Dig into Christmas traditions outside the United States and you’re likely to find Santa Claus’ dark side. Artist Cameron Jamie did, traveling to the Bad Gastein Valley near Salzburg, Austria, to shoot footage of an annual ritual that occurs every December 5: roving bands of demon-like characters take to the streets to terrorize children, accost women, and wreak general havoc on the village; the following day, the feast of St. Nicholas (who appears accompanied by a basket bearer and an angel), is decidedly less creepy. Some say the Krampus is the evil alter-ego of Santa Claus, others that Santa and the Krampus are one in the same, but one thing is clear, the creature is a throwback to the pagan rituals of the pre-Christian era.
Jamie’s film, Kranky Klaus, is part of his eponymous exhibition opening at the Walker on Sunday. In it, footage of rampaging Krampusse–who, by one account “stalk young women, fondling them, throwing them over their shoulders and whipping them with wooden switches until their shins and thighs are black and blue“–is set to the music of regular Jamie collaborators, the Melvins (who also provide the soundtrack for the artists’ films on backyard wrestling and spookhouses, both screening during the show). If the pranks and perversions of the beasts aren’t frightening enough–and, if you watch the response from the kids in the film, they are frightening–their costumes should do the trick:
The wooden mask with genuine goat- and ram-horns, the sheepskin coat and the bell-belt are family possessions. The oldest Krampus masks are exhibited. They are carved wooden masks with pointed animal ears and fangs in a “Dracula-like style”.
The masks–or horns you can use to make your own–are sold on ebay, and the likeness of the Krampus, running from the impish and quirky to the downright Death-metalesque, have ended up on antique postcards (shown here), in books, and at the center of modern-day Krampus theme parties around the globe. The word Krampus comes from the Old High German word for “claw” (Krampen), and in terms of general spikiness, the depictions seem to bear out the etymology:
Cameron Jamie opens on Sunday, July 16. The films Kranky Klaus, BB, Spook House and JO run run in sequence beginning at 11:15 a.m. daily, repeating every other hour. In addition, the exhibition includes works based on a Japanese eating-contest champion, wooden Krampus masks (below), photographic portraits of face-painted backyard wrestlers, and the massive environment Maps and Composite Actions, a winding (and possibly treacherous) mountain path visitors navigate, one at a time, lighting their way only with a lantern.
“Some say the Krampus is the evil alter-ego of Santa Claus, others that Santa and the Krampus are one in the same, but one thing is clear, the creature is a throwback to the pagan rituals of the pre-Christian era.”
Being a pagan, I would like to know what pagan mythology you think this “throwback” is from?
Comment by Kemi — July 16, 2006 @ 5:22 am
Pardon the term “throwback”; I merely meant that Krampus seems to have pre-Christian roots. I’m no Krampus expert, but from what I’ve gleaned online, it appears it’s syncretic, blending Christian iconography with regional folklore and, yes, pagan rituals–which makes it more difficult to trace back. Anyone out there know if there’s a specific pagan mythology Krampus is connected to? (It’s related to, if not the same as, the Knecht Ruprecht tradition.)
Comment by Paul — July 16, 2006 @ 9:35 am
I was in Salzburg years ago as a college student. I’d been warned about Krampus, but still found the whole thing rather overwhelming. I recall seeing one man with his small boy flung over his shoulder, rushing down the sidewalk, trying to stay one step ahead of the many folks out roving the streets, dressed in frightening costumes - some with eyes glowing red. And every one seemed to carry around a large bundle of sticks with which they would not just threaten, but actually beat the legs of anyone foolish enough to get within reach.
Interesting that they don’t celebrate Halloween like we do here in the US, with kids getting dressed up and older kids/adults sometimes trying to be as scary as possible. However there are large number of folks that get dressed up as Krampus and rove the streets that night, preying on young and old alike. I witnessed one Krampus beating a rather old woman with his bundle of sticks - and I went up to him and kicked HIM in the shins - then ran like mad so I wouldn’t be the recipient of his wrath.
Comment by Ingrid — November 9, 2006 @ 11:22 am
I did not know about the Krampus until I was a ski guide in Austria/Germany. I met some of the German instructors, likkered-up on the bus and they tried to whip me, they were whipping everyone, especially young women, so I was spared their serious attention. It was funny, but they looked scarier than hell. In the big cities they are devils, by my observation, but in the rural villages, they are more furry, looking like neolithic demons, with cowbells, so you can hear them a mile/kilometer off. Great stuff for kids- we need about a million krampus in the USA around Christmas!! They really stress the naughty and nice. But just like the signs at euro ski areas, no more than “danger” in five languages, and then a 1000 meter cliff -in the USA litigation would end the krampus in seconds. Maybe some German-Americans keep the tradition.
Comment by rich — May 1, 2007 @ 9:37 am
I FULLY ENJOYED THE KRUMPAS MARCH WHILE VISITING AUSTRIA SOME YEARS AGO. I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FUN!!!! HOPE TO RETURN SOMETIME SOON. LOVED BAVARIA!!!
Comment by BUCK HAWES — September 2, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
Hello I would love to get a copy of the above mentioned movies. Can anyone help?
Chris sndtech1@hotmail.com
Comment by Chris Troy — September 5, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Generally speaking Pagans don’t referrer to themselves as Pagans. High school kids who want to rebel against there parents call themselves Pagans. Pagan really just means non-christian.
As far as what Pagan ritual or symbol the Krampus is. Some say that its an altered version of the norse god Loki, which makes sense since Santa Claus’s image is often said to resemble Odin or Thor. The other obvious choice is the Krampus is a satyr. Which have there roots in a lot of pre-christian nature worshiping religions.
Comment by Nilus — December 24, 2007 @ 9:31 am