Christmas is more than a holly jolly time. It can also be a scary time of the year, just like Halloween. Spirits and monsters haunt this time of year as much as at the end of October. Like at Charles Dicken's The Christmas Carol.
One of these is "Santa's evil twin." I'm talking about Krampus. In many areas of the world, it is said that St. Nicholas has a companion. This companion is Krampus, though another version is Black Peter, or Zarte Piet or Zwarte Piet. Black Peter is associated with the Netherlands. Black Peter may be do to the Muslins--hence the dark skin.
But Krampus isn't a man though. He has horns, goat hair, hooves, and claws. Just like a demon. His job is to accompany St. Nicholas and to warn and punish bad children. He is said to carry a basket on his back where he will place the bad children and take them to Hell to be tossed into the pit.
Krampus originates from Krampen--meaning claw. Youg men dressed up in goat skins and masks they spend two weeks making and on December 5th go out to scare all and carry out "birching," mainly on young girls.
Tonight, when you cuddle up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and popcorn before your television to watch "Christmas Story," or A Christmas Carol," or any other Christmas flick, make sure all the windows and doors in your home are locked tight. For that shadow cast upon the glass may not be from the tree outside, but something waiting. Waiting to toss you into a basket and take to Hell.
Have you been naughty or nice?
4 comments:
Gee, isn't HE cute !!??
Don't think I want him looking MY way this year. Best he finds something else to do with his time
thank you.
I'd FAR rather enjoy a visit from Santa. LOL
This was great!! I should let my kids read it. Ha!
Zwart Piet definitely has Moorish ancestry. I wish he wouldn't get mixed up with the krampuz boys (a variant of Krampus), though I suppose it's inevitable if he's traveling around with St. Nicholaus.
In Hungary, Sintz Mickolas travels with an angle and a devil. The angel helps him leave toys and treats in the good children's shoes. The devil leaves switches in the shoes of naughty children. (You can see how this is a watered down version of birching.)
That illustration looks like a demented Julbok.
meggins
Pamela, fascinating. I hadn't looked at that side of this season.
Gee, I say send Krampus after all the naughty wall street bankers!!!
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