krampus the [original mall Santa](. This one weird trick! Not quite a Hallmark holiday --------------------------------------------------------------- Since the 1800s, Europeans have [exchanged Krampuskarten]( featuring the demon]( usually in the act of punishing or kidnapping children, often emblazoned with the message “Gruß vom Krampus” (“Greetings from Krampus”). You can exchange your own [painfully-early-internet e-cards via the Krampus website]( with your loved or despised ones, or you can browse prints at [CafePress]( and [Amazon](. Giphy fun fact! Krampus loves schnapps. It’s customary to offer the Christmas demon [a swig of extra-strong fruit brandy]( to fuel his revels. listed Europe’s rich tradition of Christmas demons --------------------------------------------------------------- Europe is thick with holiday hauntings. Here’s a small sampling of monsters that rival Krampus’s Christmas creepiness. 🌊 Hans Trapp: A demonic scarecrow who drags the naughty children of Alsace-Lorraine into the woods to eat them. He’s based on Hans Von Trotha, [a real 15th century German knight]( who once dammed a river to deprive his rivals of water—and then blew the dam to flood and destroy their town. 💀 Père Fouettard: Literally “Father Whipper,” this cannibalistic companion of St. Nicholas is [a stern old man in dark robes]( who carries a [martinet]( to beat rambunctious French children (and sometimes eats them). 🧙 Frau Perchta: This German and Austrian witch is known to [eviscerate bad kids and replace their internal organs with garbage]( she may be the mythological descendent of Perchta, an Alpine goddess who protects nature and only appears to humans around Christmas. 🐱 Grýla: The [legendary Icelandic ogress]( known for devouring children, was tied to Christmas in the 17th century when she took on the role of becoming [the troublemaking Yule Lads]( mother. She is also the keeper of [Jólakötturinn, the towering Yule Cat]( who eats those who haven’t exchanged new clothes for Christmas. 🇳🇱 Zwarte Piet: A helper to Sinterklaas, he holds Santa’s sack of toys until it’s empty and then uses it to [kidnap misbehaving children](. Historically, “Black Pete” has been played by white Dutch people in blackface. Despite controversy over the racist nature of the tradition, it continues—and some [supporters are legitimately scary in real life]( pelting anti-racist protesters with bananas and handing out candy and far-right political stickers to kids. take me down this 🐰 hole! If this email hasn’t sated your hunger for all things Krampus, dive into the [Krampus! comic books]( the winter demon and his flying wolf steed uncover a plot to topple Santa’s Christmas hegemony—or live out your nightmares through [the first-person horror video game Krampus Is Home](. Giphy poll Which is scariest? [Click here to vote]( KrampusA bearded dude who breaks into your house to leave your children presentsSantaCon 💬 let's talk! In yesterday’s poll about [waterproof fabric]( 53% of you prefer a “lightweight Gore-Tex or Futurelight jacket,” 27% of you go with an umbrella, and 20% of you sport a Burberry trench coat. 📧 Campbell writes: “As a skier and outdoors-loving person I love how modern weatherproof outdoor gear performs. That performance comes with a pretty nasty cost though, as the [precursor chemicals for PTFE]( are bad news.” 🤔 [What did you think of today’s email?](mailto:obsession%2Bfeedback@qz.com?cc=&subject=Thoughts%20about%20Krampus&body=) 💡 [What should we obsess over next?](mailto:obsession%2Bideas@qz.com?cc=&subject=Obsess%20over%20this%20next.&body=) [:game_die:] [Show me a random Obsession]( Today’s email was written by [Nicolás Rivero]( edited by [Annaliese Griffin]( and produced by [Tori Smith](. The correct answer to the quiz is “Krampen,” an Old High German word for claw . Enjoying the Quartz Obsession? [Send this link]( to a friend! Want to advertise in the Quartz Obsession? Send us an email at ads@qz.com. Not enjoying it? No worries. [Click here]( to unsubscribe. Quartz | 675 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10011 | United States [Share this email](